Musically Up Close
Musically Up Close: 2026-2027 Season
Experience the Art of the Intimate
Panama City Symphony is thrilled to bring back the Musically Up Close series in our partnership with The Department of Parks, Culture, and Recreation, City of Panama City.
This beloved series brings world-class chamber music and solo performances directly into the heart of our community, offering an “up close” perspective on the artistry of our musicians.
Most Events are Free and Open to the Public.
What’s New this Season:
Expanded Venues
This year, the City of Panama City has opted to widen the reach with additional venues. Musically Up Close will bring two concerts each to the newly remodeled Panama City Garden Club, the Martin Luther King Jr. Center, and City Hall. Moving into familiar civic spaces removes travel barriers and shares outstanding musical performances with several neighborhoods. These intimate settings foster a connection between audiences and artists, turning each concert into a welcoming community gathering.
Musically Up Close Season Schedule
January – June 2027
Save the Dates: Experience the Passion of Musically Up Close This Season!
Ryan W. Stone
Six Strings to Sunday
Friday, January 22, 2027, 3:30 pm
Panama City Garden Club
810 Garden Club Dr, Panama City
Free and Open to the Public
Ryan W. Stone (B. 2000) is a composer (ASCAP), classical guitarist, bass vocalist, and organist from Panama City Beach, Florida. Stone was a member of the Voices of Northwest Florida State College from 2021 to 2022. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Music Theory and Composition in 2024, and a Master in Sacred Music in 2026 from the University of Florida. He was appointed organist of First Baptist Church of Gainesville in 2025, where he regularly composes preludes for church services. In 2026, he was commissioned to compose for the UF Guitar Festival; and the short film The Road to Old Florida by Eric Romo.
Wesley Saunders, Tenor, with String Quartet
Friday, February 19, 2027, 7:00 pm (Ticketed Event)
Panama City Garden Club
810 Garden Club Dr, Panama City
Ticketed Event. $50 VIP (includes 2 tickets); $10 General Admission
Tenor Wesley Saunders is recognized for his expressive artistry and deep commitment to oratorio and concert repertoire, with a particular dedication to the vocal works of J.S. Bach. Recent collaborations include appearances with the Monroe Symphony Orchestra, the Gulf Coast Messiah Chorus, and The Handel Project. In addition to appearing on the rosters of Queen City Chorale, Missouri Choral Artists, and Cantus Firmus Chorale. His artistry also includes extensive experience in musical theatre, opera, and tv/film. Dedicated to continued refinement of his craft, Saunders has been selected as a vocal fellow for the American Bach Academy, the Northwestern Bach Academy, the Berkshire Choral Festival, the Spoleto Festival USA, and Charlotte Bach Festival, and his international debut was with the Berlin Opera Academy. His education involved studies at the University of Idaho, the University of Southern Mississippi, and the Chenaniah Summer Music Institute. Now based out of Florida’s Emerald Coast, he lives with his wife Anna, an accomplished musician and professional chef.
Carter Doolittle
Reimagining the Saxophone
Friday, March 19, 2027, 3:30 pm
Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center
705 E 14th Ct, Panama City
Free and Open to the Public
Carter Doolittle earned 2nd Place in the Panama City Symphony’s 2026 Emerging Artists Competition (College Division) on alto saxophone. Carter Doolittle is a saxophonist driven by a deep curiosity for sound and a commitment to expanding the boundaries of classical saxophone. A passionate advocate for contemporary music and underrepresented composers, he seeks not only to elevate the instrument’s presence in premier concert halls, but also to bring diverse voices and innovative repertoire into the saxophone canon. His artistry is shaped by a belief that music can both challenge social norms and encapsulate human emotion.
Recognized for his compelling presence as both a soloist and collaborator, Carter has appeared as a concerto soloist with the faculty orchestra at the 2024 Eastern Music Festival and has been featured twice with the UNCSA Wind Ensemble. He has also presented a pre-concert recital for the North Carolina Symphony’s Ovation Concert Series and performed as a concerto soloist with the UNCSA Symphony Orchestra. His most recent performances took place at the prestigious Carnegie Weill Recital Hall, Library of Congress, and the Lincoln Center.
Joshua Thai
Emerging Artists Competition Winner, 2027 College Division
Rhapsody and Reverie
Friday, April 16, 2027, 7:00 pm
City Hall, City of Panama City
501 Harrison Avenue, Panama City
Ticketed Event. $50 VIP (includes 2 tickets); $10 General Admission
Violinist Joshua Thai earned top honors at Panama City Symphony’s 2026 Emerging Artists Competition (College Division) with a captivating performance of Korngold’s Violin Concerto. As part of his competition grand prize, Joshua returns to present an intimate recital for the Musically Up Close series after making his guest soloist appearance with the Symphony in February 2027 (With Love, Tchaikovsky).
Joshua is a native of Tucson, Arizona, and has been studying violin since the age of seven. A student of Dr. Katherine McLin at Arizona State University, Joshua made his solo orchestral debut at the age of 11 with the Arizona Symphonic Winds. He has since appeared as a soloist with many other orchestras, including the Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra, White Mountain Symphony Orchestra, Rocky Ridge Festival Orchestra, and the Tucson Philharmonia Youth Orchestra.
Joshua has been a prize winner at many competitions, including the AZMusicFest Chamber Music Competition, WMSO Concerto Competition, RRMC Concerto Competition, COT Youth Concerto Competition, SASO Dorothy Vanek Concerto Competition, TPYO Scholarship Competition, and the Progressive Musicians Competition. As a recitalist, Joshua has made appearances across the United States, including his solo debut in Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall.
In performance, Joshua has collaborated with many internationally acclaimed artists, including Kyung Sun Lee and members of the Borromeo and Harlem string quartets. Joshua has also performed in masterclasses for many internationally acclaimed musicians, including Paul Kantor, Paul Huang, Kristopher Tong, Carolyn Huebl, Shannon Thomas, and members of the Miro, Borromeo, and Harlem string quartets.
Throughout the years, Joshua has attended and received scholarships to many prestigious festivals, including the Bowdoin International Music Festival, Heifetz International Music Institute, Borromeo Chamber Music Festival, Brevard Music Center, Hilton Head Chamber Music Institute, and Rocky Ridge Music Center. He has also served as concertmaster of the Brevard Sinfonia, ASU Symphony, Tucson Philharmonia Youth Orchestra, and the RRMC Festival Orchestra. He currently performs on a c. 1745 Andrea Castagneri violin.
Panama City Symphony String Academy
Spring Concert
Friday, May 14, 2027, 5:00 pm
Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center
705 E 14th Ct, Panama City
Free and Open to the Public
Join us for an inspiring afternoon of music featuring the talented young musicians of the Panama City Symphony String Academy! Directed by Florida-certified music educator Rachel Cole, the String Academy provides 4th through 8th-grade students (ages 9–15) with free instrument rentals, structured instruction, and ensemble training in violin, viola, cello, and double bass.
Now in its second season, the String Academy builds on a landmark inaugural year—which saw founding students perform alongside the Panama City Symphony in April 2026, followed by their debut full recital that May. Beyond teaching essential technique, rhythm, and ensemble playing, the Academy fosters discipline, confidence, and teamwork in a supportive environment.
Come celebrate their dedication and progress as these bright young musicians share a rewarding program of string music with our community!
Click to Learn More about the String Academy
Ashley Overby and Leonard Ligon
Ligon and Overby: The Low and the Overlooked
Friday, June 11, 2027, 3:30 pm
City Hall, City of Panama City
501 Harrison Avenue, Panama City
Free and Open to the Public
Dr. Ashley Overby
Ashley Overby serves as an instructor of violin and viola at the University of South Alabama and is an active educator and performer throughout the Gulf Coast region. Though she currently resides in Mobile, she has taught and performed in communities in Ohio, North Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida. She is a passionate teacher and avid chamber music performer as well as an active freelance musician, performing in a wide range of settings and genres.
Dr. Overby has experience teaching students of diverse skill levels and backgrounds, ranging from beginners of all ages to advanced high school and college students. During her career, she has taught in a variety of settings, including private instruction, group classes, and small ensemble coaching. In addition to her role at the University of South Alabama, Dr. Overby works as a strings faculty member with the Mobile Symphony Orchestra music education program, teaching students throughout Mobile and Baldwin counties. In 2025, Dr. Overby received an AVS Educator Mini-Grant to purchase ensemble music for MSO Education Ensembles and her 2025 Viola Day, attended by students and teachers from Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida.
As a violist, Dr. Overby has extensive experience performing in orchestras and chamber ensembles. Currently, she is the Assistant Principal Violist of the Northwest Florida Symphony, holds a section position with the Panama City Symphony in Florida, and regularly performs with the Mobile Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Overby has performed with other symphony and opera orchestras throughout the South, including Mobile Opera, Tuscaloosa Symphony, Pensacola Symphony, Charlotte Symphony, Greensboro Opera, and Alabama Symphony. She was also a member of the graduate string quartets at both the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and the University of Alabama. Dr. Overby attended the Brevard Music Festival and the Sewanee Summer Music Festival, where she was an orchestral fellow.
Dr. Overby received undergraduate degrees in viola performance and biology from Miami University (Ohio), where she was honored as both a Stamps Scholar and a Presser Foundation Undergraduate Scholar. She went on to receive master’s and doctoral degrees in viola performance at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and the University of Alabama, respectively. Her primary teachers include Mary Harris, Dr. Scott Rawls, and Dr. Jacob Adams. During her studies, Dr. Overby participated in masterclasses with a variety of violists and chamber musicians, including Catherine Lynn, Dr. Hsiaopei Lee, Dr. Daphne Gerling, Dr. Lauren Burn Hodges, Dr. Ayn Balija, the Hermitage Trio, the Dalí String Quartet, and Mari Sato. In 2022, she was selected to perform in a masterclass with Dr. Tze-Ying Wu at the joint American Viola Society Festival and International Viola Congress.
While Dr. Overby primarily performs as a violist, she has a great interest in the different technical approaches required in playing and teaching violin and viola. During her time at the University of Alabama, she explored these interests by studying violin with Prof. Jenny Grégoire as well as playing violin with the Early Music Ensemble. The combination of her viola and violin studies culminated in elements of her doctoral research, presenting a lecture on pedagogical approaches as a teacher of both violin and viola and performing a variety of violin-viola duos.
Leonard Ligon
Leonard Ligon began his musical life playing Chicago-style blues with his father, who taught him to play drums and electric bass guitar, before he began pursuing classical studies on upright bass. While studying music in college, Leonard continued to play electric bass in bands of varying genres and even occasionally dabbled in jazz.
Mr. Ligon received his undergraduate degrees in Music Theory and Double Bass Performance as well as his master’s degree in Bass Performance from the University of Georgia, where he studied bass under Dr. Milton Masciadri. While there, he spent his summers studying music abroad and attending prestigious summer festivals. He studied abroad in Italy at the Alessandria, Milan, Turin, and Parma conservatories. He attended the Brazilian festival Festival Internacional de Inverno da UFSM in South America, and he attended the Brevard Music Center festival in North Carolina twice. Mr. Ligon then went on to pursue a second master’s degree in Music Theory at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he continued to study bass under Craig Brown. Mr. Ligon’s educational experience in the United States and abroad, as well as his background in electric bass, has given him a unique and cosmopolitan view on how he approaches music in his career.
Mr. Ligon’s music theory research interests focus on orchestral music from composers of the early twentieth century, including Charles Ives and Dmitri Shostakovich. Analytically, he is interested in the intersection of tonal theory and neo-Riemannian operations in music that is notoriously known for blurring the lines between tonal and atonal harmony. In 2020, Mr. Ligon moved to Tuscaloosa, AL and began working in the region as a freelance professional orchestra player, college instructor, conductor, and teacher. In 2023, he moved to Mobile, AL, where he is still based and continues to work. Mr. Ligon has performed with orchestras and taught at universities in Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, and Louisiana.
Bringing the musical arts and music education to the communities who need it the most has been the driving force behind Mr. Ligon’s career since moving to the Gulf Coast region. Currently, Mr. Ligon has taken on the full-time role of Music Librarian and Production Assistant with the Mobile Symphony. He is an adjunct professor at the University of South Alabama, where he directs and conducts the University Orchestra, and at the University of West Florida as instructor of Double Bass. He is a member of the Panama City Symphony and was recently appointed principal bassist of the Northwest Florida Symphony. Additionally, he frequently plays as a substitute with the Mobile Symphony and the Tuscaloosa Symphony, among many others in the region.
MAPS TO MUSICALLY UP CLOSE VENUES
Panama City Garden Club
Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center
City Hall, City of Panama City
