A season of connection, courage, and transformation through compelling music and storytelling.
(Image by Alisa Innocenti)
Resonance Works has unveiled its 2025–26 season: a bold blend of contemporary premieres, reimagined classics, and thought-provoking works that illuminate our shared humanity. Now entering its 13th season, the company continues its mission of genre-defying musical storytelling that bridges time, culture, and community.
“At Resonance Works, we believe the arts reveal our shared humanity,” says Artistic & General Director Maria Sensi Sellner, who will conduct all productions this season. “This season invites audiences into stories of service, discovery, healing, and love — themes that are as personal as they are universal.”
Season Line-Up
Reson8: Hero Songs | September 19–21, 2025
The season opens with the Reson8 Vocal Octet in the live premiere of Hero Songs by Peter Hilliard and Matt Boresi, originally commissioned by the Decameron Opera Coalition. This moving song cycle explores resilience, labor, and courage across generations of heroes. Works by Joel Thompson, Rosephanye Powell, Damian Geter, Reena Esmail, Melissa Dunphy, and others expand the program’s exploration of what it means to serve and sacrifice.
- September 19 – Northmont Presbyterian Church (North Hills)
- September 20 – First Baptist Church (Oakland)
- September 21 – Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church
The Jungle Book | November 21–23, 2025
Kamala Sankaram and Kelley Rourke’s The Jungle Book receives its Pittsburgh regional premiere. Infused with Indian classical music, this reimagined opera explores identity, belonging, and empathy through the story of Mowgli, the endangered “human cub” raised by wolves (sung by the Pittsburgh Youth Chorus). Returning director Eve Summer leads a cast featuring Timothi Williams (Raksha), Karlos Piñero-Mercado (Shere Khan), Sergio Martinez (Baloo), Samina Aslam (Bagheera), and Adrianna Cleveland (Hyena).
- Three performances at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall (Carnegie, PA).
Requiem for Water | March 6 & 8, 2026
The season’s large-scale choral-orchestral program features the Pittsburgh premiere of Reena Esmail‘s Malhaar: A Requiem for Water, a work that weaves together Latin texts, Hindi phrases, and the poetry of Wendell Berry and William O’Daly, calling for environmental renewal. Hindustani vocalist Vidita Kanniks joins the ensemble. The program also includes Nancy Galbraith’s acclaimed Flute Concerto (with soloist Lindsey Goodman) and Copland’s Quiet City.
- March 6 – Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall (Carnegie)
- March 8 – First Unitarian Church (Shadyside)
Roméo & Juliette | June 19 & 21, 2026
The season closes with an intimate and emotionally charged staging of Gounod’s Roméo & Juliette, conceived by Sellner and director Justin Lucero. This immersive production places audiences in the heart of Shakespeare’s most enduring love story. The cast features Benjamin Werley and Helen Zhibing Huang as the star-crossed lovers, with Philip Cokorinos (Frère Laurent), Ricardo Herrera (Capulet), Patrick McNally (Mercutio), Donovan Elliot Smith (Tybalt), and Cherry Duke (Gertrude).
- Performances at the New Hazlett Theater (North Side).
“This season is an invitation to witness the depth of human experience — to celebrate community, question what we value, and find beauty in the connections between us,” says Sellner. “We’re thrilled to bring these stories to life and share them with our city.”
TICKETS AND DETAILS
Season subscriptions and single tickets are now available, with discounts available for seniors, students, and children.
For tickets and information: http://www.resonanceworks.org
Categories: Arts and Ideas, Season Listings
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