The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra’s 25/26 Season is one you won’t want to miss—filled with world-class artists, inspiring community programs, and unforgettable performances in Steinmetz Hall and throughout the Central Florida community. From milestone anniversaries to exciting premieres, this Season is brimming with stories that celebrate music’s power to connect and uplift. Here are the top 10 things to know as we open another year of joy, discovery, and artistry.
1.) The OPO is proud to continue our partnership with AdventHealth!
Through this partnership, AdventHealth is the Official Health Care Provider of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and the Presenting Sponsor of our Classics Series, Pops Series, and Focus Series concerts for the 25/26 Season. Musicians will also receive access to healthcare services at AdventHealth facilities.
“We are excited about the partnership between the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and AdventHealth. It means a lot to our musicians and our community that AdventHealth recognizes the importance of the arts in our community. The arts service mental health, unite audiences, and spark innovation. Healthy musicians create a better environment for art to thrive. Thank you, AdventHealth!” -Karina Bharne, Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra Executive Director.
2.) We will be opening our 25/26 Season with Grieg’s Piano Concerto on September 27th – less than a month away!
The 25/26 Season begins with a night of iconic symphonic works under the baton of Music Director Eric Jacobsen. The program opens with Rossini’s lively Overture to William Tell, followed by Grieg’s beloved Piano Concerto, performed by acclaimed pianist Sara Davis Buechner. Recognized worldwide for her virtuosity and expressive artistry, Buechner has appeared with more than 100 orchestras throughout her career. She is also a proud transgender woman, and we are honored to welcome her to our stage—believed to be the first transgender soloist to perform with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. After intermission, the orchestra takes on Prokofiev’s monumental Symphony No. 5, a work of sweeping power and emotional depth. It’s the perfect way to launch a season of unforgettable music.
Learn more at https://orlandophil.org/event/opening-night-griegs-piano-concerto/
3.) This year, we are partnering with a local artist to feature their work on our 25/26 Season program book cover.
Hannah Loflin is a Senior Concept Artist and Illustrator for Disney Live Entertainment as well as the artist behind our 25/26 Season program book cover! A Brigham Young University alum, she loves all forms of art, including film and fashion. At the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, we deeply value our local creative community and recognize the incredible talent that surrounds us. This initiative is part of our ongoing commitment to supporting and celebrating local artists.
4.) The Orlando Philharmonic was founded in 1993. Some of our current musicians have been with us since the beginning!
Musicians Carl Rendek (Principal Timpani), Robert Carpenter (Principal Tuba), Mark Fischer (Horn), Diane Bishop (Bassoon), Robert Kennon (Bass), Maureen May (Cello), Brenda Higgins (Cello), Melissa Swedberg (Violin), Jennie Rudberg (Violin), Linda Van Buren (Violin), and Joni Hanze (Violin) have been with us since the Orlando Philharmonic’s inception in 1993. Some even played with the Orlando Philharmonic’s predecessor, the Florida Symphony Orchestra!
Learn more about all of our musicians at https://orlandophil.org/orchestra-musicians/
5.) Yuja Wang returns for a one-night-only performance.
On Tuesday, February 17, 2026, Yuja Wang returns to Florida and the Steinmetz Hall stage for one night only! Her only stop in the Southern United States, she’ll join the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Music Director Eric Jacobsen to perform the Barber Piano Concerto. This dramatic and enduring piece will showcase the full power of the piano under her fingertips. The last time she was here was in January 2023, Yuja performed all four of Rachmaninoff’s piano concertos–twice.
6.) You can get free tickets to concerts through the Orange County Library’s Local Wanderer Program.
We’re proud to partner with the Orange County Library System’s Local Wanderer culture pass program again this Season. By participating in this program, we aim to help break down barriers into classical music and invite our community to performances. This year, we’re offering more than ever before. With just your library card, you have the opportunity to attend our Classics Series, Pops Series, Focus Series, Symphony Storytime Series, and Disney’s Hocus Pocus in Concert. These tickets are in limited quantity, so grab them while you still can!
You can request a Local Wanderer Pass on the Orange County Library’s website, https://ocls.org/local-wanderer/
7.) Our Young People’s Concerts are the largest of their kind in the nation, welcoming over 65,000 students across Central Florida
Our Young People’s Concerts are a one-of-a-kind collaboration between the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, Orlando Ballet, and Opera Orlando, bringing music, dance, and song together on one stage! Through a vibrant storyline and dynamic performances, students are taken on an inspiring musical journey that sparks imagination and encourages creativity.
Every year, we serve over 65,000 students through the power of live music. We are excited to welcome every third, fourth, and fifth grade student from Orange County plus every fifth-grade student from Osceola, Seminole, and Volusia County. For the first time ever, we will be bringing the magic of our Young People’s Concert to Lake County as well.
This Season’s theme is “Where in the World is the OPO?” where students will need their spy gear and creativity as the search for clues around the world in order to defeat the evil Dr. Monotone from changing music as we know it.
8.) We’re welcoming a National Young Composer winner back on stage for one of our Classics Series concerts.
Dylan Hall is a composer whose work already demonstrates remarkable maturity and originality. At just 15 years old, Dylan has captured national attention with his work, blending youthful creativity with a keen sense of orchestral craft. However, this isn’t our first time on stage with him. Just last year, we performed his composition during the National Young Composers Challenge in partnership with UCF Celebrates the Arts. In this national competition, composers ages 13 to 18 are selected to have their original pieces performed and recorded by the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra.
His music combines technical skill with imaginative storytelling, drawing listeners into vibrant, unexpected sound worlds. As audiences experience Scherzo for Orchestra at our Classics Series performance Gil Shaham Returns, it’s clear that Dylan is a young composer to watch—someone poised to make a lasting impact on the orchestral landscape.
9.) Rimma Bergeron-Langlois will be entering her 15th Season as Concertmaster.
A member of the Orlando Philharmonic since 2011, Rimma Bergeron-Langlois has been playing the violin since she was five years old. She studied at the specialized music school in Kharkiv, Ukraine, and pursued her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the New England Conservatory in Boston with Masuko Ushioda and Donald Weilerstein. Rimma has previously performed with the Detroit Symphony, Toledo Symphony, and Basque National Symphony in Spain, and has soloed under the direction of Yuri Bashmet and Dmitry Sitkovetsky. Rimma is excited for the upcoming 25/26 Season, and we can’t wait to see her continue to inspire audiences and fellow musicians alike. She’ll be featured at the Focus Series concert “The Four Seasons” on October 22 and the Classics Series concert “Brahms Symphony No. 1” as she performs Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto on February 28 and March 1.
10.) OPO hosts free open rehearsals that offer an up-close view of how the conductor, soloists, and orchestra fine-tune music before a concert. No ticket required!
Join us as the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra rehearses for a Classics Series concert in the world-class Steinmetz Hall at Dr. Phillips Center. You will experience the hard work, dedication, and skill our musicians embody to be performance-ready and may even get a surprise or two along the way! Open rehearsals are Fridays at 3:30 p.m., and are available for the following Classics Series concerts:
Gil Shaham Returns: Friday, November 7
Debussy’s La Mer: Friday, January 23
Brahms Symphony No. 1: Friday, February 27
Beethoven Symphony No. 9: Friday, May 8
With so much to look forward to—from landmark performances and returning stars to expanded education programs and community initiatives—the 25/26 Season promises something for everyone. Whether you’re a longtime subscriber or discovering the Orlando Philharmonic for the first time, we invite you to be part of the music, the memories, and the moments that make this orchestra truly special.