Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Announces World Premiere of New Symphony by Augustana Founder Dan Layus 

INDIANAPOLIS—The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra (ISO) announces a landmark collaboration with Dan Layus, founder and lead singer of Augustana, culminating in the world premiere of Layus’s first-ever symphony on June 2, 2027. 

This one-night-only performance, Augustana with the ISO, brings Layus’s music to the symphonic stage in a powerful new way. The program will feature the debut of his original four-movement symphony, a work shaped by influences ranging from Sergei Rachmaninoff to Aaron Copland, alongside fully orchestrated arrangements of Augustana’s most beloved songs. Audience favorites like “Boston” and “Sweet and Low” will be reimagined for full orchestra, with Layus performing from the piano. 

The concert builds on a growing creative partnership between Layus and ISO musicians. In previous appearances at The Toby at Newfields, Layus collaborated with a string quartet featuring ISO Concertmaster Kevin Lin and Principal Cello Austin Huntington, presenting original chamber works alongside intimate arrangements of his songs. These performances revealed a natural extension of his songwriting into the classical world, and this next collaboration expands that vision to the full orchestra, offering a broader canvas for his music and marking a major milestone in his evolution as a composer. 

Blending the emotional immediacy of pop songwriting with the scale and color of a symphony orchestra, the evening offers a unique experience where contemporary and classical traditions meet. 

Tickets go on sale July 21, 2026. 

 Platinum-selling American pop-rock artist Augustana rose to prominence with their 2005 debut album All the Stars and Boulevards. Its breakout single “Boston” became a defining song of the era, amassing more than 200 million streams and appearing in numerous films and television shows. The band went on to release Can’t Love, Can’t Hurt (2008) and Augustana (2011), further establishing a dedicated global following. 

At the center of it all is Dan Layus, whose songwriting has always emphasized authenticity and emotional connection. In recent years, Layus has continued to evolve creatively, exploring stripped-down reinterpretations of Augustana’s catalog, releasing new solo material, and collaborating with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra to reimagine his music with orchestral arrangements. His work bridges genres while staying grounded in the honest, human storytelling that first resonated with audiences.