Greenville Symphony opens 79th season with Mozart’s monumental Requiem
September 15, 2026
More than 100 musicians and singers will fill the stage at Peace Concert Hall as the Greenville Symphony opens its 2026–27 Common Ground season with Mozart’s Requiem, presented Saturday, September 26 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, September 27 at 3:00 p.m.
Led by Music Director Lee Mills, the opening performances unite the Greenville Symphony with the Clemson University Singers and Furman Singers, along with four guest vocal soloists, for one of the most powerful and enduring works in the classical repertoire.
Left unfinished at Mozart’s death, the Requiem has captivated audiences for more than two centuries, moving from profound intimacy to searing drama. From the hushed opening of the Introitus to the explosive Dies Irae, the Requiem brings orchestra, chorus and solo voices together across an extraordinary emotional range. For Upstate audiences, the performances offer a rare opportunity to experience the work live on the grand scale it demands.
Joining the orchestra for the Requiem are the Clemson University Singers, directed by Dr. Anthony Bernarducci, and Furman Singers, directed by Dr. Stephen Gusukuma. The vocal quartet features soprano Amanda Sheriff, mezzo-soprano Stephanie Foley, tenor Randall Umstead and bass Edwin Jhamaal Davis.
“Mozart’s Requiem lives in these remarkable contrasts — darkness and light, fear and consolation, intimacy and tremendous dramatic power,” said Mills. “The orchestra sometimes has a wonderfully dark color, while the chorus can move from a plea to terror and to consolation. The Requiem asks all of these musicians to listen, breathe and respond as one, and that collective experience is at the heart of what makes it so powerful.”
The program begins with two contemporary works before turning to Mozart: Caroline Shaw’s Entr’acte and Anna Clyne’s Sound and Fury, featuring City of Greenville Poet Laureate Gle-nis Redmond as narrator.
A nationally recognized poet, author and arts educator, Redmond spent 17 years as a Kennedy Cen-ter Teaching Artist and has helped shape Greenville’s literary arts community for decades through performance, mentorship and community programming. Her narration of Sound and Fury brings one of Greenville’s leading artistic voices into a program that bridges contemporary expression and Mozart’s enduring music.
After intermission, the orchestra, choirs and soloists come together for Mozart’s Requiem, K. 626.
“Opening night should feel like an occasion, and this program certainly does,” said Jessica Satava, Executive Director of the Greenville Symphony. “It brings together artists from across our community while placing Mozart in conversation with compelling voices of today. That connection across generations is at the heart of Common Ground and makes this a meaningful way to begin our 79th season.”
The concert also launches a broader fall exploration of Mozart, with community events ranging from the Counterpoint Panel and guest-artist masterclass to an Amadeus screening and a special musical event at Paris Mountain State Park. The Symphony returns to Mozart October 31 and November 1 with Mozart Among Friends at the Gunter Theatre, featuring the overture to Don Giovanni, Violin Concerto No. 3 and Symphony No. 40. From the monumental scale of the Requiem to Mozart expe-rienced up close, the fall programming offers audiences multiple ways to encounter the remarka-ble range of his music.
Program
- Caroline Shaw: Entr’acte
- Anna Clyne: Sound and Fury
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Requiem, K. 626 (Süssmayr)
Featured Artists
- Lee Mills, conductor
- Glenis Redmond, narrator
- Amanda Sheriff, soprano
- Stephanie Foley, mezzo-soprano
- Randall Umstead, tenor
- Edwin Jhamaal Davis, bass
- Clemson University Singers, Dr. Anthony Bernarducci, director
- Furman Singers, Dr. Stephen Gusukuma, director
Learn more about the featured artists at greenvillesymphony.org(opens in new tab).
Related Events:
Counterpoint Panel: Mozart’s Requiem – Death, Devotion, and Mozart’s Final Masterpiece
The Greenville Symphony will present a free Counterpoint Panel Tuesday, September 22 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Moderated by Music Director Lee Mills, the discussion will bring together choral experts and faith leaders, including Dr. Elliott Smith of the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities and Dr. Stephen Gusukuma of Furman University. The panel will explore the music, meaning and mystery behind Mozart’s Requiem, including its en-during artistic brilliance, spiritual significance and reflections on life, death and hope.
Guest Artist Masterclass
Guest bass Edwin Jhamaal Davis will lead a masterclass Thursday, September 24 from 2:30–4:00 p.m. at the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities.
Pre-Concert Conversations
Concert ticketholders are invited to attend a free pre-concert conversation one hour before each performance at Peace Concert Hall. Music Director Lee Mills, Executive Director Jessica Satava, Dr. Anthony Bernarducci and Dr. Stephen Gusukuma will offer an engaging exploration of the music, composers and collaboration behind the season-opening program.
Amadeus at Hughes Main Library
The Greenville Symphony will host a screening of Amadeus Thursday, October 1 at Hughes Main Library. Doors open at 5:00 p.m., with the film beginning at 5:30 p.m. Guests are welcome to bring blankets for floor seating, and popcorn will be provided in partnership with Poppington’s Gourmet Popcorn.
Paris Mountain Music
The Greenville Symphony will present a special musical event Saturday, October 3 at Paris Moun-tain State Park. Additional details will be announced.
Ticket Information
Mozart’s Requiem will be presented Saturday, September 26 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, September 27 at 3:00 p.m. at Peace Concert Hall. Tickets are available through the Peace Center Box Office at 864-467-3000, in person at the box office, or online through the Greenville Symphony and Peace Center websites. Concertgoers may save 10% with a Choose Your Own subscription package of three or more concerts.
About the Greenville Symphony Orchestra
Now in its 79th season, the Greenville Symphony Orchestra is one of the Southeast’s premier pro-fessional orchestras, reaching more than 50,000 people annually through innovative performances, community events, and music education. Under the baton of Music Director Lee Mills, now enter-ing his third season, the GSO continues to inspire audiences with a fresh approach to both tradi-tional and new works, reflecting the vibrancy of our region.
