For Immediate Release

THE MINNESOTA ORCHESTRA ANNOUNCES 2026-27 SEASON

Music Director Thomas Søndergård shares plans for his fourth Minnesota Orchestra season which includes launch of Sound Unbound series—highly visual, creative treatments of music in the concert hall—including Stravinsky’s The Firebird with designer Tal Rosner and Puccini’s Tosca with creative director Adam Larson

Nordic Soundscapes Festival returns with Søndergård sharing the podium with Conductor Laureate Osmo Vänskä to explore northern Europe’s 
orchestral music of past and present

Søndergård delves into music of American present with the Composer Institute, highlighting compositions from top emerging composers across the U.S.

Orchestra embarks on California tour with violinist Augustin Hadelich

Classical season will feature soprano Ailyn Pérez, mezzo Sasha Cooke, violinists Himari and Stella Chen, cellist Johannes Moser, pianists Isata Kanneh-Mason and Daniil Trifonov, and Minnesota Orchestra musicians Erin Keefe, Susie Park, Anthony Ross and Fei Xie

Live at Orchestra Hall offerings include performances by Ben Folds, Andrew Bird, Samara Joy, Guster, Wynton Marsalis and Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Leslie Odom, Jr. and Thorgy Thor, as well as film performances of Amadeus, Jaws and Vertigo, among others

Molly Turner joins organization as associate conductor

MINNEAPOLIS (March 13, 2026) — The Minnesota Orchestra and Music Director Thomas Søndergård today announced plans for the Orchestra’s 2026-27 season, a year that showcases top artists from returning pianist Daniil Trifonov to debuting violinist Himari; unveils theatrical performances of Stravinsky’s Firebird and Puccini’s Tosca as part of the Sound Unbound series; celebrates the third annual Nordic Soundscapes Festival; features large-scale orchestral works from Corigliano’s First Symphony to Mahler’s Fifth; and brings back the biennial Minnesota Orchestra Composer Institute, giving voice to some of the nation’s top emerging composers.

“When we put together a new season we try to create each program with great care and attention so that every concert experience is something special for the audience,” said Music Director Thomas Søndergård. “Some programs are built to be viscerally thrilling, in others we want to tell a story or transport listeners into another space, but we are always aiming to share artistry, emotion and a little magic.”

Leading 12 weeks of concerts, Søndergård opens the season in September 2026 performances featuring Van Cliburn Competition Gold medalist Vadym Kholodenko interpreting Prokofiev’s Second Piano Concerto and leads his final season performances in June 2027 with South Korean pianist Yeol Eum Son making her Minnesota Orchestra debut in Richard Strauss’ only work for piano and orchestra, Burleske.

In February, Søndergård and the Orchestra will embark on a tour to Santa Barbara and Palm Desert, California, with Grammy Award-winning violinist Augustin Hadelich performing Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 1.

The season encompasses programming designed for concertgoers of all ages and interests, including Classical, Chamber Music, Live at Orchestra Hall, Holiday, Young People’s Concerts and Family Concerts.

Click Here for the complete 2026/2027 Season Announcement

Click Here for the 2026/2027 Season Brochure

Click Here for the 2026/2027 Season Calendar

MINNESOTA ORCHESTRA ANNOUNCES PROGRAMMING FOR 2026 SUMMER AT ORCHESTRA HALL, JULY 16-AUGUST 8 

Four weeks of programming explore broad spectrum of musical styles

Chris Thile makes Minnesota Orchestra debut bringing his autobiographical mandolin concerto to Orchestra Hall, along with an evening of indie music

Countertenor John Holiday sings Carlos Simon’s Songs of Separation, as well as gems from the American songbook with Jearlyn and Jevetta Steele Stephanie Childress conducts works by Britten, Beethoven and Schumann; Sarah Hicks leads a tribute to John Williams and “A Night in the Tropics” with trumpeter Charles Lazarus

Grammy Award-winning musician Chris Thile and acclaimed countertenor John Holiday will each headline a week of concerts—and curate multiple programs that highlight disparate sides of their musical personalities—as part of the Minnesota Orchestra’s 2026 Summer at Orchestra Hall. Running from July 16 to August 8, 2026, this summer’s programming spans a vibrant spectrum of musical styles and artists that also includes Beethoven’s Triple Concerto, “A Night in the Tropics” with Orchestra trumpeter Charles Lazarus, and an original program celebrating John Williams’ film scores, led by Principal Conductor of Live at Orchestra Hall Sarah Hicks. 

Click Here for the Summer at Orchestra Hall 2026 Announcement

Minnesota Orchestra

Gwen Pappas, VP of Communications and Public Relations | gpappas@mnorch.org

Alexandra Robinson, Content and Communications Manager | arobinson@mnorch.org

Shuman Public Relations

Lisa Jaehnig | lisa@shuman-pr.com 

Tru Pierone | tru@shuman-pr.com