The second Classic Series concert of the 2026/2027 season, this thoughtfully curated program is comprised of three pieces, each with a unique story and sound, fit for an evening of dazzling music.
Kicking off the evening is Anna Clyne’s PIVOT. One of today’s most in-demand composers, Clyne wrote this piece after being inspired at the Ediburgh Festival where she enjoyed a wide range of performances across artistic genres. PIVOT, as the name suggests, is a take on shifting musical structures and transferring from one experience to the next without ever losing the heart of the piece. It also relies heavily on traditional fiddle tunes of the eighteenth century, which makes it flow perfectly to the second piece of the night, Amy Beach’s Gaelic Symphony.
The first symphony written and composed by an American female composer, Gaelic Symphony was written during a time when American composers were seeking to forge a national sound. While many took influence from African-American and Native American melodies, Beach was more drawn to New England’s history of Scottish and Irish songs and chose to incorporate these instead for her first symphony. The end result is a piece that has jovial highs and somber lows, making it incredibly dynamic and captivating.
For the second half of the evening, guest artist Fanya Lin will dazzle on the piano with Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2. Written after the disastrous premiere of his First Symphony, it’s a true triumph over tragedy as Rachmaninoff recovered from his depression and found himself inspired again. This new voice he found was drastically different from what others were composing at the time. 1900 was a time of wild and radical new music by Debussy, Mahler, Stravinsky, and many other composers. To the frustration of these avant-garde contemporaries, Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 took off and quickly became one of the most well-beloved concertos of the twentieth century.
Hailed as a “striking interpreter” delivering “committed and heartfelt” performances (Musical America, The New York Times), Steinway Artist Fanya Lin commands the stage with fiery intensity. Lin’s “mesmerizing performance” of Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini was depicted as “a tornado had touched down through her body and lifted her, feathers fluttering, from the piano stool as she weighed into the keys.”
The evening is set to be a spectacular concert, all led by the second Music Director Finalist of the season, Wilbur Lin.
Taiwanese-American conductor Wilbur Lin is known for his thoughtful programming, compelling storytelling, and engaging rapport with audiences. His 2026/27 season includes appearances with the St. Louis Symphony, Kansas City Symphony, Oregon Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Nashville Symphony, Billings Symphony, and Dayton Philharmonic, following recent concerts with the Cincinnati Symphony, Louisiana Philharmonic, Rochester Philharmonic, and Symphony Nova Scotia. He also continues to receive frequent return invitations from the Taipei Symphony, Ann Arbor Symphony, and Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra. Following his tenure as Assistant Conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony and Associate Conductor of the Colorado Symphony, where he led more than seventy performances, Lin recently returned to make his first guest appearance with the Cincinnati Pops. He currently serves as Music Director of the Missouri Symphony Orchestra.
A graduate of Riccardo Muti’s Italian Opera Academy, Lin’s operatic work includes productions of Macbeth, Le nozze di Figaro, Die Zauberflöte, the Barber of Seville, and L’elisir d’amore. An equally strong advocate for new music and neglected composers of the past — particularly American and British women composers — he is closely associated with the research and performance of works by Alice Mary Smith and Amy Beach. His recent projects include recordings with the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra and Denver Young Artists Orchestra, as well as curated presentations of Joe Hisaishi’s concert suites.
Lin describes his artistic vision as cultivating listening communities one town at a time.
Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 is scheduled for Saturday, October 24, at the Alberta Bair Theater. The performance begins at 7:30PM, doors open at 6:30PM, and LIVE Pre-Concert Cues begin at 6:40PM. To purchase tickets, call 406-256-6052 or visit www.billingssymphony.org.