Greenville Symphony’s Mozart Among Friends spotlights hometown violinist Joanna Mulfinger
October 15, 2026
Joanna Mulfinger’s violin was already more than a century old when Mozart was born. Made by Nicolò Amati in 1653 and inherited from her mother, the instrument brings a piece of her family’s history to every performance.
This fall, the Greenville native will step forward from the Greenville Symphony’s violin section to perform as soloist in Mozart Among Friends, presented Saturday, October 31 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, November 1 at 3:00 p.m. in the intimate 400-seat Gunter Theatre at the Peace Center.
Mulfinger has served as the Symphony’s Principal Second Violin since 2003 and holds the Stuart P. Bowne Endowed Chair. Her musical life reaches across the Upstate and beyond the classical concert stage. She is also Concertmaster of the Spartanburg Philharmonic, has played for touring Broadway productions of The Lion King and The Phantom of the Opera, and has accompanied artists including Josh Groban and Smokey Robinson.
“‘Among Friends’ is a fitting title for a concert that puts one of our own at its heart,” said Jessica Satava, Executive Director of the Greenville Symphony. “Joanna has been part of this orchestra for more than two decades. Hearing her take center stage with her colleagues, here in her hometown, makes this a particularly special weekend.”
Music Director Lee Mills will lead the all-Mozart program, which opens the Gunter Theatre Series for the Symphony’s 79th season, Common Ground.
The concert begins with the dramatic overture to Don Giovanni, whose ominous first chords offer a fitting start to Saturday’s Halloween-night performance. Mulfinger will then perform the lyrical Violin Concerto No. 3, written in 1775 when Mozart was just 19. The program closes with Symphony No. 40 in G minor, known for its instantly recognizable melody and fiercely energetic finish.
“Mozart is the quintessential master of classical music. The violin concerto has this wonderful singing quality, with the orchestra constantly listening and responding to the soloist,” said Mills. “Joanna and her colleagues know one another’s playing so well, and in the Gunter, audiences can hear that conversation unfolding. The overture to Don Giovanni will show off how dramatically Mozart can write, and nearly everyone will easily recognize the timeless melodies from Symphony No. 40.”
Program
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Overture to Don Giovanni
Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 3
Mozart: Symphony No. 40
Featured Artists
Lee Mills, conductor
Joanna Mulfinger, violin
Masterclass with Joanna Mulfinger
Mulfinger will lead a masterclass Thursday, October 22 from 2:30–4:00 p.m. at Smith Recital Hall at the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities. Free and open to the public, the event offers an opportunity to watch her work with student violinists.
Ticket Information
Mozart Among Friends will be presented Saturday, October 31 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, November 1 at 3:00 p.m. at Gunter Theatre. Tickets are on sale 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.
About the Greenville Symphony Orchestra
Now in its 79th season, the Greenville Symphony Orchestra is one of the Southeast’s premier professional 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 in his third season, the GSO continues to inspire audiences with a fresh approach to both traditional and new works, reflecting the vibrancy of our region.
