Kristin Chenoweth to Perform with Members of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra at RiverCenter

7 hours ago
2 min read

When Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth performs at RiverCenter for the Performing Arts this November, the audience may just recognize a few of the musicians with her on stage.

It was announced earlier this week that Chenoweth will be accompanied by members of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra during her one-night-only performance of Kristin Chenoweth: Greatest Hits on Friday, November 6, 2026.

A Broadway Star Meets a Columbus Musical Legacy

Chenoweth's career has taken her from Broadway to television, film, recording studios and concert stages around the world. She originated the role of Glinda in Wicked and won a Tony Award for her performance in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Her Greatest Hits concert brings together music from throughout her career, including Broadway favorites, pop selections and fan-requested classics.

The announcement that Chenoweth will perform with members of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra has added even more public appeal to one of the most anticipated performances of RiverCenter's 25th Anniversary Season because it pairs the Tony and Emmy Award-winning performer with musicians from Columbus' beloved orchestra. An ensemble whose history stretches back more than 170 years.

Founded in 1855 by Herman S. Saroni, a student of German composer Felix Mendelssohn, the Columbus Symphony Orchestra is the second oldest orchestra in the nation, following only the New York Philharmonic. It was also the first orchestra founded in the state of Georgia.

The CSO's history offers an extraordinary glimpse into just how deeply the arts are woven into Columbus' identity. Its founding came only 13 years after the New York Philharmonic was established in 1842, meaning Columbus has had an orchestra since before the start of the Civil War.

Today, the Columbus Symphony Orchestra calls RiverCenter for the Performing Arts home and continues a musical tradition that began in the city more than a century and a half ago.

Members of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. Photo by Eliza Morrill.

A Celebration of Columbus' Performing Arts

Bringing Chenoweth together with members of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra also feels particularly fitting during RiverCenter's milestone 25th Anniversary Season.

RiverCenter has spent the past quarter-century creating opportunities for Columbus audiences to experience nationally and internationally recognized performers while also serving as a home for local arts organizations. This November, those two parts of its mission will meet on the same stage.

For audiences, the performance offers more than an opportunity to hear one of Broadway's most recognizable voices live. It is also a chance to hear Chenoweth alongside musicians representing one of Columbus' longest-standing cultural institutions. Cultural institutions that Columbus, Georgia have supported for generations. ◼️