CAMDEN, NJ – September 23, 2025. Percussionist Rubén Acuña González made his official debut as the newly appointed Principal Timpanist of Symphony in C last Friday, September 19th, 2025. The concert, held at the orchestra’s home venue, the Rutgers-Camden Center for the Arts, featured a demanding program of works by Prokofiev, Rachmaninoff, and Mussorgsky.

Under the direction of Music Director Noam Aviel, the orchestra showcased the talent for which it is known as one of the nation’s premier professional pathway ensembles. From his new position leading the timpani section, Acuña provided a solid and responsive foundation throughout the evening.

The concert opened with Prokofiev’s Lieutenant Kijé Suite. Acuña’s performance began with the next piece, Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, where he demonstrated sensitive musicianship, providing a supportive and dramatic underpinning to the virtuosic piano passages.

The evening concluded with Ravel’s orchestration of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. In this percussion-rich work, Acuña demonstrated notable command and musicality, particularly in the powerful and resonant passages of “The Great Gate of Kiev,” which contributed to the piece’s majestic finale.

The performance served as a confident and booming start for Rubén Acuña in his new role with Symphony in C, signaling a promising season ahead for the orchestra and its new Principal Timpanist.