Gulf Coast Symphony Announces Its 2025-2026 Season
September 19, 2025
For Immediate Release
September 19, 2025
(Fort Myers, FL) — For 31 years, the Gulf Coast Symphony has been “Playing the Music You Love to Hear.” Coming off a record-setting 30th anniversary season, which saw the highest ticket sales in the Symphony’s history, we are thrilled to invite Southwest Florida audiences to an exciting array of performances that span genres, decades, and musical traditions. This year’s season features the Symphony’s Pops Series at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall and a vibrant mix of classical, jazz, and musical theatre programming at the Music & Arts Community Center (MACC).
2025-2026 POPS SERIES at Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall
The Symphony is back at Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall for its 31st season with a celebration of iconic music from the past and present with this unforgettable Pops lineup:
- Decades: Back to the ‘80s – January 11, 2026
- Joshua Henry’s Get Up, Stand Up – January 25, 2026
- Tony Bennett: The Official Musical Celebration – February 15, 2026
- Changes: A Tribute to the Music of David Bowie – March 8, 2026
- A Tribute to Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops – March 22, 2026
- 1776 The Musical – April 17 & 18, 2026
As always, patrons are encouraged to join the Symphony for holiday and off-season performances, such as Summer and Fall Pops concerts on August 23 and November 9. The Symphony’s holiday shows will also return, and include Hogwarts Halloween concert on October 25, the Holiday music celebration, Deck the Halls, on December 13, and three performances of the Nutcracker, featuring Gulfshore Ballet on December 20 and 21.
Performances at the Music & Arts Community Center
At the Music & Arts Community Center (MACC), the Symphony will launch its Masterworks Classical Concert series. This four-concert series features matinee and evening performances (2:00 pm & 7:30 pm), exploring the inspirations and “firsts” of the great composers through exploration of select composers’ early masterpieces. Themes will also include travel-inspired works, and an opera-themed performance. Performances will be held at 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm on November 15, 2025, and January 17, February 21, and April 25, 2026.
The Gulf Coast Jazz Collective, led by drummer and music director, Paul Gavin, and featuring pianist Zach Bartholomew and bassist Brandon Robertson, returns to the MACC for its sixth season with a delightful and diverse array of concerts, at the MACC featuring:
- Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong – November 13, 2025
- A Charlie Brown Christmas and Holiday Classics Part II – December 18, 2025
- The Gulf Coast Jazz Collective with Guest Artist Laila Biali – January 15, 2026
- Trios: Tribute to Count Basie & Duke Ellington – February 18, 2026
- Jazz Covers of the ‘70s, ‘80s & ‘90s – March 12, 2026
- Wynton Marsalis’ Democracy Suite – April 23, 2026
All jazz performances will be on Thursdays at 7:00 pm.
Drummer Paul Gavin is the artistic director of Gulf Coast Jazz Collective at Fort Myers concert venue The MACC. Photo courtesy of Bruce Jaeger
And finally, the Gulf Coast Symphony welcomes back its Southwest Florida Theatre Series at the MACC, with Music Director Julie Carver and features:
- Once Upon a Christmastime – November 19–22, 2025
- Million Dollar Quartet – January 28–31, 2026
- The Bridges of Madison County – February 25–28, 2026
- Sh-Boom: Life Could Be a Dream – March 18–21, 2026
Branch Fields and Elizabeth D’Aiuto perform in the 2024 Southwest Florida Theatre production of Camelot. Photo Courtesy of Bruce Jaeger
The critically acclaimed Million Dollar Quartet is a fictionalized account of a recording session with Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins. It comes to the MACC on January 28, and Once Upon a Christmastime, which is written and produced by Maestro Andrew Kurtz and Music Director Julie Carver. Sh-Boom: Life Could Be a Dream, a feel-good Doo-Wop musical, and the musical adaptation of The Bridges of Madison County round out the Southwest Florida Theatre Company lineup.
More to Experience at the MACC
The Gulf Coast Symphony is excited to introduce four brand-new concert series at the Music & Arts Community Center this season, offering something for every taste. Launching the Apple Pie Concert Series is Trumpet Talk on September 25, a fun and community-oriented program with a variety of musical performances. Comedy lovers can look forward to the all-new Comedy Club at the MACC, kicking off with nationally recognized comedian Michael Mack on September 26. And film and music fans won’t want to miss the debut of Pops at the MACC, starting with the epic sounds of The Music of Star Wars on October 18. Finally, the cabaret series, Julie Carver Presents continues its debut season with Howl at the Moon on October 23 with another, to-be-determined Cabaret on February 10.
2023 Southwest Florida Theatre Production of A Grand Night for Singing. Photo Courtesy of Bruce Jaeger.