The Ypsilanti Symphony Orchestra started small. In 1998, founding music director and Eastern Michigan University alum Adam C. Riccinto and violinist Martha Kerns started talking about the need in the community for musicians to develop their skills and offer high-quality orchestral music. Then, in 1999, the YSO was officially incorporated as a nonprofit, according to the organization's website.
Now, nearly 28 years later, Riccinto is ready to lead the orchestra into its 2026-2027 season, titled "Playing Favorites."
Riccinto explained that the YSO chose the title "Playing Favorites" because one of his goals for programming this season is to share music that resonates with the community or is familiar to listeners.
"Every program is going to have music on it that is classical music, but is familiar to the audience in some way ... or it's a story they can relate to quickly," he said.
This upcoming season, the orchestra will perform familiar music while also introducing the audience to new pieces with which they may not be familiar, Riccinto said. For example, the symphony's opening concert, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026, called Entrances and Exits, will feature a performance of two fairly familiar pieces, a Haydn symphony and the intermezzo from "Cavalleria Rusticana," which has often been used in films. Then, at the holiday concert, Sunday, Dec. 13, the orchestra will perform Tchaikovsky's first symphony during the first half and then familiar holiday pops during the second half. Both concerts are scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at the Lincoln High School Performing Arts Center.
Come 2027, concerts will take place Feb. 21 at 3:30 p.m., April 18 at 3:30 p.m. and May 29 at 2 p.m. The first two will take place at the Lincoln High School Performing Arts Center, while the third will take place at Riverside Park in Ypsilanti, the YSO website says. Riccinto explained that the rest of the season will aim to blend new and familiar music.
"I don't have all of the details of the second half of the season fleshed out yet, but you'll hear some John Williams, and you'll hear some things that are, again, that are familiar to folks throughout the entire season," Riccinto said.
Riccinto said he is most excited for the opening concert coming up Oct. 4. He said that taking a break from the orchestra as the season closes out each May is emotional for him, and he always looks forward to its return.
"For 28 years, this orchestra has been not only a staple of my professional life, but in my personal life as well," he said. "Every single year, my favorite concert is the opener because it means we're back together, and we're playing music and ... we're getting the band back together, man."
All concerts are ticketed except for the May 29 Community Sponsored Pops concert, but Riccinto said that the YSO aims to keep prices accessible for all attendees. Tickets vary in price from about $7-15 and can be purchased on the YSO website.
Riccinto added that the orchestra is always open to meeting new musicians. Those with orchestral backgrounds who are interested in joining the YSO should send an email to personnel@ypsilantisymphony.org. Currently, the symphony orchestra has musicians of all ages, locations and walks of life united by their shared passion for music.
"We have musicians that come consistently, even though there is a higher concentration of community orchestras in southeastern Michigan than anywhere in the country," Riccinto said. "I think it just has to do with the fact that we really look out for our own, and we put people first."
Those interested in learning more can visit the YSO website, follow the orchestra on Facebook or follow on Instagram @ypsilantisymphony.
