The Fort Myers Philharmonic plays its first concert ever on Friday, Sept. 11, and the orchestra has chosen a heavy and fitting way to begin.
The performance falls on the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, and it is built as a tribute to local first responders. It starts at 7:30 p.m. at Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall at Florida SouthWestern State College, 13350 FSW Parkway in Fort Myers.
The program opens with a short film by WGCU’s Tom Hall, made with help from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, which connected the production team with people who were in New York City during the attacks. The film leads into Samuel Barber’s “Adagio for Strings,” the piece most Americans have heard at moments of public grief without always knowing its name.
After intermission the orchestra performs Mozart’s Requiem, joined onstage by the Fort Myers Symphonic Mastersingers under artistic director Matthew Koller and four soloists: soprano Sarah Tucker, mezzo-soprano Gina Perregrino, tenor Joshua Blue and bass-baritone Lawson Anderson.
Music director Paul Nadler conducts. He led the Southwest Florida Symphony for more than 15 years, founded the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, and has more than 60 performances at the Metropolitan Opera behind him. The Philharmonic itself was founded in 2025, so this is the group’s opening night.
Come early. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is setting up a community display in front of the hall with its BearCat emergency response vehicle, a crisis-care K-9 and therapy dog, robotic public safety equipment and an outreach table. Lobby doors open an hour before the concert and theatre doors open 30 minutes before.
Most orchestras use opening night to show off. This one is using it to say thank you. If you have a firefighter, paramedic, dispatcher or deputy in your family, this is a night to bring them to.
If you go
Fort Myers Philharmonic: Honoring Our Heroes
Friday, Sept. 11, 7:30 p.m.
Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall at FSW, 13350 FSW Parkway, Fort Myers
Tickets start at $65.93, including fees and tax. Groups of 10 or more can ask about a 10 percent discount at (239) 481-4849, ext. 3104.
Details at fmphil.org.
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