The Northwest Symphony Orchestra will kick off the holiday season and perform "From the New World" Nov. 21. (Northwest Missouri State University photo)

The Northwest Missouri State University Symphony Orchestra will present its next concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, in the Ron Houston Center for the Performing Arts.

The concert is free and open to the public.

“This concert will be a great way for the community to come together and kick off the holiday season,” Dr. Robert Pippin, an assistant professor of music who conducts the ensemble, said. “The Northwest Symphony Orchestra always performs great music, and we are excited to be able to share this with the Maryville community and the students at Northwest.”

Upon entering the Houston Center, guests will be entertained by the Northwest “TuBearcats,” a student tuba quartet playing holiday favorites in the lobby.

The concert will showcase three dances from “The Nutcracker” by Peter Tchaikovsky. It also will feature three movements from “Symphony No. 9” by Antonín Dvořák, subtitled “From the New World” and written while the Czech composer was in residence in the United States. 

The Northwest Symphony Orchestra is a full orchestra, consisting of woodwinds, brass, percussion and strings. The ensemble performs four concerts a year. Its mission is to contribute to the musical development of its members and to the cultural life of Northwest, Maryville and surrounding areas.