This Saturday and Sunday, the Lima Symphony Orchestra will be performing their "Organ by Candlelight." There will be one show on Saturday evening in Lima and one show on Sunday afternoon in Minster. The candlelit atmosphere and classical music paired with the organ make for a lovely evening that can help you escape to a simpler time when candlelight and classical music were the night's entertainment.

January 14, 2025, Press Release from the Lima Symphony Orchestra: Lima, OH—The Lima Symphony Orchestra (LSO) is thrilled to announce it has been approved by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for a Challenge America award of $10,000. This generous grant will support the orchestra’s upcoming educational initiative, Found Sound Around the World. The NEA will award 272 Challenge America awards nationwide, totaling $2,720,000, as part of its recent announcement of fiscal year 2025 grants. Elizabeth Brown-Ellis, Executive Director of the Lima Symphony Orchestra, expressed her gratitude for this recognition and support, stating, “The Lima Symphony Orchestra is deeply grateful to the National Endowment for the Arts for their generous support of Found Sound Around the World. This transformative program will engage young participants in the joy of music-making, fostering creativity, collaboration, and cultural exploration while building lasting connections within our community. We are honored to partner with the NEA to bring this empowering experience to life.”

January 6, 2025, press release from the Lima Symphony Orchestra: Lima, OH (January 6, 2025) – Experience the timeless beauty of classical music illuminated by the warm glow of candlelight at the Lima Symphony Orchestra’s upcoming “Organ by Candlelight” performances. These unforgettable evenings will take place on: Saturday, January 18, 2025, at 7:30 PM at Trinity United Methodist Church (Lima), Sunday, January 19, 2025, at 4:00 PM at St. Augustine Catholic Church (Minster).

January 6, 2025, press release from Quincy Thompson, Van Wert Live: [Van Wert, OH] – Get ready to laugh until your sides hurt as Etta May and The Southern Fried Chicks return to the Niswonger Performing Arts Center on Saturday, February 1st, to kick off 2025 with a bang! Supported by Leland Smith Insurance and Westwood Behavioral Health, this powerhouse trio – featuring Etta May, Leslie Norris, and Sonya White – will bring a hilarious and unapologetically saucy Southern perspective on life, love, and everything in between. Etta May, often hailed as the "Queen of Southern Sass," is no stranger to the Niswonger stage. Her quick wit and down-to-earth humor have made her a fan favorite across the country. Teaming up with the equally hilarious Leslie Norris and Sonya White, the Southern Fried Chicks deliver a night of laughter you won't want to miss. Who is Etta May, you ask? Prior to finding success as a stand-up comic, Etta wandered from dead end job to dead end job including a 10-year stint as a school bus driver. She says she learned how to handle unruly kids by Armor-Alling the seats and slamming on the brakes all the way to school.  Her theory: “Kind of hard to pick a fight with the kid in front of you, when you’re just holding on for dear life.” 

They were ringing in the new year with the Lima Symphony's Disco and Motown concert. Those in attendance danced the night away with timeless hits from the likes of Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, and ABBA. But the fun didn't stop there; the symphony also performed classics throughout the decades, such as "Stayin' Alive," "Dancing Queen," and "My Girl," with a special surprise from the hit movie Barbie.