FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tickets are on sale now for In Nature’s Realm, the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra’s upcoming season of iconic and powerful classical music.
The 2026-27 season, the ASO’s 65th in Annapolis, will feature extraordinary guest artists, monumental orchestral works, Holiday Pops, school and family programming and matinees.
ANNAPOLIS, MD – August 6, 2026 – Tickets are now on sale for the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra’s (ASO) 2026–2027 season, welcoming audiences to a year of exceptional live music at Maryland Hall in Annapolis, the Music Center at Strathmore in Bethesda and venues throughout Anne Arundel County.
Marking the Orchestra’s 65th year as a resident company of Maryland Hall, the season is guided by the theme In Nature’s Realm. Music programs throughout the season explore the relationship between music and the natural world, inviting audiences to experience live symphonic music as a source of connection, reflection and renewal.
The five-program Signature Series moves from Dvořák’s celebration of the natural world and Jennifer Higdon’s expansive Cello Concerto to the turbulence of Tchaikovsky’s The Tempest, the vast mountain journey of Richard Strauss’ An Alpine Symphony, and the epic American-west sunrise of Ferde Grofe’s Grand Canyon Suite. Beethoven’s rhythmically exhilarating Seventh Symphony and concertos by Dimitri Shostakovich, Bruch and Prokofiev complete a season shaped by contrast, discovery and uncompromising artistry.
Internationally acclaimed guest artists include Maryland Poet Laureate Lady Brion, cellist Julian Schwarz, violinists Vadim Repin and Esther Yoo, pianist Stewart Goodyear, and vocalist Stephanie Waters.
“This is a wonderful season—full of extraordinary guest artists, powerful music, moments of exhilaration, and passages that invite us to pause and reflect,” said Artistic Director and Conductor José-Luis Novo. “Each program opens a different musical world. Audiences will find concerts that speak to them in very personal ways. I look forward to sharing these performances and the unforgettable energy that emerges when the orchestra and audience experience music together,” said Artistic Director and Conductor José-Luis Novo.
Chamber, Holiday, School and Family Concerts
A Chamber Concert to be held at Forward Brewing at 418 Fourth Street in Eastport on September 20, 2026 at 6 PM will highlight a new collaborative hefeweizen, aptly named Fermata, a reflection of both the fermata musical note and the brewing process.
Two Holiday Pops concerts will be held again this season, one in the evening at Maryland Hall, and one in the afternoon at Severna Park High School.
School field trip concerts will be held four times at Maryland Hall. These concerts are a bilingual (Spanish) presentation of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, with a vaudeville-inspired performance by Really Inventive Stuff. The performances are perfect for public, private, home-schooled and remote learning students. All tickets are $10.
The Family Concert repeats the presentation of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, with a vaudeville-inspired performance by Really Inventive Stuff.
“Whether audiences join us for a Signature Series concert, an intimate chamber performance, Holiday Pops, a Family Concert, or a school performance, every event this season is an invitation to experience the power of live music,” said Executive Director Erica Bondarev Rapach. “Under Maestro José-Luis Novo’s artistic leadership, we are proud to offer performances that inspire, connect, and welcome audiences of every age and stage of their musical journey.”
Tickets
Tickets are on sale now. Single tickets start at $25, part of an organization-wide campaign to open access for more people to experience live orchestral sound by removing price as a barrier to participation.
$15 student tickets and discounts for members of the military, law enforcement and the first-responder community are available by calling the Box Office.
Tickets may be purchased at AnnapolisSymphony.org or by calling the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra Box Office at 410-263-0907.
Concert Listing
Signature Series
Echoes of the Earth
with cellist Julian Schwarz
Friday and Saturday, October 2–3, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. at Maryland Hall
Forces of Nature
with violinist Vadim Repin
Friday and Saturday, November 6–7, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. at Maryland Hall
The Call of the Wild
Friday and Saturday, March 5–6, 2027, at 7:30 p.m. at Maryland Hall
Myths & Mountains
with violinist Esther Yoo
Friday and Saturday, April 9–10, 2027, at 7:30 p.m. at Maryland Hall
Sunday, April 11, 2027, at 3 p.m. at the Music Center at Strathmore
Shaped by Nature
with pianist Stewart Goodyear
Friday and Saturday, May 7–8, 2027, at 7:30 p.m. at Maryland Hall
Free Pre-Concert Lectures
WBJC’s Jonathan Palevsky returns to lead free pre-concert lectures before Maryland Hall Signature Series performances. Known for bringing musical scores to life through history, culture, science and behind-the-scenes stories, Palevsky offers listeners an engaging introduction to each program.
New! Sunday Matinees
For the first time, the ASO will offer two one-hour Sunday afternoon matinee concerts at Maryland Hall. Presented without intermission, the performances offer a shorter, more flexible introduction to the orchestra at an accessible ticket price.
Richard Strauss’ An Alpine Symphony
Sunday, March 7, 2027, at 3 p.m.
Ferde Grofé’s Grand Canyon Suite
Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 9, 2027, at 3 p.m.
School & Family
Schools can send their students on a remarkable field trip, and families can experience Prokofiev’s beloved musical tale in Peter & The Wolf / Pedro y el Lobo, a bilingual (Spanish) performance created with the vaudeville-inspired performers of Really Inventive Stuff.
School Field Trip
Thursday and Friday, April 15 & 16 at 10 AM and 11:30 AM at Maryland Hall. Teachers should call the Box Office at 410-263-0907 to reserve tickets.
Family Concert
April Sunday, April 17, 2027, at 11 a.m. at Maryland Hall
All tickets for the Family Concert are $15.
Special Events
Chamber Concert at Forward Brewing
Sunday, September 20, 2026 at 6 PM at Forward Brewing, 418 Fourth St. in Eastport. Tickets are $15 and include one beverage of choice.
Holiday Pops
With vocalist Stephanie Waters
Friday, December 18, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. at Maryland Hall
Saturday, December 19, 2026, at 3 p.m. at Severna Park High School
Tickets start at $45
Maryland Hall Presents Isidore String Quartet performing Mendelssohn’s String Octet in E-flat major
with Annapolis Symphony Orchestra Principal Musicians
Thursday, March 25, 2027, at 7:30 p.m. at Maryland Hall
Tickets will be sold through the Maryland Hall website, marylandhall.org/events
Community Concerts
The ASO will present educational programs and free community events throughout the season. Annapolis Symphony Academy will offer free public recitals and concerts featuring its student ensembles, including the Orion Youth Orchestra and Aries Youth Chamber Orchestra. Details about these free concerts will be released at AnnapolisSymphony.org.
The Orchestra performs Pops in the Park at Downs Park and Quiet Waters Park on Labor Day weekend, September 5 and 6, 2026. Entry to the parks is free, as are parking and the concert. Maryland Poet Laureate Lady Brion will perform Aaron Copeland’s Lincoln Portrait at both concerts, as well as poetry she has written. The music program includes works by American composers, and celebrates the spirit of America250 and the country’s uniquely American musical heritage.
ABOUT THE ANNAPOLIS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
The Annapolis Symphony Orchestra (ASO) is a cultural cornerstone of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, enriching lives through exceptional live music, music education, and service to the community. Entering its 65th season, the ASO is the oldest and largest performing arts organization in the region and is led by Artistic Director José-Luis Novo. The Orchestra employs 75 professional, union-represented musicians, and performs classical, pops, family, educational, and free community concerts.
As both an artistic leader and civic partner, the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra brings people together through the shared experience of live music, strengthening the cultural fabric of our community and inspiring future generations.
Annapolis Symphony Academy
The ASO extends its impact through the Annapolis Symphony Academy (ASA), which provides high-quality music education and performance opportunities to more than 175 students from preschool through high school. ASA students learn directly from ASO musicians through private instruction, ensembles, and recitals that foster personal artistic growth and confidence, along with a lifelong appreciation for the arts.
Media Contact:
Diana Love
Director of Marketing and Communications
DLove@annapolissymphony.org
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