The Lee University Symphony Orchestra will perform on Monday, Oct. 26, at 7:30 p.m. in Pangle Hall under the direction of Maestro Bob Bernhardt.

The program will feature three works: Beethoven’s “Coriolan Overture Op. 62,” Mozart’s “Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major, K. 488,” and Tchaikovsky’s “Romeo and Juliet Overture-Fantasy.” Dr. Cahill Smith, Lee assistant professor of piano, will be the soloist for the Mozart.

“Two of these works [the Beethoven and Tchaikovsky] are extraordinarily dramatic, cloudy, and angst-filled—and both are inspired by literature,” said Bernhardt. “Within our program, they surround Mozart’s concerto of pure sunshine and straightforward emotion.”

Bernhardt joined Lee’s School of Music in the fall of 2011 as an artist-in-residence and conductor of the Lee Symphony Orchestra. Bernhardt also serves as Music Director Emeritus and Principal Pops Conductor of the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera (CSO) and Principal Pops Conductor of the Louisville Orchestra. He was formerly the music director and conductor for 19 seasons with the CSO, and is the first to hold the title Emeritus.

Recently named Principal Pops Conductor of the Grand Rapids Symphony in Michigan, Bernhardt is also a frequent guest conductor for the Boston Pops and the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.

The Symphony Orchestra ensemble of select instrumentalists performs one major concert each semester. Its musicians frequently participate in operatic, choral, and other concerts on campus. The ensemble also sponsors an annual concerto competition for university students. The Symphony Orchestra will be featured in an upcoming performance of the music of Simon and Garfunkel with Jim Witter on Nov. 10 as part of the Presidential Concert Series.

Monday’s concert is a free, non-ticketed event and is open to the public. For more information, call (423) 614-8240.