A weekend of channel surfing opens the Juneau Symphony’s 64th season

‘TV Classics’ concerts on Saturday and Sunday at JDHS feature shows from ‘I Love Lucy’ to ‘The Simpsons,’ plus news and sports theme music along with a few surprises

Troy Quinn guides the Juneau Symphony through a rehearsal of its "TV Classics" concert at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2026. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Independent)

By Mark Sabbatini

Juneau Independent

If you think the best part of the evening news is the opening theme then this is the concert for you.

Music by famed composer John Williams and many others will be performed — somewhat briefly — in a "TV Classics" concert that will open the Juneau Symphony’s 64th season at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday at the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé auditorum. Nearly 20 pieces are in the program for the 90-minute show spanning "I Love Lucy" from the early 1950s to "The Simpsons" that debuted in the late 1980s.

It’s being presented and conducted by Troy Quinn, the symphony’s music director from 2015 to 2018, who in an interview Thursday said in some ways it poses a greater challenge for the musicians than a full-length classic concerto.

"Every moment we're switching between one style and one genre to the next," he said. "The other thing I would elaborate on is the fact that a lot of this music, even though it's short, is virtuosic in its writing because it has to deliver immediately to the listener, and so there's other aspects that musicians are going to be asked of — playing jazz, playing swing, playing funk, playing disco — all these different types of styles of music that you normally might not have on a one symphonic classical program."

Also, Quinn said, "these composers only have two, three, four minutes to really grab your attention."

Juneau Symphony musicians rehearse a "TV Classics" concert at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2026. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Independent)

Quinn said he developed the basic program about five years ago and has presided over numerous ensemble performances of it across the U.S. He was invited to open the Juneau Symphony’s season in place of recently hired music director Brad Hogart, who is away on paternity leave.

Although he’s been away from Juneau for nearly a decade, Quinn said many of the symphony’s current musicians were familiar faces when he returned this week to begin rehearsals for this weekend’s shows. At the same time, arriving in town as a visitor and getting a show in harmony is also a familiar experience.

"I'm based in Los Angeles, and I have four orchestras that I regularly conduct in addition to my teaching duties at the University of Southern California, and then guest conducting all over the country as well," he said.

The "TV Classics" concert is "a very quick turnaround…and it seems to be the most popular concert I conduct, so I thought, ‘Why not bring it to Juneau?’ and I think our audiences are going to be in for a treat."

Shows such as "Bonanza," "Star Trek" and "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" are in the program, plus other compositions such as John Tesh’s "Roundball Rock" that’s played during some NBA telecasts, Quinn said. The composition by Williams, primarily known for some of the most famous movie music in history, will be familiar to viewers of "NBC Nightly News."

"There are specific parts of the theme that may be nostalgic to people," Quinn said, referring to the lineup of shows. However, "people are used to hearing the short clips — 30 seconds on television — (and) you're going to actually hear the whole two-, three-, four-, five-minute clip you never get to hear actually on the television."

A TV-themed composition is displayed on a tablet screen during a rehearsal of a "TV Classics" concert at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2026. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Independent)

And while concert viewers won’t get the program that goes with each show’s theme, they will get themes presented to them as part of the program.

"I'm going to be elaborating and explaining in-between pieces — sort of the host, if you will — not only the conductor, but the emcee host," Quinn said. "I'll be breaking down everything, giving a little behind-the-scenes look and a few surprises."

"TV Classics" is designated as the Juneau Symphony’s pops concert for this season, occurring as the first show rather than the finale as is usually tradition. This season — titled "Elemental" — also features a "Holiday Cheer" concert Dec. 12 and 13, a "Breath" show Jan. 30 and 31, "Flame" April 3 and 4, and "Currents" June 5 and 6.

Information about tickets and other details is at juneausymphony.org.

• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.

Troy Quinn guides the Juneau Symphony through a rehearsal of its "TV Classics" concert at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2026. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Independent)