Announcing Symphony Nova Scotia’s 2026/27 concert season!

Release date:

Halifax/Kjipuktuk, NS – Symphony Nova Scotia is proud to announce a brand-new concert season! From Beethoven to ABBA, there’s something for everyone in 2026/27.

“We invite audiences to experience the breadth of live music we offer, exploring diverse perspectives and sharing powerful stories in sound,” says CEO Scott Tresham. “Symphony Nova Scotia brings people together through music and programmes that reflect the world around us and the human experiences that connect us.”

“This season brings together cherished traditions alongside new ideas and collaborations,” Scott continues. “Whether you’re stepping into the concert hall for the first time or you’ve been with us for years, we look forward to welcoming you to the concert hall in 2026/27.”

The Symphony’s classical Spotlight concerts take place at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium in Halifax on Thursday evenings. The Fusion concerts, mixing popular music and Canadian artists with a full symphony orchestra, are offered on weekends, also at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium. And our Baroque concerts, highlighting the timeless music from the Baroque era, are performed at St. Andrew’s United Church in Halifax.

Detailed information about the 2026/27 season is available at symphonynovascotia.ca and ticket packages are on sale now at the Dalhousie Arts Centre Box Office (Wed. to Sat., 12 to 4 pm): in person at 6101 University Ave, Halifax, or by phone at 902.494.3820 or 1.800.874.1669.

2026/27 Concert Highlights


SPOTLIGHT HIGHLIGHTS

Sweeping symphonies, powerful concertos, and timeless masterpieces. The pillars of classical repertoire performed with depth, artistry, and full-orchestra brilliance in Symphony Nova Scotia’s Spotlight Series. Here are just a few highlights we’re looking forward to in the 2026/27 season:


FUSION HIGHLIGHTS

The ultimate blend of genres. We join forces with artists across indie, folk, jazz, world, film, and pop culture, adding lush orchestral arrangements to create a rich and vibrant sound in Symphony Nova Scotia’s Fusion Series. Here are some upcoming highlights:


BAROQUE HIGHLIGHTS

Experience the ornate beauty, vitality, and expressive intensity of 17th- and 18th-century music, brought to life with energy, precision, and spirit in Symphony Nova Scotia’s Baroque Series. Here are the exciting programs offered in 2026/27:

  • Bach, Bach, Bach, & Bach! Step into the extraordinary musical dynasty of the Bach family, where genius spanned generations and styles evolved before your ears. With lively sinfonias, virtuosic concertos, and exuberant orchestral suites, it’s a vibrant celebration of family legacy and the Bach name.
  • The Extraordinary Women of Venice! Step into Baroque Venice, where a hidden musical revolution gave rise to powerful voices and rising stars. Together with Principal Baroque Leader Julia Wedman, soprano Hélène Brunet, Principal Oboe Danielle Johannes, and Principal Second Violin Isabelle Fournier, discover bold music, powerful stories, and a legacy that still resonates today.
  • Four Seasons, Four Elements! From chaos to creation, this innovative program with violinist Emmanuel Resche-Caserta unleashes the raw power of nature in sound. Thrilling and evocative, this is Baroque music at its most adventurous.


MOZART + HIGHLIGHTS

Explore inspired pairings between Mozart and fellow masters, revealing fresh colours, bold contrasts, and new perspectives on timeless music, with new textures and surprises in every concert in Symphony Nova Scotia’s brand-new Mozart + Series:

  • Mozart + Le Chevalier! In 1778, Joseph Bologne and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart spent three months living in the same Parisian mansion. Featuring conductor Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser, Assistant Concertmaster Mark Lee, and Acting Principal Viola Ellis Yuen-Rapati, this program explores music born from that shared moment, revealing striking parallels and brilliant contrasts.
  • Mozart + Handel! The timeless melodies of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart meet the grandeur of George Frideric Handel. This program celebrates the wit and splendour of the Baroque and Classical eras with Principal Baroque Leader Julia Wedman, harpist Valérie Milot, and Principal Flute Casey Granofsky.


SPECIAL CONCERTS

Besides our curated concert series, Symphony Nova Scotia brings you even more fun, exciting, and spectacular special concerts in 2026/27:

  • Halifax’s favourite holiday tradition The Nutcracker is back for its 35th anniversary this season in partnership with Halifax Dance and Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia.
  • The Symphony’s annual performance of Handel’s Messiah returns, this time performing the original “Dublin” version and conducted by Irish-Canadian baroque specialist Kevin Mallon.
  • And for one night only, Symphony Nova Scotia presents Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra: Staircases right here in Halifax! Subscribers get first access to tickets.

Find more details about Symphony Nova Scotia’s 2026/27 season at symphonynovascotia.ca.

2026/27 Concert Listing


SPOTLIGHT SERIES

Shadows & Light: Barber & Brahms
7:30 pm • Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026
The Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Halifax
Featuring: Earl Lee, conductor and Robert Uchida, violin

  • Matthew-John Knights: Aperture Widening
  • Samuel Barber: Violin Concerto
  • Johannes Brahms: Symphony No. 1

Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony
7:30 pm • Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026
The Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Halifax
Featuring: Andrei Feher, conductor and Teo Gheorghiu, piano

  • Anna Clyne: Stride
  • Robert Schumann: Piano Concerto
  • Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 6, “Pastoral”

Peace & Remembrance: Ravel & Vaughan Williams
7:30 pm • Thursday, Nov. 19, 2026
The Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Halifax
Featuring: Simon Rivard, conductor; Jane Archibald, soprano; Korin Thomas-Smith, baritone; Joel Tranquilla, chorus master; The Symphony Nova Scotia Chorus

  • Carlos Simon: Breathe
  • Maurice Ravel: Le Tombeau de Couperin
  • Samuel Barber: Adagio for Strings
  • Ralph Vaughan Williams: Dona nobis pacem (Grant us Peace)

Magnificent Mozart
7:30 pm • Thursday, Jan. 28, 2027
The Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Halifax
Featuring: Bernhard Gueller, conductor and Carys Sutherland, horn

  • W.A. Mozart: Così fan tutte Overture
  • W.A. Mozart: Symphony No. 26 in C Major ,“Linz”
  • W.A. Mozart: Horn Concerto No. 4
  • W.A. Mozart: Symphony No. 35 in D Major, “Haffner”

Fiesta Española: Carmen & Capriccio espagnol
7:30 pm • Thursday, Feb. 11, 2027
The Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Halifax
Featuring: Amaryn Olmeda, violin and Maria Osende, Spanish dance

  • Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio espagnol
  • Sergei Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 2
  • Georges Bizet: Suite from Carmen

Postcards From Italy: Rossini & Mendelssohn
7:30 pm • Thursday, March 11, 2027
The Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Halifax
Featuring: Sophia Liu, piano

  • Gioachino Rossini: The Barber of Seville Overture
  • Camille Saint-Saëns: Piano Concerto No. 2
  • Felix Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4, “Italian”

Pranks, Jokes, & Hoaxes: Haydn & P.D.Q. Bach
7:30 pm • Thursday, April 1, 2027
The Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Halifax
Featuring: Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser, conductor and Sharon Wei, viola

  • Peter Schickele: Eine Kleine Nichtmusik, 1st mvt
  • Johann Christian Bach: Viola Concerto in C Minor
  • Franz Joseph Haydn: Symphony No. 45, “Farewell”
  • Jerod Impichchaachaaha Tate: Chokfi’
  • Saman Shahi: Then the Sky Was Amber
  • P.D.Q. Bach: Howdy Symphony

The Art of Friendship: Brahms & the Schumanns
7:30 pm • Thursday, April 29, 2027
The Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Halifax
Featuring: Élisabeth Pion, piano

  • Johannes Brahms: Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann, Op. 9
  • Clara Schumann: Piano Concerto
  • Robert Schumann: Symphony No. 3, “Rhenish”


FUSION SERIES

Flying On Your Own: A Tribute To Rita MacNeil
7:30 pm • Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026
2:00 pm • Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026
The Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Halifax
Featuring: Lucy MacNeil, vocals
The Men of the Deeps
Scott Macmillan, conductor

Alex Cuba & Symphony Nova Scotia
7:30 pm • Friday, Oct. 23, 2026
The Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Halifax
Featuring: Alex Cuba, guitar & vocals
Greg Burton, conductor

SymphoniCon: Music of Anime
7:30 pm • Friday, Nov. 13, 2026
The Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Halifax
Featuring: Lucas Waldin, conductor
Rachel Akiko Ashmore, vocals

Merry Murdoch Mysteries in Concert
7:30 pm • Friday, Nov. 27, 2026
The Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Halifax
Featuring: Lucas Waldin, conductor
Robert Carli, composer & host

Rajaton Sings ABBA
7:30 pm • Friday, Jan. 22, 2027
2:00 pm • Saturday, Jan. 23, 2027
The Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Halifax
Featuring: Rajaton
Juliane Gallant, conductor

Bravo Broadway!
7:30 pm • Saturday, Feb. 27, 2027
The Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Halifax
Featuring: Hugh Panaro, vocals
Alli Mauzey, vocals
Lucas Waldin, conductor

Aquakultre & Symphony Nova Scotia
2:00 pm • Saturday, March 20, 2027
The Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Halifax
Featuring: Aquakultre
Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser, conductor

Kitchen Party with Rum Ragged & Symphony Nova Scotia
7:30 pm • Friday, April 9, 2027
The Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Halifax
Featuring: Rum Ragged
Martin MacDonald, conductor

Vinyl Favourites of the ’60s & ’70s with Jim Witter
7:30 pm • Friday, April 23, 2027
2:00 pm • Saturday, April 24, 2027
The Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Halifax
Featuring: Jim Witter, vocals, piano, & guitar
Greg Burton, conductor

Lennie Gallant & Symphony Nova Scotia
7:30 pm • Friday, May 14, 2027
The Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Halifax
Featuring: Lennie Gallant, vocals & guitar
Greg Burton, conductor


BAROQUE SERIES

Bach, Bach, Bach, & Bach
2:00 pm • Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026
St. Andrew’s United Church, Halifax
Featuring: Steven Devine, leader & harpsichord solo
Renaud Lapierre, violin

  • Johann Sebastian Bach: Sinfonia to BWV 249 Easter Oratorio
  • Johann Bernhard Bach: Excerpts from Orchestral Suite in D Major
  • Johann Sebastian Bach: Violin Concerto No. 1 in A Minor
  • Attr. Johann Christian Bach: Harpsichord Concerto in E-flat
  • Wilhelm Friedemann Bach: Sinfonia in D Minor
  • Johann Sebastian Bach: Orchestral Suite No. 4

The Extraordinary Women Of Venice
2:00 pm • Sunday, Jan. 17, 2027
St. Andrew’s United Church, Halifax
Featuring: Julia Wedman, leader & violin solo
Hélène Brunet, soprano
Danielle Johannes, oboe
Isabelle Fournier, violin

  • Antonia Bembo: Act 1 Ritornello, “Se ninfa ai pianti, Danza” & “Strale invisibile” from Ercole Amante
  • Maddalena Casulana: “Come fiammeggia e Splenda” from Il Primo Libro di Madrigali a 5 voci
  • Lucia Quinciani: “Udite lagrimosi Spirti”
  • Marieta Morosina Priuli: “Corrente quarto” & “Corrente prima” from Balletti et Correnti
  • Barbara Strozzi: Parasti cor meum, Op. 5, No. 83
  • Maddalena Laura Lombardini Sirmen: Andantino from Violin Concerto in E Major, Op. 3, No. 2 | Con brio from String Quartet No. 6 in E Major

Four Seasons, Four Elements
2:00 pm • Sunday, April 18, 2027
St. Andrew’s United Church, Halifax
Featuring: Emmanuel Resche-Caserta, leader & violin solo

  • Jean-Féry Rebel: Excerpts from Les Élémens
  • Antonio Vivaldi: Concerto madrigalesco in D Minor
  • Antonio Vivaldi: The Four Seasons


MOZART + SERIES

Mozart + Le Chevalier
2:00 pm • Sunday, Feb. 21, 2027
St. Andrew’s United Church, Halifax
Featuring: Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser, conductor
Mark Lee, violin
Ellis Yuen-Rapati, viola

  • Joseph Bologne: Symphony No. 1
  • W.A. Mozart: Sinfonia concertante in E-flat Major
  • Joseph Bologne: Symphonie concertante in A Major
  • W.A. Mozart: Symphony No. 31 in D Major, “Paris”

Mozart + Handel
2:00 pm • Sunday, May 9, 2027
St. Andrew’s United Church, Halifax
Featuring: Julia Wedman, leader
Valérie Milot, harp
Casey Granofsky, flute

  • W.A. Mozart: Eine kleine Nachtmusik
  • G.F. Handel: Concerto for Harp in B-flat
  • G.F. Handel, arr. W.A. Mozart: Orchestral Suite
  • W.A. Mozart: Concerto for Flute and Harp


SPECIAL CONCERTS

The Nutcracker
7:30 pm • Dec. 4, 5, 11, 12, 2026
2:00 pm • Dec. 5, 6, 12, 13, 2026
4:00 pm • Dec. 10, 2026
The Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Halifax
Featuring: Halifax Dance and Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia

  • Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker

Handel’s “Dublin” Messiah
7:30 pm • Friday, Dec. 18, 2026
7:30 pm • Saturday, Dec. 19, 2026
The Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Halifax
Featuring: Kevin Mallon, conductor
Mireille Asselin, soprano
Krisztina Szabó, mezzo-soprano
Nils Brown, tenor
James Westman, baritone
Joel Tranquilla, chorus master
The Symphony Nova Scotia Chorus with Halifax Camerata Singers

  • George Frideric Handel: “Dublin” Messiah

Symphony Nova Scotia Presents Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra: Staircases
2:00 pm • Sunday, Nov. 22, 2026
The Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Halifax
Featuring: Julia Wedman, leader
Jonathan Woody, bass-baritone & narrator
Created by Alison Mackay
Directed by Julia Wedman
Video projections by Laura Warren
Lighting design by Glenn Davidson

Concert programs and guest artists are subject to change.

Learn more and get your ticket packages today at symphonynovascotia.ca.

About Symphony Nova Scotia
Symphony Nova Scotia is Nova Scotia’s orchestra. With a home base in Halifax/Kjipuktuk and performances across the province, Symphony Nova Scotia is proud to be a vibrant, vital part of Nova Scotia’s rich cultural community. From spectacular orchestral concerts to free family events, youth and seniors’ activities, and educational partnerships, Symphony Nova Scotia creates unforgettable experiences with truly great music. Visit symphonynovascotia.ca to learn more, listen online, or get tickets today!

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For more information, please contact:

Emily Richards
Director of Marketing and Communications
Symphony Nova Scotia
902.421.5264
[email protected]
symphonynovascotia.ca