Nashville Symphony | Tito Muñoz, conductor | Timothy McAllister, saxophone 

Journey beyond the stars with a celestial program that blends orchestral wonder with a heartfelt tribute. Holst’s The Planets, a cosmic masterpiece that shaped the sound of generations of film scores, anchors an evening of space-inspired music. The program features the world premiere of James Lee III’s Saxophone Concerto, written for and performed by Timothy McAllister, one of the world’s finest saxophonists.  

McAllister, the son of a NASA engineer, commissioned this piece in honor of Ron McNair—fellow saxophonist, physicist, and one of the astronauts lost in the Challenger tragedy. This moving tribute marks the 40th anniversary of that fateful mission and celebrates McNair’s legacy of courage, creativity, and excellence. The concert opens with Joaquín Rodrigo’s A la busca del más allá (“In Search of the Beyond”), a haunting meditation on space exploration. With visionary conductor and new music champion Tito Muñoz conducting, prepare for a night of majesty, memory, and musical lift-off. 

Program

Joaquín Rodrigo: A la busca del más allá (In search of the beyond) 
James Lee III: Abiding Legacy: Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra (2025) | World Premiere
Gustav Holst: The Planets