Josh Groban at CMAC in Canandaigua: tickets for Stage, Screen, and Symphony with a full live orchestra

Josh Groban in Canandaigua: film and theater music with a full orchestra

Josh Groban is coming to the Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center (CMAC) with Stage, Screen, and Symphony, a concert format that places his distinctive baritone at the center of grand film and theater arrangements. In Canandaigua, he is joined on stage by the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Doors open at 17:30, and the performance begins at 19:00.

It is a format that naturally suits Groban's repertoire. For more than two decades, his career has combined pop, classical crossover, musical theater and orchestral arrangements. CMAC presents him as a Tony- and Emmy-nominated performer and a five-time Grammy-nominated singer who has sold more than 35 million albums.

For audiences who primarily associate Groban with songs such as You Raise Me Up, You Are Loved (Don't Give Up) or February Song, this concert offers a broader framework. The emphasis is not only on familiar hits, but on music that functions as part of a story - from film standards to Broadway and his own theatrical roles.

Tickets for this event are in demand.

Cinematic is the key to understanding the current program

In May 2026, Groban released Cinematic, a 10-song album dedicated to music from the big screen. Greg Wells handled the production, and the selection of material ranges from classics associated with films such as Casablanca, The Godfather, The Lion King, Breakfast at Tiffany's and Stand By Me to more recent film songs.

Among the titles that defined the album are Skyfall, When You Wish Upon a Star, Unchained Melody, Moon River, Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now) and As Time Goes By. In interviews surrounding the tour, Groban described himself more as an interpreter than a songwriter, and that is an important key to his approach to this material: he treats a familiar melody as a story that needs to be reshaped for his own voice and a large orchestral sound.

Alongside material from the album Cinematic, for this summer orchestral format he announced a return to songs from the 2015 album Stages and to music associated with his roles in the productions Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 and Sweeney Todd. Film music and major Broadway titles give the program recognizable melodies, while Groban's fans get a connection to key phases of his career.

What previous performances reveal about the live experience

The program may change from city to city, so it is not reasonable to present a definitive set list for Canandaigua in advance. Nevertheless, previous performances from the same series provide a clear sense of direction.

At the Cincinnati concert at the beginning of this orchestral leg, the repertoire included music associated with Casablanca, The Godfather, Disney films, Les Misérables and The Phantom of the Opera, along with Sondheim's Send in the Clowns. Reports from that performance emphasized that Groban did not build the evening solely around his biggest radio hits, but around the shared theme of film, stage and orchestral storytelling.

In an interview immediately before performing with the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, he said that he wanted to combine newer songs, older repertoire and music that had become a personal "soundtrack" for people. He confirmed that the program would draw on Cinematic, Stages and his Broadway roles.

The most realistic expectation is an evening with a wide dynamic range: quieter introductions, powerful vocal peaks and arrangements in which the orchestra is not merely a backdrop. Groban's voice works best when the arrangement leaves room for long legato lines, clear lyrics and a gradual build in intensity. A full symphonic ensemble gives such songs a breadth that a smaller pop band can hardly reproduce.

Here, the main effect comes from the combination of voice, familiar melody and orchestra. That is why the format particularly suits audiences who enjoy film music, musical theater, vocal pop and more sumptuous arrangements.

Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra changes the character of the evening

The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra is listed for the CMAC performance, giving this date a locally specific identity. The orchestra already performs in summer programs at CMAC, so neither the venue nor the orchestral sound is unfamiliar to the ensemble.

Groban's music often builds its effect on the contrast between an intimate vocal and a full orchestral climax. Songs from Cinematic are particularly well suited to this approach because they originate in cinematic logic, sweeping melodic arcs and rich arrangements.

For longtime fans, the appeal lies in a new sound for a familiar voice. For audiences coming because of the orchestra or film music, Groban offers a very accessible entry point into the crossover between a pop concert and a symphonic evening.

Seats are disappearing quickly.

CMAC: an open-air amphitheater with two different perspectives

CMAC is located on the Finger Lakes Community College campus in the Canandaigua area. The venue has 5.000 covered seats, while the lawn area can accommodate up to another 10.000 visitors. Total capacity reaches 15.000 people, but the concert experience depends significantly on the section chosen.

The covered pavilion offers a more immediate sense of the stage and a visually more compact experience. The lawn area has a more open, summery character. At a concert that relies on the details of orchestration, audiences whose priority is clearly following the soloist and instrumental nuances will probably appreciate seats closer to the stage more, while the lawn suits those who want a more relaxed amphitheater atmosphere.

CMAC is an open-air venue, so weather can affect the evening, especially in the lawn area. Standard umbrellas are permitted under the venue's rules, as are blankets and low lawn chairs, with the note that individual rules may change depending on the event.

• Address: 3355 Marvin Sands Drive, Canandaigua, NY 14424
• Capacity: 5.000 covered seats and lawn space for up to 10.000 visitors
• Doors open: 17:30
• Performance begins: 19:00
• Special guest: Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
• Bags: clear bag up to 12 x 6 x 12 inches or a small purse up to 4,5 x 6,5 inches
• Water: one empty plastic bottle per person

Arriving by car and parking

For most visitors, driving is the simplest way to reach CMAC. The venue has general parking accessed from East Lake Road, or Route 364, as well as separate premium parking accessed from Lakeshore Drive. Parking lots open two hours before the doors open, with the note that details may change depending on the concert.

Because of the amphitheater's large capacity, it is worth allowing extra time to enter the campus area and to leave after the concert. For visitors who need accessible parking, designated spaces are available in both areas. Transportation from the parking lot to the entrance is also available for people who need assistance; a request can be made to staff when entering the parking area.

For this concert, the doors are listed as opening at 17:30. Arriving before the largest wave of visitors leaves more time for security screening, finding your section and settling onto the lawn.

Public transportation and arrival from the wider Finger Lakes region

Canandaigua is part of the Finger Lakes region, south of Rochester. For visitors coming from farther away, the most practical major airport is Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport. The regional tourism organization states that the drive from Rochester to Canandaigua takes approximately 30 minutes, depending on traffic and the exact starting point.

RTS Ontario operates in the Canandaigua area, and the current network includes Route 254 between Canandaigua and Geneva with a stop at FLCC Lakeshore Campus. Since the concert takes place in the evening, return departure times should be checked for the same day before relying on the bus. For a later return, a prearranged taxi or rideshare may be a more practical option.

Travelers arriving in the region by train can use Amtrak connections to Rochester or Syracuse and then continue by road toward the Finger Lakes area. For a stay around Canandaigua Lake, a car provides the greatest flexibility.

Canandaigua as a base for a concert trip

CMAC is not an urban arena in a densely built-up downtown area, but a large summer amphitheater on the edge of Canandaigua, next to the Finger Lakes Community College campus. Visitors coming from other parts of the United States or from abroad can combine the concert with a stay in the Finger Lakes region, known for its lakes, wine trails, small towns and the rural landscape of New York State.

Canandaigua Lake is the city's natural focal point, and along the waterfront there are restaurants, promenades and tourist attractions that can fill the time before the evening program. If the goal is only the concert, the simplest plan is to arrive early enough and park before the main wave of visitors. If the concert is part of a longer trip, Canandaigua can serve as a base for exploring the surrounding area without the need for a long drive immediately after the performance.

Entry rules worth checking before departure

CMAC conducts security screening of all guests. Outside food and drinks are not permitted, and items that should be left outside the venue include large backpacks, cameras, GoPro devices, selfie sticks, coolers, glass, metal containers and video recording devices. The clear-bag policy is particularly important because a larger standard bag may slow down or prevent entry.

Blankets and low chairs are permitted in the lawn area. One empty plastic bottle per person is also allowed. Since rules can change by event, it is useful to check them immediately before departure.

• Arrive before the heaviest traffic if you are using general parking.
• Check the size of your bag before departure.
• If you have a place on the lawn, bring only equipment permitted by the venue.
• If you are arriving by bus, also check the return departure.
• If you need assistance from the parking lot, contact staff as soon as you enter the parking area.

Who will find this concert particularly interesting

Groban's most loyal fans will get a concert that connects several stages of his catalog, but Stage, Screen, and Symphony is not intended only for them. The program has broad appeal because of its film music and theatrical standards. Someone familiar with Skyfall, Moon River, Sondheim or The Phantom of the Opera can follow a large part of the evening even without deep knowledge of Groban's discography.

Audiences who primarily enjoy classical music should not expect a standard symphonic program. This is a crossover concert in which the orchestra and popular vocals are equal parts of the production. The boundary between the concert hall, Broadway and the film soundtrack is precisely the main idea of the evening.

The Canandaigua performance comes during a very active 2026 for Groban, following the GEMS tour across multiple continents and summer North American performances. The orchestral program returns the focus to his most recognizable strength: a big voice in a big arrangement, but with enough space for the song to remain intelligible and emotionally direct.

It is worth securing tickets in good time.

Sources:
- CMAC - information about the Josh Groban: Stage, Screen, and Symphony concert, door opening time, performance start time and Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
- CMAC - venue capacity, address, parking, accessibility, entry rules and permitted items
- Josh Groban - announcement of the album Cinematic and context of the 2026 film repertoire
- Times Union - interview with Josh Groban about the Stage, Screen and Symphony concept, the albums Cinematic and Stages and Broadway repertoire
- The Music Room - report from a previous Stage, Screen and Symphony performance in Cincinnati and description of the concert approach
- Visit Finger Lakes - context of Canandaigua, regional transportation and information for travelers
- RTS Ontario - current routes in Canandaigua and Route 254 with a stop at FLCC Lakeshore Campus