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September 29, 2026
Windsor, ON – The Windsor Symphony Orchestra (WSO) is proud to announce the return of Classical in the Concrete, a unique, free performance held inside the Pelissier Street parking garage in Downtown Windsor on Saturday, October 3, 2026.
Now in its third year, this anticipated event will be conducted by WSO Artistic Advisor James Sommerville, this year’s edition will feature performances of famous classical works by Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, and more. The event has reached full capacity in previous years and encourages attendees to reimagine their urban landscape and celebrate the revitalization of the city’s centre.
“The Windsor Symphony Orchestra is one of the driving forces behind the revitalization of our downtown,” said Ward 3 Councillor, Renaldo Agostino. “Between packed events like Classical in the Concrete and our newly transformed parking garage featuring their music, the WSO continues to prove why they are such a vital anchor for our core.”
The City of Windsor refurbished the parking garage in 2025 specifically with the orchestra in mind. Spearheaded in part by the late Maestro Robert Franz, the project renamed each level after a renowned composer and filled the space with a unique classical soundtrack. Today, recordings of Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, and Tchaikovsky performed by WSO musicians serenade visitors as they park among murals that complement the installations in the popular Art Alley below.
“The elegance of a work by Bach and Beethoven against a gritty, industrial backdrop of a parking venue is the perfect juxtaposition,” says WSO Executive Director, Patti Lauzon. “It beautifully honours the historical significance of the automobile for the City of Windsor while elevating our downtown core through the arts.”
One of the highlights of the performance will be the piece LadyDriven, by award-winning Canadian composer, Mari Alice Conrad.
Conrad was inspired by the phrase “lady driven,” a term often used in used-car advertisements. In marketing, the phrase historically served as a notice to potential buyers that a vehicle had been gently driven, treated delicately, and never pushed to high speeds or handled roughly.
Rather than accepting the passive meaning of the phrase, Conrad’s composition flips the script to empower women. The piece challenges the premise that “lady driven” implies hesitation or a lack of intensity. Instead, the music redefines the term to mean driven fiercely, with immense power, and unwavering authority, featuring WSO bassoonist Julie Shier incorporating a Windsor-built Chrysler Pacifica into the performance.
The performance is free to attend, but advance registration is strongly recommended to secure your spot as previous Classical in the Concrete concerts have reached capacity. RSVP with the Windsor Symphony Orchestra on our website (www.windsorsymphony.com), in person through our box office at 121 University Ave. W., call the Box Office at 519-973-1238.
For more information please contact:
Adriano Ciotoli
Coordinator, Audience & Resource Development
Windsor Symphony Orchestra
[email protected]
