The Music Starts Now: Toronto Symphony Orchestra Kicks Off a Bold New Season
From Carmina Burana to the TSO Gala, a European tour, and 100 years of School Concerts, the 2025/26 season is packed with marquee moments and fresh discoveries.
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After a record-breaking year that marked the TSO’s strongest attendance since the pandemic, with more newcomers in the hall than ever before, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra launches its 2025/26 season on Thursday, September 18, with Carmina Burana.
Under the baton of TSO Music Director Gustavo Gimeno, the opening concert also features the Canadian Première of Wynton Marsalis’s Concerto for Orchestra. Adding to the excitement, the TSO will host its annual Open House & Free Community Concert on Saturday, September 20, offering an opportunity for all to experience the joy of orchestral music up close. This season promises a wide-ranging and ambitious lineup, fostering both new music and emerging talent through various artistic initiatives and partnerships.
“Welcome to a new season with your Toronto Symphony Orchestra! And what better way to begin than with the explosive energy of Carmina Burana, led by Music Director Gustavo Gimeno in his sixth season at the helm of the TSO,” says Beck Family CEO Mark Williams. “We’re thrilled to welcome audiences back this September with our fourth annual Open House & Free Concert—a joyful celebration of the city we serve—and the music that brings Toronto together. And there’s so much more ahead: from a major European Tour in January to celebrating 100 years of School Concerts, a century of inspiring young people through music. I hope you’ll join us—and Symphony With Us—all season long.”
Beyond marquee moments like the TSO Gala: Lang Lang, audiences are invited to discover the depth of the season through Masterworks, Pops, and Special series performances, as well as community and education programs that connect the TSO to the heart of the city. This year’s programming welcomes the world to Toronto, aligning with the global energy ahead of Canada hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Early 2025/26 Season Highlights
- Opening Night – Carmina Burana (Sep 18) – Gustavo Gimeno conducts Orff’s masterwork alongside the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and Toronto Children’s Chorus.
- Open House & Free Concert (Sep 20) – An annual celebration offering behind-the-scenes access and a free performance for the public.
- Lang Lang's Emperor—A Gala Celebration (Sep 24) – Featuring the world-renowned pianist in support of the TSO’s education and community engagement initiatives.
- Beethoven’s Pastoral (Sep 25 & 27) – Spotlight on Principal Flute Kelly Zimba Lukić performing Ibert’s Flute Concerto alongside Beethoven’s tranquil ode to nature.
- Jonathan Crow Plays Mendelssohn (Oct 2–4) – Conductor Emeritus Peter Oundjian leads a program featuring Concertmaster Jonathan Crow performing Mendelssohn’s fiery and lyrical Violin Concerto.The Billy Joel Songbook (Oct 8 & 9) – Opening the Pops Series with the timeless hits of the Piano Man.
New Faces in the Orchestra
The TSO proudly welcomes outstanding new musicians and new musician appointments for the 2025/26 season:
- Matthew Hakkarainen – Associate Concertmaster
- Erica Miller – Violin
- Hezekiah Leung – Viola
- Evalynn Tyros – Viola
- Evan Yonce – Associate Principal Oboe
- Zhenyu (Johnny) Wang – Associate Principal Clarinet
- Marlène Ngalissamy – Principal Bassoon.
- Steve Woomert – Principal Trumpet
- Michael Macaulay – Principal Librarian
Also joining the TSO is Nicholas Sharma, the new RBC Resident Conductor and Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra (TSYO) Conductor. “Nicholas brings a beautiful naturalness to his conducting—musical, confident, and calm,” says Music Director Gustavo Gimeno. “He has an ease and clarity on the podium that immediately resonates with musicians, along with a thoughtful and engaging presence. I’m delighted to welcome him to the TSO and look forward to collaborating in the seasons ahead.”
2025/26 Milestones & Artistic Programs
- 2025/26 TSO Spotlight Artists — Violinist Joshua Bell and pianist Bruce Liu, featured across two programs each, as well as in TSO community and education initiatives.
- European Tour (January 2026) – The TSO embarks on its first overseas tour with Gustavo Gimeno, performing across Spain and representing Toronto on the international stage.
- 100 Years of School Concerts – Celebrating a century of inspiring nearly 1.8 million students—more than 30,000 each year—through live orchestral music.
- Explore the Score (March 2026) – Guest composer Francisco Coll working with emerging creators.
- NextGen Composer Program – Premières by Sophie Dupuis, Darren Xu, and Jesse Plessis will be featured during Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake on November 27, 29 & 30, 2025.
- Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra – Season opens with Mendelssohn’s Reformation on November 29, 2025 under Nicholas Sharma’s direction.Women in Musical Leadership – In partnership with Tapestry Opera, this fellowship program supports emerging women and non-binary conductors and music directors, aiming to increase equity and representation in the classical music field. Activities will culminate in a master class at Roy Thomson Hall in Spring 2026, featuring fellows Monica Chen and Kelly Lin.
Recording Activities
The TSO continues its storied recording legacy through its partnership with European label Harmonia Mundi.
- Upcoming Release: Captured during the 2024/25 season, Bartók’s The Miraculous Mandarin—paired with a contemporary work by TSO Composer Advisor Emilie LeBel—will be released this season.
- New Recording Project: In 2025/26, the orchestra will record Prokofiev’s Romeo & Juliet and Symphony No. 3, alongside Lines, Layers, Ligaments, a contemporary work by Matthew-John Knight, for release in 2027.
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About The Toronto Symphony Orchestra
For more than a century, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) has played a fundamental role in shaping and celebrating Canadian culture. The TSO’s commitment to musical excellence and ability to spark connection remain as strong as ever. With a storied history of acclaimed concerts and recordings, Canadian and international tours, and impactful community partnerships, we are dedicated to engaging and enriching local and national communities through vibrant musical experiences. Music Director Gustavo Gimeno brings an expansive artistic vision, intellectual curiosity, and sense of adventure to programming the 93-musician orchestra that serves Toronto—one of the world’s most diverse cities. As a group of artists, teachers, and advocates who share the belief that music has the power to heal, inspire, and connect people from all walks of life, we engage audiences young and old through an array of community-access, health-and-well-being, and education initiatives including the TSO-affiliated Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra—a tuition-free training program dedicated to cultivating the next generation of Canadian artists. Symphony With Us at a concert at Roy Thomson Hall, or experience the TSO in your neighbourhood. Visit TSO.CA or Newsroom.TSO.CA.
The TSO relies on the generosity of thousands of donors and partners who provide a critical base of funding that makes possible all of the TSO’s music-making on stage and in the community.
The TSO Season Presenting Sponsor is BMO.
The TSO acknowledges Mary Beck as the Musicians’ Patron in perpetuity for her generous and longstanding support.
The TSO’s Education and Community Engagement programs are generously supported by the Barrett Family Foundation.
TSYO Conductor generously supported by the Toronto Symphony Volunteer Committee.
RBC Resident Conductor and NextGen Composers are generously supported by RBC Foundation.
The TSO is grateful for the support of the Toronto Symphony Foundation and all levels of government, including the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, the Toronto Arts Council, and the Government of Canada.