ASO season opening: The Allentown Symphony Orchestra 2019-2020 Classical Season opens, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 21 and 2 p.m. Sept. 22, Miller Symphony Hall, Allentown, with guest soloist, renowned pianist Olga Kern, accompanying the ASO to perform Rachmaninoff’s “Piano Concerto No. 2.” Kern received a Gold Medal at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, the first woman to do so in more than 30 years. ASO Music Director and Conductor Diane Wittry, celebrating her 25th ASO season, also leads the orchestra in Michael Torke’s “Bright Blue Music,” Jennifer Higdon’s “blue cathedral” and Strauss’s “The Blue Danube Waltz.” Attendees are encouraged to wear the color blue in their attire. The “Rach & Blue Cocktail Party,” 5:30 p.m. Sept. 21, Rodale Community Room, precedes the concert. Also, “Meet the Artist,” noon Sept. 20, on stage, Miller Symphony Hall, as Diane Wittry leads a talk about the Sept. 21 and 22 concerts with Olga Kern joining the discussion. Ask questions. Bring a lunch. The talk is free and open to the public. Concerts tickets: Miller Symphony Hall Box Office, 23 N. Sixth St., Allentown; allentownsymphony.org; 610-432-6715. Free student tickets, for those up to age 21, underwritten by Century Fund, available for Allentown Symphony Orchestra concerts.

“Third Thursday” opening: An “Artist Reception” for “Kacper Abolik: Year of the Dog,” is 6-8 p.m. Sept. 19, The Baum School of Art, Allentown, as part of Allentown’s “Third Thursday” events, The David E. Rodale and Rodale Family Galleries, where the exhibition continues through Oct. 18. Abolik, a painter from Emmaus, has been living and working in New York City, Warsaw, Paris and the Lehigh Valley. The exhibition at The Baum has a range of subject matter: flowers, portraits and the debut an Allentown cityscape. Exhibition Presenting Sponsors are City Center Allentown and J.B. and Kathleen Reilly. The reception is free and open to the public with light fare, wine and beverages. The Baum School of Art, 510 Linden St., Allentown. Gallery hours: 9 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. Monday - Thursday, 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Closed Sunday. baumschool.org; 610-433-0032

Pa. Jazz opening: The Midiri Brothers Orchestra perform 2 p.m. Sept. 22, Dewey Banquet Hall, 502 Durham St., Hellertown, as part of the Pennsylvania Jazz Society 2019 season. The group, which hails from Mays Landing, N.J., performs the music of Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Fletcher Henderson, the Dorsey Brothers, and Glenn Miller. The band’s CDs include “Trees,” “A Shaw Thing,” “In The Garden” and “Finger Bustin.’” The group has performed at The Great Connecticut Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, Central Illinois Jazz Fest in Decatur, and jazz clubs from Chicago to Florida. Tickets: at the door.