Victoria Symphony Announces 2026/27 Season as “Most Ambitious Yet”
Victoria, B.C. – The Victoria Symphony (VS) has announced its 2026/27 Season, which Music Director Christian Kluxen, entering his tenth season, calls the orchestra’s “most ambitious yet.”
“The VS has reached a new level of performance. We are choosing music that feels unmistakably us, which is being recognized across Canada,” says Kluxen. “This season features repertoire of greater scale and a remarkable lineup of guest artists joining us as true partners in music-making.”
The season runs September 13, 2026, to May 9, 2027, preceded by a two-week Symphony in the Summer Festival, July 30–August 9, 2026.
- Superstar violinist Ray Chen makes his long-awaited VS debut with Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor.
“It is exciting to welcome Ray to Victoria,” says Concertmaster Terence Tam. “He is an artist of international stature who performs in the most important venues all over the world. Beyond his extraordinary musicianship, he has connected with a global audience through his dynamic presence on and off stage.”
- Canadian piano legend Marc-André Hamelin performs Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3, one of the repertoire’s most formidable works.
- Steven Page, co-founder of Barenaked Ladies, joins the VS for a festive Christmas Pops program blending his iconic songs with holiday favourites.
- Canadian guest artists take centre stage throughout the season, including internationally acclaimed pianist Jon Kimura Parker and violinist Blake Pouliot; 2025 Honens Gold Laureate pianist Élisabeth Pion; 2021 Canada Council for the Arts Virginia Parker Prize winner cellist Cameron Crozman; and rising “one-to-watch” pianist Sophia Liu.
- The ultimate “Film in Concert” experience features four performances of Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert, along with the anticipated return of Home Alone in Concert and family favourite How to Train Your Dragon in Concert.
- Two of the largest-scale orchestral works ever performed by the VS: Wagner’s The Ring Without Words (arr. Lorin Maazel) and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 7 (“Leningrad”), presented as the season finale.
- The return of Latin Nights with Sal Ferreras and Adonis Puentes following their crowd-pleasing 2025 Symphony SPLASH! debut.
- A new film-with-symphony event, Sinatra and Friends in Hollywood, co-created and arranged by Principal Pops Conductor Sean O’Loughlin.
- Bach’s Mass in B minor and Messiah by Candlelight bring international guest vocalists to Victoria’s beautiful Christ Church Cathedral.
Community & Momentum
The VS continues to build on recent record-breaking seasons, expanding access programs, attracting top musical talent, reaching more students, and collaborating with regional arts organizations.
CEO Matthew White notes, “This orchestra belongs to the community. Our subscribers, donors, musicians, and partners make this momentum possible — and this season reflects that shared ownership.”
Summer Festival: July 30–August 9, 2026
Details for summer 2026 will be announced soon.
Subscriptions & Single Tickets
Season subscriptions are now available for renewing subscribers and open to the public March 30, 2026. Packages include five or more concerts with savings of up to 30%.
Single tickets:
- Symphony in the Summer Festival: on sale June 2, 2026
- Main Season: on sale July 21, 2026
Acknowledgements
The Victoria Symphony gratefully acknowledges its 2026/27 Season Underwriters Terry Scandrett and Angela Bassage.
VS also extends heartfelt thanks to Corporate Sponsors and Media Partners: Butler Bros., Chateau Victoria, Odlum Brown, B.C. Lottery Corporation (BCLC), Horne Coupar, Chartwell Retirement Residences, Long & McQuade, Fine Floral Designs, Ocean 98.5, Jack 103.1, CTV, CFAX 1070, Used.ca, Times Colonist, and CHEK TV, and Venue Partners: The Farquhar at UVic, The Royal & McPherson Theatres Society, and Christ Church Cathedral.
Our Government Partners include the British Columbia Arts Council, the Province of British Columbia, the Canada Council for the Arts, the Department of Canadian Heritage, CRD, and the City of Victoria.
The Victoria Foundation, the Foundation for the Victoria Symphony, and the hundreds of individual donors and underwriters who support the orchestra continue to be an essential part of what makes our programming possible.
About the Victoria Symphony
The Victoria Symphony (VS) is one of British Columbia’s largest performing arts organizations, with a mission to engage audiences through the transformational power of live orchestral music. For 85 years, VS has remained a vital part of Vancouver Island’s cultural landscape — presenting bold performances, collaborating with world-renowned artists, and fostering community through the shared experience of music. Under the leadership of Music Director Christian Kluxen and Principal Pops Conductor Sean O’Loughlin, VS presents a diverse range of programming each season, including classical masterworks, new music, films, pops, and family concerts. Through school concerts, community outreach programs, and free outdoor performances, VS endeavors to make orchestral music available to all.
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Media Contact:
Maya Lohcham, Director of Marketing and Communications
Email: maya@victoriasymphony.ca