Join us for an exclusive pre-concert dinner at Mastello Ristorante before Honoring Our Heroes. Seating is extremely limited, so purchase your dinner reservation now before it sells out.
On the 25th anniversary of September 11, the Fort Myers Philharmonic opens its inaugural season with an unforgettable tribute to the heroes of that day—and to the first responders who continue to serve our Southwest Florida community with courage, compassion and dedication.
Under the direction of Music Director and Conductor Paul Nadler, Honoring Our Heroes brings together the Fort Myers Philharmonic, the Fort Myers Symphonic Mastersingers and four nationally recognized vocal soloists for Samuel Barber’s profoundly moving Adagio for Strings and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s monumental Requiem.
There are moments when words alone are not enough. This commemorative evening creates a space for Southwest Florida to gather, reflect and remember through music, firsthand stories and meaningful community connection.
Honoring those lost on September 11, the first responders who answered the call and those who continue to protect our communities.
Professional orchestra, an acclaimed chorus and four exceptional soloists join together for Mozart’s monumental Requiem.
A special film presentation will share personal reflections from first responders and local public-safety leaders.
The evening is scheduled to open with a short film created by WGCU’s Tom Hall, featuring the personal stories and reflections of first responders connected to September 11 and local public-safety leaders.
The film is being developed with assistance from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, which is helping connect the production team with individuals who were in New York City during the attacks.
Through these firsthand accounts, the presentation will explore courage, sacrifice and resilience while reflecting on how the work of first responders has changed over the past 25 years.
Guests are encouraged to arrive early and experience a planned Lee County Sheriff’s Office community display before the performance.
Current plans include a BearCat armored emergency-response vehicle, crisis-care K-9 officer and therapy dog, robotic public-safety equipment and a community outreach table.
The display will offer guests an opportunity to meet members of the local law-enforcement community and learn more about the specialized people, training and equipment used to serve and protect Southwest Florida.
Together, Barber’s Adagio for Strings and Mozart’s Requiem move from intimate reflection to a shared expression of grief, courage, mercy and hope.
Few works of American music speak as directly to the human heart as Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings.
Barber originally composed the music in 1936 as the slow movement of his String Quartet, Op. 11. He later arranged it for string orchestra, and that version received its premiere in 1938 with Arturo Toscanini conducting the NBC Symphony Orchestra.
The piece begins almost imperceptibly. A single restrained melodic line emerges before passing through the orchestra and gradually growing toward a powerful climax. Over time, the work has become closely associated with public remembrance and national mourning.
What to Listen For
Listen for one continuous melody moving between sections of the string orchestra. After the emotional peak, silence becomes part of the music before the strings return in quiet reflection.
Mozart’s Requiem is one of the most celebrated and compelling choral works ever written.
Commissioned anonymously in 1791, the score remained unfinished when Mozart died on December 5 of that year. His widow, Constanze Mozart, arranged for it to be completed, principally by Mozart’s student Franz Xaver Süssmayr using the music, drafts and instructions Mozart left behind.
Mozart brings together orchestra, chorus and four vocal soloists in a work of extraordinary dramatic range—from solemn prayer and urgent cries for mercy to moments of tenderness, consolation and hope.
What to Listen For
Hear the solemn opening prayer, the explosive force of the Dies irae, the individual voices of the Tuba mirum and the deeply affecting Lacrimosa.
Barber begins with strings alone: intimate, restrained and deeply personal. Mozart then expands the sound to include the full orchestra, a large chorus and four solo voices. Together, the works invite each listener to reflect individually while becoming part of something larger—a community gathered to honor sacrifice, recognize service and remember together.
The Fort Myers Philharmonic joins the acclaimed Fort Myers Symphonic Mastersingers and an outstanding quartet of guest soloists for Mozart’s Requiem.
Internationally acclaimed conductor Paul Nadler has led more than 60 performances at the Metropolitan Opera and appeared with distinguished opera companies and orchestras throughout North America, Europe and Israel. As Music Director and Conductor of the Fort Myers Philharmonic, Maestro Nadler will lead Honoring Our Heroes and its powerful program of remembrance.
Internationally acclaimed violinist Florentina Râmniceanu has performed as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestral leader throughout Europe and North America. A founding member of the renowned Orion Ensemble, she brings decades of artistic achievement and leadership to her role as Concertmaster of the Fort Myers Philharmonic.
Matthew Koller is the Artistic Director of the Fort Myers Symphonic Mastersingers and founder and Artistic Director of the City of Palms Youth Choir. A graduate of Westminster Choir College, he has led performances of major choral masterworks, world premieres and commissioned works, with appearances that include Carnegie Hall.
Acclaimed soprano Sarah Tucker has earned praise for her radiant voice, expressive artistry and powerful phrasing. Her career includes appearances with San Diego Opera, Virginia Opera, Sarasota Opera, San Francisco Opera and the Dallas Symphony. She joins the Fort Myers Philharmonic as the soprano soloist in Mozart’s Requiem.
American mezzo-soprano Gina Perregrino is an opera singer, teaching artist and writer known for her bold performances and expressive storytelling. Praised by The Wall Street Journal and Opera News, she brings depth, presence and emotional honesty to every performance. She appears as the mezzo-soprano soloist in Mozart’s Requiem.
British-American tenor Joshua Blue has appeared with the Metropolitan Opera, English National Opera, LA Philharmonic, Houston Grand Opera and other leading organizations. A graduate of Oberlin Conservatory and The Juilliard School, he brings extensive operatic and concert experience to his role as tenor soloist in Mozart’s Requiem.
Bass-baritone Lawson Anderson has earned international recognition for his powerful, richly colored voice and commanding stage presence. A prizewinner in several prestigious vocal competitions and a member of the principal roster at Semperoper Dresden, he appears as the bass-baritone soloist in Mozart’s Requiem.
Honoring Our Heroes is for longtime classical-music patrons, first-time concertgoers, veterans, active and retired first responders, community leaders, families and everyone who wishes to mark the 25th anniversary of September 11 in a meaningful way.
Together, we will honor those who answered the call, remember those who were lost and recognize the people who continue to serve our community every day.
Tickets are available through Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall and currently start at $65.93, including processing fees and taxes.
Groups purchasing 10 or more tickets may receive a 10% discount. To arrange group tickets, call the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall Box Office at (239) 481-4849, extension 3104.
Friday, September 11, 2026
Concert begins at 7:30 p.m.
Approximate conclusion: 9:00 p.m.
Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall at FSW
13350 FSW Parkway
Fort Myers, Florida 33919
Lobby doors are currently listed to open one hour before the performance. Arrive early if you wish to experience the planned first-responder display.
Accessible seating and patron accommodations are managed by Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall. Call (239) 481-4849 for assistance.
The current working schedule lists an approximate running time of 90 minutes. Final timing may be adjusted as production details are completed.
Tickets are sold through the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall box office and its official online ticketing system.
Honoring Our Heroes is the inaugural concert of the Fort Myers Philharmonic. The performance commemorates the 25th anniversary of September 11 while honoring local first responders and everyone who serves the Southwest Florida community.
The concert will take place Friday, September 11, 2026, beginning at 7:30 p.m.
The performance will be held at Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall at FSW, located at 13350 FSW Parkway in Fort Myers, Florida.
The program features Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Requiem in D minor, K. 626.
Barber’s Adagio for Strings has become one of America’s most recognized musical expressions of mourning and remembrance. Mozart’s Requiem brings together orchestra, chorus and soloists in a powerful exploration of grief, mercy, judgment and hope. Together, the works create a meaningful musical journey for the 25th anniversary of September 11.
The Requiem will be performed by the Fort Myers Philharmonic and Fort Myers Symphonic Mastersingers under the direction of Maestro Paul Nadler, with choral preparation and leadership by Matthew Koller.
The featured soloists are soprano Sarah Tucker, mezzo-soprano Gina Perregrino, tenor Joshua Blue and bass-baritone Lawson Anderson.
The evening is scheduled to include a short film created by WGCU’s Tom Hall featuring reflections from first responders and local public-safety leaders. A Lee County Sheriff’s Office community display is also being planned for guests arriving before the performance.
Participants and public-safety displays remain subject to final production details and agency availability.
The current schedule lists an approximate running time of 90 minutes. Final timing may be adjusted as the film and production schedule are completed.
Tickets are sold through the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall box office and its official online ticketing system.
Yes. Groups purchasing 10 or more tickets may receive a 10% discount by contacting the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall Box Office at (239) 481-4849, extension 3104.
Yes. Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall provides accessible seating and patron accommodations. Contact the venue directly to discuss individual accessibility needs.
Join Southwest Florida for an extraordinary evening of live music, reflection and connection at Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall.
Mastello Ristorante & Steakhouse
7890 Summerlin Lakes Dr #101, Fort Myers, FL 33907, USA
Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall at FSW
13350 FSW Pkwy, Fort Myers, FL 33919
Military Heritage Museum
900 W Marion Ave, Punta Gorda, FL 33950
Arts Bonita Performing Arts Center - Hinman Auditorium
10150 Bonita Beach Rd SE, Bonita Springs, FL 34135
Florida Repertory Theatre
2268 Bay St, Fort Myers, FL 33901
Sanibel Congregational United Church of Christ
2050 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL 33957
Faith Presbyterian Church
4544 Coronado Parkway, Cape Coral, FL 33904
Alliance for the Arts
10091 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33919
Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall at FSW
13350 FSW Pkwy, Fort Myers, FL 33919
Faith Presbyterian Church
4544 Coronado Parkway, Cape Coral, FL 33904
St. Hilary’s Episcopal Church
5011 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33901
Sanibel Congregational United Church of Christ
2050 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL 33957
Caloosa Sound Convention Center
1375 Monroe St, Fort Myers, FL 33901
Caloosa Sound Convention Center
1375 Monroe St, Fort Myers, FL 33901
Faith Presbyterian Church
4544 Coronado Parkway, Cape Coral, FL 33904
Faith Presbyterian Church
4544 Coronado Parkway, Cape Coral, FL 33904
Faith United Methodist Church
15690 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33908
Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall at FSW
13350 FSW Pkwy, Fort Myers, FL 33919
Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall at FSW
13350 FSW Pkwy, Fort Myers, FL 33919
Choose from our upcoming concerts and secure your tickets for an unforgettable evening with the Fort Myers Philharmonic.
