DALLAS - s4story -- The New Texas Symphony Orchestra will spotlight Dallas composer Quinn Mason, featured soloist Laura Ospina, and Gustav Holst's iconic The Planets in a free concert on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at 3 p.m. at Moody Performance Hall, 2520 Flora Street in Dallas.

The program brings together Mason's vibrant Inspiration! Festive Overture, Léon Boëllmann's Variations symphoniques, Op. 23 for cello and orchestra, and excerpts from Holst's The Planets, enhanced with enhanced performance hall lighting.

Mason's Inspiration! Festive Overture opens the concert with a celebration of the moment an idea first catches fire. The score moves from a bold, attention‑grabbing opening to a lyrical middle section and a driving, energetic close. Mason launched his professional career with the NTSO's premiere performance of his Symphony No. 3, 'The Bridges of Dallas', eight years ago.

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Boëllmann's Variations symphoniques follows, featuring cellist Laura Ospina. Once a favorite of late‑19th‑century audiences, the work largely vanished from concert programs after World War II. Its recent revival highlights Boëllmann's gift for melody and color, as well as a sequence of technically demanding variations that keep the soloist at the center of the musical drama.

The concert concludes with excerpts from Holst's The Planets, a landmark 20th‑century orchestral work. Each movement offers a vivid musical portrait inspired by the character and mythology associated with the planets, from martial rhythms to ethereal sonorities. To deepen the sense of a journey through space, the performance will incorporate captivating lighting design.

"This program connects the spark of a new idea, the rediscovery of a nearly forgotten Romantic voice, and the vast sound world of The Planets," said Dr. Michelle Perrin Blair, artistic director and conductor of the New Texas Symphony Orchestra. "We want Dallas audiences to experience that full arc of inspiration and exploration without the barrier of ticket cost."

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As part of its mission to keep orchestral music accessible, the New Texas Symphony Orchestra offers free admission to all its performances. The March 15 concert is free to attend, but reservations are required to guarantee seating.

Event Snapshot

• Event: Quinn Mason and Cellist Laura Ospina Orbit The Planets — Free Concert
• Ensemble: New Texas Symphony Orchestra
• Guest Artist: Laura Ospina, cello
• Program: Mason's Inspiration! Festive Overture; Boëllmann's Variations symphoniques; excerpts from Holst's The Planets with visuals
• Date & Time: Sunday, March 15, 2026, 3:00 p.m.
• Location: Moody Performance Hall, 2520 Flora Street, Dallas, TX 75201
• Tickets: Free; online reservations required. Click here for FREE tickets.