Scott Speck
“You don’t have to journey to the world’s distant capitals to experience the pinnacle of human creativity. While the pyramids remain in Cairo and the Parthenon stands in Athens, the greatest masterpieces of music are alive, breathing, and waiting for you right here at home. The Mobile Symphony brings the real thing to our own backyard with a vitality that rivals any stage on earth.
Our 2026-2027 season is a journey of staggering scope. We scale the heights of the symphonic canon, from the iconic “Fate” motive of Beethoven’s Fifth and the soulful Russian melodies of Tchaikovsky’s Second to the sun-drenched joy of Mendelssohn’s “Italian” and the pop-art effervescence of Kenji Bunch’s Lichtenstein Triptych.
We are proud to welcome a wide array of world-class soloists, including the brilliant pianist Stewart Goodyear, the soulful cellist Benett Tsai, and an audience favorite, violinist Chee-Yun. And in a monumental event for our city, we welcome the legendary pianist Emanuel Ax, Musical America’s “Artist of the Year,” for his first-ever Mobile appearance.
Throughout the year, our music travels from the Mardi Gras festivities of Berlioz’s Roman Carnival to the vivid gallery of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition and the double “Four Seasons” of Vivaldi and Piazzolla. Finally, we conclude with a cosmic symphonic tribute to the 50th anniversary of Star Wars — arriving just in time for May the Fourth.
From the visceral energy of Beethoven & Blue Jeans, to the timeless elegance of Chopin, to the jaw-dropping thrills of John Williams, this is your music, played by your orchestra. No recording can replicate the combustion that happens when we all gather at the Saenger. You are the most essential part of that experience.
The Mobile Symphony is our shared musical vehicle. Thank you for joining us on this extraordinary ride!”
– Scott Speck, Music Director
Scott Speck joined the Mobile Symphony in 2000 as its first full-time Music Director. Under his leadership the orchestra has grown into one of the Gulf Coast’s premier performing arts organizations. Scott is a masterful conductor with a wide-ranging knowledge of repertoire, deep experience in programming, and a terrific sense of what will engage audiences – old and new. His performances with Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Renée Fleming, Joshua Bell, Midori, Evelyn Glennie and Olga Kern have been highlights of his years as music director of the MSO.
Scott also holds positions as Music Director of the Joffrey Ballet, Chicago Philharmonic and West Michigan Symphony. He previously held positions as Conductor of the San Francisco Ballet; Music Advisor and Conductor of the Honolulu Symphony; and Associate Conductor of the Los Angeles Opera. During a tour of Asia he was named Principal Guest Conductor of the China Film Philharmonic in Beijing. He was also invited to the White House as Music Director of the Washington Ballet.
He is co-author of the world’s best-selling books on classical music for a popular audience: Classical Music for Dummies, Opera for Dummies and Ballet for Dummies. He has been a regular commentator on National Public Radio, the BBC and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, broadcast throughout the world.
Scott can be reached on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @scottspeckmusic