Jefferson Symphony Orchestra closes out 2024-25 season with “Star Wars” concert

Music is much like the Force from the “Star Wars” franchise.

To paraphrase Jedi Master Yoda, music surrounds people and binds them together. One must feel the music around them, between the violins, the trumpets, the flutes, the drums — everywhere. Even between the conductor and the audience.

That’s exactly what Music Director J. Arturo González and the Jefferson Symphony Orchestra members were hoping for on May 18, as they hosted a special “Star Wars”-themed concert as their 2024-25 season finale.

The orchestra hosted back-to-back shows at Colorado School of Mines’ Green Center, where hundreds of “Star Wars” and symphony fans packed the house for both performances. A good portion of both attendees and orchestra members wore costumes or “Star Wars”-themed apparel for the shows.

Among them was Conifer’s Stark family.

Molly Stark said she and her two children had never been to a JSO performance before, but they love “Star Wars” and were excited to hear the music live. They especially enjoyed hearing “Across the Stars” and “Parade of the Ewoks.”

The family members said they had a great time and would be willing to come back to another JSO performance.

González said that was one of his goals for the show, explaining how this type of concert is “a good way to bring in a different type of audience” and that he wanted newcomers to enjoy their experience and return for another show.

JSO concert organizers confirmed attendance for the May 18 “Star Wars” concerts was higher than normal, but that was partly because the orchestra hosted two shows rather than one.

Violinist Martha Finch, who was dressed as Senator Padmé Amidala, was excited to see such a large turnout. She added how she and her colleagues “love the community” and want to see people engage more with their concerts.

The orchestra’s next event will be its Aug. 17 summer concert at Heritage Lakewood Belmar Park. Finch, González and others invited everyone to enjoy the Music of the 1980s program, including movie soundtracks like “E.T.” and “Back to the Future,” as well as ‘80s rock music, Broadway songs and more.

“We’re here,” González said of JSO. “I think it’s the best and highest-quality community orchestra in Colorado.”

A real Cantina Band

González, who was closing out his second season as JSO’s music director and conductor, told attendees that he’s been a longtime “Star Wars” fan. He described how he saw the original film in theaters in 1977 and how the original trilogy brings back memories of his family.

González recalled that moment in the theater, when the first notes of John Williams’ iconic score blasted over the title and opening crawl.

“In two seconds, the composer tells you what the movie is about,” González told attendees. “ … That gives you a predisposition to pay attention.”

During the show, González encouraged attendees to “break the pattern a little bit” from a regular show by cheering, clapping and holding their lightsabers aloft during their favorite numbers.

Afterward, González told The Transcript how he’s done a “Star Wars”-themed show before with other groups and was excited to do it this year with JSO.

The May 18 program consisted of 11 pieces from the original trilogy and just “Across the Stars” from the prequel trilogy. González explained that JSO featured those pieces because it already owned the music and the rights to perform them.

However, he said his dream is to perform Williams’ music from all nine Skywalker-saga films, including the prequel trilogy’s “Duel of the Fates,” which features a full choir. Organizing and performing such a large-scale concert would be complicated and expensive, but he said he hopes to do it one day.

While not all the orchestra members enjoy “Star Wars” as much as he does, González appreciated their team work and passion for the franchise’s music.

Violinist Atsuko Ohtake, who dressed as the Jedi-trained warrior Ahsoka Tano, explained how one of her fellow violinists is a big “Star Wars” fan and suggested characters for her colleagues to dress as, including Ohtake as Ahsoka.

Ohtake said she didn’t know much about the character, but from what she’d heard, they have very similar personalities.

Overall, Ohtake described how she enjoyed the concert, adding that Williams’ music is “a lot of fun to play.”

Finch likewise described the music as “challenging but rewarding to play,” adding how she didn’t fully appreciate it until she started playing it.

“It’s great to play,” she continued. “I like that it uplifts you and gives you those (inspirational) moments.”

While “Star Wars” was a fun experiment for 2025, González said JSO has an equally exciting lineup planned for its 2025-26 shows. The Oct. 12 season opener will include Ludwig van Beethoven’s world-famous “Symphony No. 5” and the May 17, 2026 season finale will feature music from Gustav Holst’s “The Planets.”

González said the latter will be a partnership with Mines and the Denver Children’s Choir, describing how he wants to turn the Green Center into a planetarium-type experience for the show.

“Come listen to us,” he said of JSO. “ … We do electrifying music.”

For more information, visit jeffsymphony.org.

Click through additional photos from the May 18 concert: