FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Nick Dobreff, Communications and Creative Director
616.485.3913 (m) – 303.308.2477 (o)
ndobreff@coloradosymphony.org
COLORADO SYMPHONY UNVEILS 2026/27 SEASON AS MOMENTUM BUILDS FOLLOWING NEW YORK TOUR
The orchestra’s 103rd season continues a period of extraordinary growth and artistic energy with Music Director Peter Oundjian.
View Release as PDF 2026/27 Season Brochure
Mar. 16, 2026 – Denver, CO – Fresh off the resounding success of their New York City tour, the Colorado Symphony is thrilled to unveil its 2026/27 Season taking place at downtown Denver’s Boettcher Concert Hall, America’s first in-the-round symphonic venue which opened in 1978. The Colorado Symphony’s 103rd season and Peter Oundjian’s second as music director promises unforgettable performances that will inspire and unite audiences all year long.
The 2026/27 Classics lineup begins with an exploration of the enduring power of the human spirit. Led by Oundjian, the Colorado Symphony and Colorado Symphony Chorus present Beethoven’s monumental Ninth Symphony — a grand hymn to humanity and a triumphant call for unity that remains the greatest artistic anthem of peace, freedom, and brotherhood ever created. Gabriella Ortiz’s Yanga serves as a powerful contemporary response to the Ninth, creating a dialogue between historical struggles for freedom and enduring human aspirations for unity. Together, they set the tone for a season of bold storytelling and profound musical expression, offering an unforgettable opening to the year ahead.
“Music has a remarkable ability to reflect who we are, capturing the beauty, complexity, and vitality of the world around us,” said Peter Oundjian. “Here in Colorado, our orchestra is part of the living heartbeat of the state, shaped by the communities we serve and brought to life each time we gather in Boettcher Concert Hall. Live symphonic music has the power to unite us across backgrounds and generations, to uplift communities, and to give voice to our collective humanity. This season is thoughtfully designed to celebrate that connection, offering music that speaks to the heart, sparks the imagination, and affirms the role of the Colorado Symphony as a vital cultural force in our state.”
Other Classics highlights include:
- Returns of former Colorado Symphony music directors Jeffrey Kahane and Andrew Litton. Kahane will perform on piano for a special All-Beethoven performance on Wednesday, March 10 before tackling Beethoven’s Fantasia and “Emperor” Piano Concerto on a March 12-14 program that also includes the composer’s legendary Fifth Symphony. Litton leads a program featuring Bernstein’s Serenade with violinist Vadim Gluzman.
- The Classics schedule also features a host of audience favorites including:
- Stravinsky’s The Firebird featuring Cleo Parker Robinson Dance
- Mozart’s Requiem
- Rachmaninoff’s Third Piano Concerto
- Elgar’s Cello Concerto
- Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5
- Brahms’ Fourth Symphony and A German Requiem
- Berlioz’ Symphonie fantastique
- Mahler’s First Symphony “Titan”
- Strauss’ Also sprach Zarathustra
- As always, the schedule features a who’s who of renowned guest artists sure to inspire audiences along the Front Range throughout the season including:
- Pianists Hélène Grimaud, Garrick Ohlsson, Jefferey Kahane, and Stewart Goodyear
- Violinists Benjamin Beilman, Vadim Gluzman, and Simone Porter
- Cellist Johannes Moser
The Colorado Symphony also shines a spotlight on two of their own with Concertmaster Yumi Hwang- Williams and Principal Horn Michael Thornton taking center stage as featured soloists.
New this season, the Colorado Symphony launches the Outside the Box Series, a bold four-concert Thursday night experience at Boettcher Concert Hall that explores innovative and immersive repertoire beyond the traditional canon. Highlights include the orchestral music of Frank Zappa, a retrospective of minimalist pioneer Philip Glass, along with Baroque Unboxed and The Eclectic Concerto, offering audiences a fresh and electrifying way to experience the orchestra.
“The excitement surrounding our 2026/27 Season comes at a remarkable moment for the Colorado Symphony,” said Daniel Wachter, President & CEO. “Following the tremendous success of our recent New York tour, we’re thrilled to bring that energy and momentum home to Boettcher Concert Hall for a season filled with unforgettable live, symphonic music. As we look ahead and work alongside the City and County of Denver towards an exciting renovation of Boettcher Concert Hall which is intended to happen 2028/29, we are deepening our connection with the communities we serve in Denver and Colorado. This season reflects our vision to inspire and unite humanity through live symphonic music, connecting communities across Colorado and beyond while showcasing the artistry, innovation, and sense of shared experience that make the Colorado Symphony the living heartbeat of our state.”
Colorado audiences have come to expect an exciting mix of programming and this season will be no exception, offering collaborations with:
Making his Boettcher Concert Hall debut, legendary composer and conductor Joe Hisaishi will lead the Colorado Symphony in a new Concerto for Orchestra co-commissioned by the orchestra on October 16 and 17. Hisaishi is one of the most celebrated composers of our time, internationally renowned for his symphonic works and iconic film scores, including music for 12 beloved Studio Ghibli films directed by Hayao Miyazaki.
Travel expert Rick Steves joins the Colorado Symphony at Boettcher Concert Hall for a musical journey across Europe. Blending orchestral performances with images from his public television series, Steves guides audiences through stirring 19th-century anthems by composers including Grieg, Smetana, Elgar, and Verdi, culminating in Ludwig van Beethoven’s iconic “Ode to Joy.”
They’ll also celebrate the Best of Broadway in Defying Gravity, pay homage to the Fab Four with Revolution: The Music of the Beatles, and welcome vocalist Mandy Gonzalez to perform the music of Lin- Manuel Miranda.
The Colorado Symphony will screen and perform the scores from several beloved films including Star Wars: A New Hope, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Home Alone, The Muppet Christmas Carol, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix™, The Ring, and How to Train Your Dragon.
Families can also enjoy an afternoon at Boettcher Concert Hall with brand new programs like the Dia de los Muertos celebration and The Great Outdoors: A Symphonic Adventure alongside Denver favorites like Peter and the Wolf and Drums of the World. These programs are typically one hour in length and offer a family-friendly way to experience live, symphonic music.
Subscription packages for the 2026/27 Season, which include both series-specific and customizable package options, go on sale today, March 16. Flex Passes, which offer six (6) ticket vouchers guests can use for best-available seats to most concerts in the season, redeemable the week of the selected performance, are also on sale as of March 16.
Single tickets for all concerts will be available starting May 18, 2026, with a separate announcement to precede the date. For concert descriptions and ticket information, please visit coloradosymphony.org or call the box office at 303.623.7876.
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CONTACT:
For more information or to request interviews, please contact:
Nick Dobreff, Communications and Creative Director
ndobreff@coloradosymphony.org – 303.308.2477 (o)
For high-resolution, downloadable images of the Colorado Symphony, contact: ndobreff@coloradosymphony.org
Support for the 2025/26 Colorado Symphony Season is provided by: The Scientific & Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), Genesee Mountain Foundation, Denver Arts & Venues, Bonfils-Stanton Foundation, Schoen Foundation, and the Colorado Symphony Guild.
TICKETS:
Tickets to Colorado Symphony events are available online at coloradosymphony.org/tickets, by phone at 303.623.7876, and in person at the Boettcher Concert Hall Box Office, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 1000 14th Street. The Box Office is open Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, noon – 5 p.m., and two hours prior to each performance.
ABOUT THE COLORADO SYMPHONY
One of the leading orchestras in the United States, the Colorado Symphony Association is a not-forprofit 501(c)(3) organization performing more than 150 concerts annually at Boettcher Concert Hall in downtown Denver and across Colorado. Led by Peter Oundjian as its Music Director as of the 2025/26 season, the Colorado Symphony is home to eighty full-time musicians representing more than a dozen nations and regularly welcomes the world’s most celebrated artists from across musical genres. The orchestra celebrated its Centennial during the 2023/24 concert season and now serves more than 340,000 people each year through live performances at Boettcher Concert Hall, Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre, and other venues throughout Colorado’s Front Range. Boettcher Concert Hall, which opened in 1978, was the first in-the-round symphonic venue built in the United States. In November 2025, voters passed the Vibrant Denver Bond, which allocates $20 million to a future renovation of the concert hall. Guided by a vision to inspire and unite humanity through live symphonic music, the Colorado Symphony is a living heartbeat of the state — expressing its beauty, creativity, vitality, and inclusive spirit. Through unmatched artistry and bold innovation, the Symphony inspires Colorado and audiences everywhere while expanding access, fostering education, and creating lasting memories through meaningful personal connections. Recognized as an incubator of innovation, creativity, and excellence, the Colorado Symphony listens to and learns from its diverse communities, musicians, and staff; composes and creates with curiosity and versatility; and leads with empathy, collaboration, and responsible stewardship. The Symphony continually expands its reach through in-person and virtual education programs, community partnerships, and programming that celebrates achievement, honors diverse voices, and infuses joy on and off the stage. The Colorado Symphony partners with leading musical artists, cultural organizations, corporations, foundations, educators, sports teams, and individuals to connect people, uplift communities, and inspire everyone to feel part of something greater.