The Carmel Symphony Orchestra will open its 50th anniversary season with violinist Zachary DePue as guest concertmaster for HORIZONS: The Promise of a Vast Land. The concert takes place Saturday, October 10, at 7 p.m. at the Payne & Mencias Palladium in Carmel.

Music Director David Commanday, who will conduct the performance, invited DePue to lead the orchestra. “Zach and I have collaborated many times, and every time has been amazing,” Commanday said. “He is a brilliant violinist, and combines virtuosity, musicality, spontaneity, sharp wit, and boundless good humor. Zach will be the perfect Leader to help open our season!”

Presented by Pedcor Companies, the program explores the scale and promise of the American landscape through Aaron Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man and Ferde Grofé’s Grand Canyon Suite. Guest cellist Alexander Hersh will join the orchestra as soloist for Antonín Dvořák’s Cello Concerto. Carmel Symphony Orchestra

DePue is concertmaster of the Naples Philharmonic and Colorado MahlerFest and first violinist of The Indianapolis Quartet. Central Indiana audiences may also remember his years with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, where he became one of the country’s youngest concertmasters when he was appointed at age 27 in 2007.

His work extends well beyond the traditional orchestra stage. A founding member of Time for Three, DePue spent 15 years touring and performing with the genre-crossing trio. He also performs with The DePue Brothers Band, an ensemble formed by four violinist brothers that brings together bluegrass, classical music, jazz, blues and rock.

DePue studied at the Curtis Institute of Music and previously performed in the Philadelphia Orchestra’s first violin section. His return to a central Indiana orchestra makes him a fitting guest to help launch Carmel Symphony Orchestra’s milestone season.

Tickets for HORIZONS start at $44 and are available through the Allied Solutions Center event page. For assistance, call the Fifth Third Bank Box Office at 317-843-3800.