Sometimes a special moment in music begins… before the first note.
For pianist Ruxi Wang, one such moment began in LaGrange when she was named the winner of the 2024 LaGrange Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition (YAC). That was in February 2024 and that’s where the beautiful relationship began between this up-and-coming young artist and the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra. In March of that same year, she went on to perform with the full orchestra, under the direction of Maestro Richard Prior, during their brilliant INSPIRE concert. [Read the concert review from March 2024 HERE]
Featured Artist
Now, on September 22, 2026, Ruxi Wang will return to Callaway Auditorium—this time as the featured soloist of the LSO’s 2026–27 season opening concert, Symphony Spectacular! (7:30 PM | Callaway Auditorium, LaGrange, GA) Tickets Here
What You will Hear
Wang will perform Benjamin Britten’s Piano Concerto, a work that showcases both the dazzling capabilities of the piano and the expressive possibilities of the instrument. The concerto moves through four contrasting sections: the glittering Toccata of the first movement, the graceful and romantic Waltz, the introspective Impromptu, and the energetic March.
The result is a work filled with color, rhythm, lyricism, and virtuosity—and an ideal vehicle for an artist whose performances have been praised for their expressive depth and technical brilliance.
One to Watch
Wang has built an impressive international career since her LSO Young Artist Competition win. She has performed throughout the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and China, appearing at festivals and venues including the Mozarteum International Summer Academy in Salzburg, the Málaga International Summer Piano Festival, the Amalfi Coast International Music Festival, the Tel-Hai International Piano Festival, and the Lieven Piano Foundation International Festival in Vienna.
Full Circle
Her return to LaGrange is especially meaningful because it brings the story full circle: an artist once heard through the LSO’s Young Artist Competition now returns as a featured soloist on the orchestra’s season-opening program.
This performance of Britten’s Piano Concerto will also mark the 50th anniversary of the composer’s passing, giving this season-opening performance another layer of significance.
On September 22, Ruxi Wang returns to the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra for Symphony Spectacular, opening the 2026/27 Season “moments of music” with a performance that promises both brilliance and feeling – giving the audience a glimpse into what comes next.
More about September’s Concert
September 22nd’s “Symphony Spectacular” concert will provide an evening of beautiful classics by Dmitri Shostakovich, Benjamin Britten, and Johannes Brahms. These pieces contain spectacular moments of music that are not simply heard, they are experienced—sometimes in a burst of energy, sometimes in a quiet touching passage, sometimes in a familiar melody or something completely new. It will be a terrific opening to a season centered around “moments of music”.
Plan to attend this season opener in the acoustically rich space of Callaway Auditorium. Individual concert TICKETS are available HERE. LaGrange Symphony Orchestra SEASON TICKETS are available HERE but only until September 22, 2026.
© LaGrange Symphony Orchestra 2026/2027 | All rights reserved | 706.882.0662 | Richard Prior, Music Director & Conductor
