Passion! A Night of Opera & Song at the Reese Center

The Newark-Granville Symphony Orchestra kicks off its 2026-27 season with "Passion! A Night of Opera & Song," a program built around two gifted vocal soloists and the full orchestra. It is the kind of night that makes Newark feel like a much bigger city, and it welcomes everyone from lifelong opera fans to first-timers.

About the Concert

Founded in 1939, the Newark-Granville Symphony Orchestra is one of Ohio's oldest community orchestras. Its 2026-27 season marks a new chapter at the John Gilbert Reese Center on the Ohio State University at Newark and COTC campus, which became the orchestra's home starting this season.

"Passion! A Night of Opera & Song" features soprano Cynthia López-Olaya and tenor Jesús Daniel Hernandez alongside the full orchestra. López-Olaya is a Newark High School graduate who went on to study at Ohio State and the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, so this season opener carries a homegrown story that makes it extra special. Expect beloved arias and song works that show off the beauty of the human voice, with the NGSO providing a rich and detailed backdrop.

Two Performances, One Weekend

The orchestra offers two chances to catch the program: Saturday, October 17 at 7:30 PM and Sunday, October 18 at 4:00 PM. The matinee on Sunday is an easy afternoon option, while the Saturday evening show makes a great date night. Both performances take place at the Reese Center on University Drive in Newark.

Getting There

The John Gilbert Reese Center is located at 1209 University Drive on the southern edge of Newark, with on-campus parking available. It is about a 10-minute drive from downtown Newark and roughly 15 minutes from Granville and Heath, making it a convenient night out for all of Licking County.