Soul and Steel: Reading Symphony Orchestra opens 2025-26 season
(5-6 minute read)
Photo from the Reading Symphony Orchestra webpage.
The Reading Symphony Orchestra (RSO) will launch its 2025-2026 season with Soul and Steel, an exciting program taking place on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium at Galvin Middle School in Wakefield. The evening features an eclectic mix of contemporary and classical works, including Anna Meredith’s Nautilus, Judith Weir’s Still, Glowing, and Shostakovich’s powerful Symphony No. 5.
For longtime Reading resident and devoted RSO supporter Richard Perry, performances like this are a part of what makes the orchestra so special. Richard and his late wife, Judy, both lifelong lovers of classical music, first discovered the RSO years ago through televised broadcasts on RCTV. One evening, a friend who was a season ticket holder couldn’t attend a performance and offered Richard and Judy the tickets. Richard, who had grown up listening to the Philadelphia Orchestra, immediately accepted.
What they experienced in person that night was entirely different from what they had seen on TV. Moved by the quality, energy, and intimacy of the concert, they decided at intermission: they signed up to become season ticket holders on the spot. Richard has kept that tradition going each year, now alongside his friend Dawn, despite Judy’s passing almost eight years ago.
Today, Richard not only remains a loyal subscriber but also played drums in a marching band until just a few years ago. Now approaching his 83rd birthday, he continues to show unwavering support for the organization that has become a meaningful part of his life.
Richard credits much of the Orchestra’s modern vibrancy to Music Director George Ogata, who joined the RSO in 2014. “He’s brought a whole new level of energy and everything in the audience,” Richard shared. He especially appreciates Ogata’s approach to engaging concertgoers, noting that Ogata introduces each piece, offering context about the composer, themes, or historical background - something that helps both seasoned listeners and classical music newcomers connect with the works on a deeper level.
The RSO’s commitment to community and musical excellence is rooted in a rich history that dates back to 1931, when Reading High School music teacher Samuel W. Peck gathered students and local musicians to form the first iteration of what would become the Symphony. Rehearsals took place in the home of Mrs. Bigelow, where Peck boarded, marking the beginning of a legacy that would endure the Depression, World War II, and even the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over the decades, the Orchestra has welcomed renowned guest artists, including Author Fiedler, Mia Chung, and Joseph Silverstein, and has grown to include musicians from more than 30 communities across four states. Guided by its mission to provide a performance outlet for musicians of all ages and backgrounds, the RSO continues to invest in musical education, outreach, and artistic growth.
As the new season begins, Soul and Steel is shaping up to be a celebration not only of compelling repertoire but of the enduring spirit of the Reading Symphony Orchestra and the community that sustains it.
Tickets for the November 22 concert are available on the RSO website.
