CLASSIX CONVERSATIONS
JOIN US FOR THE PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE THROUGH MUSIC!
The Reno Phil invites you to join us for a dynamic, three-part lecture series designed for curious minds and lifelong learners. Each session opens the door to a new facet of music—from the lives and works of great composers and the moments from which they draw inspiration, to the lifelong impact of music education and the powerful role of music in health and well-being. Led by expert musicians, guest scholars, and community leaders, this series offers fresh perspectives and engaging discussions to deepen your understanding of music’s place in our world. Whether you’re a devoted concertgoer or simply eager to learn, these lectures provide an inspiring opportunity to connect, discover, and explore.
TICKET PRICING
Classix Subscribers:
Enjoy a special rate — just $20 per lecture, or bundle all three for $50.
Non-Subscribers:
Tickets are $35 per lecture, or save with a bundle of all three for $95.
Youth (26 & under):
Discounted rates are available. Please contact the Reno Phil Box Office at (775) 323-6393 or visit in-person to purchase.
SCHEDULE
Coffee, tea, & breakfast pastries included with cost of admission.
10:30AM – 11:00AM: Coffee, mix & mingle
11:00AM – 12:00PM: Lecture
American masters: a look into gershwin’s mind
Thursday, October 9th, 2025 | 10:30 AM
McKinley Arts & Culture Center – Auditorium
Join the Reno Phil for an illuminating lecture to begin Season 57 as musicologist Mark Clague explores the extraordinary legacy of George Gershwin—a composer whose pursuit of artistry reshaped the landscape of American music. Through the groundbreaking University of Michigan Gershwin Initiative, Clague leads a meticulous, note-by-note restoration of the Gershwins’ catalog, bringing new clarity and authority to iconic works like Rhapsody in Blue and Porgy and Bess. Discover how this research not only honors the genius of George and Ira Gershwin but also invites a new generation of performers and audiences to experience their music as it was truly intended—bold, brilliant, and undeniably American.
voices in the canopy: Birdsong & Conservation in Northern Nevada
Thursday, February 19th, 2026 | 10:30AM
McKinley Arts & Culture Center – Auditorium
Take flight with the Reno Phil’s Season 57 lecture series as we explore the intersection of music, nature, and conservation in Voices in the Canopy: Birdsong & Conservation in Northern Nevada, featuring the Great Basin Bird Observatory. Inspired by Jonathan Sokol’s hauntingly beautiful composition What Trees May Speak—a response to the alarming decline in bird populations—this unique event invites audiences to rediscover the natural world through the pursuit of magic found in birdsong. Learn how to identify the melodies of Nevada’s diverse birdlife, understand the urgent conservation efforts underway, and uncover how the quiet voices of nature can speak volumes when we choose to listen.
Music, Memory and the Pursuit of Happiness
Thursday, April 16th, 2026 | 10:30AM
McKinley Arts & Culture Center – Auditorium
Join composer-in-residence Michelle Isaac for an exclusive first look at her bold new orchestral work commissioned for the Reno Phil’s America 250 celebration. Inspired by the fierce and forgotten legacy of Mary Katharine Goddard—the only woman whose name appears on the Declaration of Independence—Isaac’s composition weaves together Revolutionary War echoes, printing press rhythms, and the powerful words Goddard once published. This lecture delves into Isaac’s immersive creative process and her exploration of a woman who believed deeply in freedom, only to be betrayed by the ideals she helped print into history. Discover how this work brings to life the enduring tension between patriotic idealism and lived experience—and reimagines the pursuit of happiness for a new generation.
bundle and save!
Interested in all three lectures? Visit the link below to get tickets to all three for as low as $50 for Classix Series subscribers and $95 for non-subscribers.