The CMU Philharmonic season opens at Carnegie Music Hall on Sunday, September 27th, with Gustav Holst’s otherworldly orchestral suite, The Planets. The concert will begin with a world premiere performance of Sweeping the Skies, written by CMU’s own professor of composition and theory, Dr. Katherine Pukinskis. Based on text from the diaries and lectures of Maria Mitchell, America’s first female astronomer, the work was written to feature CMU Professor of Voice, soprano Sari Gruber. Also on this program is Prism Rhapsody, written by Japanese composer Keiko Abe, which will feature virtuosic marimba soloist and current School of Music Masters student, Aidar Fazylov, winner of the 2026 Philharmonic Soloist Competition (graduate division). Daniel Nesta Curtis, Conductor Sari Gruber, Soprano Aidar Fazylov, Marimba CMU Treble Choir Mark Trawka, Director of Choral Studies Program: Katherine Pukinskis – Sweeping the Skies (World Premiere) Keiko Abe – Prism Rhapsody Gustav Holst – The Planets