Labor Day Concert Dedicated to Susan Kennedy Will Fund Free Tickets for Those Displaced by the Fires

In partnership with Innovia Foundation, donations gathered at the free Comstock Park concert will fund complimentary 2026–27 Symphony tickets for households displaced by the Spokane area fires.

SPOKANE, WA September 3, 2026 - The Spokane Symphony will dedicate its annual Labor Day Concert at Comstock Park, Monday, September 7 at 6 p.m. to Susan Kennedy, whose devoted service as an associate member spanned more than three decades. Susan believed deeply that music nourishes the soul, and she carried that conviction well beyond the concert hall. Her legacy lives on in the Symphony and across the Spokane community she helped shape.

The concert remains free and open to everyone. This year, in partnership with Innovia Foundation, gifts collected at the park and online will underwrite complimentary tickets to the Symphony’s 2026–27 season at the Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox for residents displaced by the Spokane area fires.

“Recovery here is going to take years, and a concert does not shorten that. What we can offer is a moment of respite and reflection, a date night away from rebuilding work, or a family outing when they need to be somewhere else for a while. That is what music can do and what the symphony can provide at this moment.”
— Steve Wenig, CEO, Spokane Symphony

James Lowe, the Spokane Symphony’s Music Director, has added Sibelius’s Finlandia to the program, dedicated to the resilience of this community and to the support that arrived from every direction from neighbors, businesses, volunteers, donors, and fire crews drawn from more than 20 states. Sibelius wrote the piece in 1899 as an act of quiet resilience, and it is remembered now for the hymn at its close, a melody that has carried generations through hard seasons. This year it is offered as thanks as much as tribute.

“I’m deeply moved by Spokane’s resilience and depth of community spirit. Music cannot rebuild the homes that have been lost, but over the months to come we can offer some solace and comfort to those rebuilding their lives.”
— James Lowe, Music Director, Spokane Symphony

The evening opens at 5 p.m. with The Logan Pintor Quartet featuring Kekoa Lyons, alongside Fall Arts Preview booths from arts organizations across the region. The full orchestra takes the stage at 6 p.m. under Music Director James Lowe, joined by soprano Maegan Hoogerhyde, a recent winner of the MusicFest Northwest Vocal Competition, for a program of popular classics and favorites from Hollywood and Broadway. Attendees are invited to bring a blanket and a picnic. Comstock Park is located at 3012 S. Howard Street.

“Recovery isn’t only about rebuilding. It’s the slower work of helping people feel part of a community again. Months from now, when the crews have gone home and the news has moved on, an evening like this will still matter. That’s the kind of long-term support this region needs, and it’s why Innovia is proud to partner with the Symphony to support this generous gift to the community.”
— Shelly O’Quinn, CEO, Innovia Foundation

Gifts can be made in several ways. A QR code linking to the campaign is posted at foxtheaterspokane.org and across the Symphony’s social media channels. Giving stations will be staffed at the Spokane Symphony booth and at the Comstock Neighborhood Council booth. And during the orchestra’s intermission, volunteers will pass buckets through the crowd for cash donations, a Comstock tradition carrying a particular purpose this year.

Tickets will be distributed in partnership with Innovia Foundation and the Spokane Region Long Term Recovery Group (SRLTRG). Fire impacted families must register with SRLTRG at srltrg.org to be eligible to receive tickets.
For more information call the Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox Box Office. 509.624.1200

About the Spokane Symphony
The Spokane Symphony is the Inland Northwest’s largest professional performing arts organization, bringing exceptional live music and educational experiences to more than 150,000 people each season. Led by Music Director James Lowe, the 70-piece professional orchestra performs at the historic Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox in downtown Spokane and reaches audiences of all ages through classical and popular performances, education, and community programs. Founded in 1942, the nonprofit Spokane Symphony has served as a cornerstone of the region’s cultural community for more than 80 years. Learn more at foxtheaterspokane.org.

About Innovia Foundation
Transforming lives and communities - As the community foundation for Eastern Washington and North Idaho, we partner with people who want to improve their communities and make the world better. We work together to identify and respond to our region’s greatest opportunities, help those in need, and leave a lasting impact. Learn more at innovia.org

About Spokane Region Long Term Recovery Group (SRLTRG)
Committed to Post-Disaster Resilience and Restoration - The Spokane Region Long Term Recovery Group (SRLTRG) is a 501c3 non-profit that was organized in the wake of the August 2023 Gray Road and Oregon Road wildfires in Spokane County. It was created to coordinate recovery services and resources for individuals, families, businesses, and communities that were adversely impacted. Its focus is on addressing emergency, short-term needs and providing Disaster Case Management and resources to assist those affected in long-term recovery. Learn more at srltrg.org