PAST EVENTS & Performances
- March 29, 2025 at 7:00 pm at Catherine Cassidy Gallagher Great Hall
Concert: Light and Sound
As epic as orchestra concerts get! A theatrical lighting scheme will underscore this bigger than life performance as wcfsymphony joins onstage with the Wartburg Community Symphony...
- March 1, 2025 at 7:00 pm at Catherine Cassidy Gallagher Great Hall
Concert: "Joyous in the Extreme"
Bros before Crescendos! Mozart and Haydn, two of the most accomplished composers of the 18th century, had a fascinating relationship.
- Tue, December 31, 2024 at 8:00 pm at Catherine Cassidy Gallagher Great Hall
Concert: Swinging in the New Year
Sparks will fly when Joan Ellison brings the Golden Age of studio recording back to life with a swinging celebration...
- Sun, October 27, 2024 at 2:00 pm at Catherine Cassidy Gallagher Great Hall
Concert: The Music Man
In partnership with the Gallagher Bluedorn, wcfsymphony, Waterloo Community Playhouse, and Cedar Falls Community Theatre, this show is family entertainment at its best.
- Sat, October 26, 2024 at 2:00 pm at Catherine Cassidy Gallagher Great Hall
Concert: The Music Man
In partnership with the Gallagher Bluedorn, wcfsymphony, Waterloo Community Playhouse, and Cedar Falls Community Theatre, this show is family entertainment at its best.
- Fri, October 25, 2024 at 7:00 pm at Catherine Cassidy Gallagher Great Hall
Concert: The Music Man
In partnership with the Gallagher Bluedorn, wcfsymphony, Waterloo Community Playhouse, and Cedar Falls Community Theatre, this show is family entertainment at its best.
- Sat, September 21, 2024 at 7:00 pm at Catherine Cassidy Gallagher Great Hall
Concert: Embracing American Stories
Just the kind of dynamic program for which wcsfymphony is known, this orchestral narrative intertwines fascinating musical strands of the American story...
- Sat, August 31, 2024 at 8:00 pm at River Place Plaza
Concert: Labor Day - Celebrating Bernstein
Music by the Maestro! Experience the beloved theater music of America’s most famous classical musician, Leonard Bernstein, at our annual free River Place Plaza concert.
- Sun, July 7, 2024 at 7:30 pm at Waverly Kohlmann Park
Concert: Independence Day - Waverly
Our annual free celebration of American music on the banks of the Cedar River in Waverly...
- Sat, July 6, 2024 at 7:30 pm at RiverLoop Amphitheatre
Concert: Independence Day - Waterloo
Our annual free celebration of American music on the banks of the Cedar River in Waterloo...
- Sat, April 27, 2024 at 7:00 pm at Catherine Cassidy Gallagher Great Hall
Concert: Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back In Concert
Disney Concerts and wcfsymphony proudly present Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back In Concert! This is the April 27 performance.
- Fri, April 26, 2024 at 7:00 pm at Catherine Cassidy Gallagher Great Hall
Concert: Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back In Concert
Disney Concerts and wcfsymphony proudly present Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back In Concert! This is the April 26 performance.
- Sat, March 30, 2024 at 7:00 pm at Catherine Cassidy Gallagher Great Hall
Concert: A Slavic Easter
Spring renewal with concert music from East and West. Enjoy a musical Easter with colorful sounds by Rimsky-Korsakov and Tchaikovsky paired with the spiritual midwest soundscape of John Luther Adams.
- Sat, March 2, 2024 at 7:30 pm at Brown Derby Ballroom
Concert: Appalachian Spring meets OK Factor
A candlelight concert at Brown Derby Ballroom featuring the intimate instrumentation of Appalachian Spring paired with new work by alt-classical band OK Factor. This is the 7pm performance.
- Sat, March 2, 2024 at 4:00 pm at Brown Derby Ballroom
Concert: Appalachian Spring meets OK Factor
A candlelight concert at Brown Derby Ballroom featuring the intimate instrumentation of Appalachian Spring paired with new work by alt-classical band OK Factor. This is the 4pm performance.
- Sun, December 31, 2023 at 8:00 pm at Catherine Cassidy Gallagher Great Hall
Concert: NYE with Joel Waggoner
Waterloo native Joel Waggoner returns to host our musical New Year’s Eve party. Broadway to the Billboard. Sparkle and soul. Original arrangements and fresh, new collaborations!
- Sat, November 11, 2023 at 7:00 pm at Waterloo East High School
Concert: Vita Militar
Marking Veterans’ Day with a special program at East High School's historic auditorium featuring an insightful collection of music connected to military service
- Sat, October 21, 2023 at 7:00 pm at Catherine Cassidy Gallagher Great Hall
Concert: Beethoven and Bartók
Virtuosity reigns in this showcase of remarkable concertos: Beethoven’s Piano Concerto no. 4 with the electric Awadagin Pratt and Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra featuring our incredible wcfsymphony musicians
- Sat, September 2, 2023 at 8:00 pm at River Place Plaza
Concert: A Gary Kelley Celebration
Celebrating 15 years of groundbreaking artistic collaboration with Gary Kelley, featuring highlights from The Planets Reimagined, Bach and the Blues, MLK, Nutcracker and To The New World and a surprise premiere
- Sun, July 2, 2023 at 7:00 pm at Waverly Kohlmann Park
Concert: Independence Day Waverly
Our annual free celebration of American music on the banks of the Cedar River in Waverly, featuring a diverse array of American music
- Sat, July 1, 2023 at 7:00 pm at RiverLoop Amphitheatre
Concert: Independence Day Waterloo
Our annual free celebration of American music on the banks of the Cedar River in Waterloo, featuring a diverse array of American music
- Sat, April 29, 2023 at 7:00 pm at Catherine Cassidy Gallagher Great Hall
Concert: Evolution of African American Music
Jazz maestro Bruce Henry caps off a season-long community residency exploring the evolution of African American music, featuring Felicia Smith-Nalls.
- Sat, April 15, 2023 at 10:00 am at Waterloo Center for the Arts, Town Hall Room
Music Lab: Worldwide Woodwinds
Our free concerts for young audiences (formerly known as Lollipops) return with a worldwide exploration through wind instruments. The delightful Instrument Petting Zoo will be available for musical exploration immediately following the performance.
- Sat, March 4, 2023 at 7:00 pm at Catherine Cassidy Gallagher Great Hall
Concert: Mahler, Shostakovich 5, and UNI Musicians
A celebration of Cedar Valley talent featuring Megan Esther Grey singing Mahler, a new work by UNI composer Jon Schwabe, and an inspiring side-by-side performance of Shostakovich 5 with Northern Iowa Symphony
- Sat, February 4, 2023 at 7:00 pm at Catherine Cassidy Gallagher Great Hall
Concert: Création du Monde
Experience jazz- and pop-influenced music for chamber orchestra by Copland, Milhaud, and young American composer Timo Andres
- Sat, January 28, 2023 at 10:00 am at GBPAC Lobby
Music Lab: Percussion
Our free concerts for young audiences return with a bang - or lots of them! - courtesy the wcfsymphony Percussion Ensemble. The delightful Instrument Petting Zoo will be available for musical exploration immediately following the performance.
- Sun, December 4, 2022 at 3:00 pm at Antioch Baptist Church
Concert: Holidays at Antioch
The delightful Nutcrackers of Tchaikovsky and Ellington at Waterloo's Antioch Baptist Church
- Fri, November 4, 2022 at 7:00 pm at Catherine Cassidy Gallagher Great Hall
Concert: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone™ in Concert
Relive the film that started it all! Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime experience as wcfsymphony performs John Williams’ iconic score
- Sat, October 1, 2022 at 7:00 pm at Catherine Cassidy Gallagher Great Hall
Concert: La Mer and Rachmaninoff
Pianist Stewart Goodyear plays Rachmaninoff's beloved Second Concerto, followed by the orchestral wonders of Debussy's La Mer
- Sat, September 3, 2022 at 7:00 pm at River Place Plaza
Concert: All That Jazz
Wrap up summer with rhythm! Our second-annual performance at River Place in Cedar Falls explores an essential American musical style, jazz.
- Sun, July 3, 2022 at 7:00 pm at Waverly Kohlmann Park
Concert: Waverly Independence Day
Our free July 4th program returns to Waverly for an evening of Americana by the river in Kohlmann Park. Hear marches and other patriotic classics for Independence Day!
- Sat, July 2, 2022 at 7:00 pm at RiverLoop Amphitheatre
Concert: Mayor's Fireworks
Our free July 4th program returns as the centerpiece of the Mayor’s Fireworks celebration in downtown Waterloo. Hear marches and other patriotic classics before the sky lights up for Independence Day!
- Sat, June 4, 2022 at 7:00 pm at RiverLoop Amphitheatre
Concert: Sounds of the American West
An open-air evening of iconic musical styles inspired by the landscape of the American frontier. Featuring Native American legends, classic Western film soundtracks, and the cowboy ballet music of Aaron Copland.
- Thu, May 26, 2022 at 7:00 pm at Catherine Cassidy Gallagher Great Hall
Concert: Between Bach and the Blues
Music of J.S. Bach and Robert Johnson woven together in an intimate visual presentation by Gary Kelley plus a world premiere by Mike Conrad.
- Sat, April 23, 2022 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm at Catherine Cassidy Gallagher Great Hall
Concert: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
A local collaboration of colorful and exciting scope, the beloved Andrew Lloyd Webber musical tells the story of Joseph's "coat of many colors" set to an array of irresistible pop music styles.
- Sat, April 23, 2022 at 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm at Catherine Cassidy Gallagher Great Hall
Concert: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
A local collaboration of colorful and exciting scope, the beloved Andrew Lloyd Webber musical tells the story of Joseph's "coat of many colors" set to an array of irresistible pop music styles.
- Fri, April 22, 2022 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm at Catherine Cassidy Gallagher Great Hall
Concert: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
A local collaboration of colorful and exciting scope, the beloved Andrew Lloyd Webber musical tells the story of Joseph's "coat of many colors" set to an array of irresistible pop music styles.
- Sat, March 12, 2022 at 7:00 pm at Catherine Cassidy Gallagher Great Hall
Concert: Jane In Concert
A magical combination of live music and National Geographic imagery, this stunning documentary about conservationist Jane Goodall features a score by Philip Glass.
- Fri, December 31, 2021 at 8:00 pm at Catherine Cassidy Gallagher Great Hall
Concert: New Year’s Eve with Maddie Poppe
Celebrate the arrival of 2022 with one of Iowa’s most notable musical voices, Maddie Poppe, accompanied by wcfsymphony in brand new orchestral arrangements and winter seasonal favorites.
- Sat, October 30, 2021 at 4:00 pm at RiverLoop Amphitheatre
Concert: Villains and Superheroes
Wear your Halloween costume to our celebration of the spectacular music from Marvel, Star Wars, and Superman alongside orchestral epics by Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, and others. This show has been moved to RiverLoop Amphitheatre and is taking place at 4pm.
- Sat, October 16, 2021 at 7:00 pm at Catherine Cassidy Gallagher Great Hall
Concert: Serenata Notturna 7pm
Entertaining party music from classical Europe, featuring music by Black Parisian composer Joseph Bologne and his contemporary Mozart. This show has been moved to GBPAC and is only taking place at 7pm.
- Sat, September 4, 2021 at 7:00 pm at River Place Plaza
Concert: Summer Pops
Our free, outdoor summer concert series concludes with a delightful evening of popular song featuring the talented husband-and-wife duo Abby and Travis Turpin.
- Sat, July 3, 2021 at 8:00 pm at RiverLoop Amphitheatre
Concert: Summer Americana
wcfsymphony's summer of in-person performances continues with the return of the community’s favorite patriotic show of the year, The Mayor’s Fireworks.
- Sat, June 12, 2021 at 7:00 pm at RiverLoop Amphitheatre
Concert: Summer Classics
wcfsymphony returns! Our first concert for live audiences since the start of the pandemic features orchestral classics and is part of the 2021 My Waterloo Days celebration.
- Sat, May 15, 2021 at 10:00 am at Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony
The Music Lab: Inspirations and Variations Part II
The Music Lab is wcfsymphony’s new concert series for young audiences. In this episode our two intrepid musical researchers transport a surprise Norwegian composer to the present.
- Sat, April 17, 2021 at 7:00 pm at Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony
Digital Concert: World Winds
Join Jason Weinberger and the wcfsymphony woodwinds on a tour of music from around the world and across history in this free stream from the Gallagher-Bluedorn stage.
- Sat, March 20, 2021 at 10:00 am at Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony
The Music Lab: Inspirations and Variations Part I
The Music Lab is wcfsymphony’s new concert series for young audiences. In this debut episode two special musical researchers connect with one of the world's most famous composers!
- Sat, December 12, 2020 at 7:00 pm at Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony
Digital Concert: Glorious Brass
A family-friendly exploration of baroque and seasonal brass music in a creative virtual presentation highlighting the glorious acoustics of the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center.
- Fri, October 30, 2020 at 7:00 pm
Live From The Archive, Ep 7: Spooky Sounds
Gather the family for an All Hallows Eve of magical and monstrous music! This kid-friendly version of our popular archive series features shorter Halloween-themed selections from several different wcfsymphony performances
- Sat, October 3, 2020 at 7:00 pm at Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony
Digital Concert: Celebrating Beethoven
Celebrating Beethoven marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Ludwig van Beethoven through a unique look at the Viennese tradition of serenade-style music.
