On Sept. 28 and 30, Greensboro native and actor Ken Jeong, known for his role in The Hangover film trilogy, will appear with the Greensboro Symphony at the historic Carolina Theatre in Greensboro, N.C., for two performances of Not So Classical. Led by filmmaker David Donnelly and music director Dmitry Sitkovetsky, this unique blend of film and live concert opens the symphony’s 58th season as part of the Tanger Outlets Masterworks Series.
Dmitry Sitkovetsky, music director
Not So Classical is presented as a 90-minute, no-intermission program structured around five short film vignettes that play alongside live orchestral performance. The world premiere event pairs cinematic storytelling with four classical works: Franz Joseph Haydn’s Overture “Lo Special,” W.A. Mozart’s Violin Concerto in G Major, Frédéric Chopin’s Prelude No. 15 (arranged for string orchestra) in D-flat Major, and Alexander Borodin’s Symphony No. 2. Each film segment explores the personal and communal bonds people form with music, showing how those connections shape everyday life.
The filmed material includes interviews with Greensboro residents, scenes that highlight Ken Jeong’s ties to his hometown, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of orchestra members, conductor Dmitry Sitkovetsky, board members, and local community leaders. Together, the visual and musical elements create a narrative that aims to deepen audience appreciation for these classical masterworks while celebrating the role of music in the community.
This hybrid presentation offers both longtime classical music fans and newcomers an accessible, film-infused concert experience. By interweaving cinematic vignettes with live performance, Not So Classical seeks to present familiar repertoire in an engaging, contemporary context. The event marks an ambitious start to the Greensboro Symphony’s season and underscores the ensemble’s commitment to creative programming that connects music with the wider community.