Victoria Symphony
Christian Kluxen
Music Director
SEASON UNDERWRITERS
Message from the Music Director
When an orchestra finds its voice, a city hears itself differently. In the season brochure you are about to explore, we hope you will hear that voice resonate more clearly, more boldly, and more vibrantly than ever.
In recent years, we have not simply moved forward; we have grown. Concert by concert, the Victoria Symphony has reached a new level of performance: fearless in expression and relentless in its pursuit of excellence. That progress comes from the dedication of our musicians and from something just as essential: the confidence to program with conviction. We are no longer choosing music because it feels “safe.” We are choosing what we believe matters, and what we want to share with you, trusting that what connects most deeply is not only what is familiar, but what feels unmistakably us. And that authenticity is increasingly being recognized across Canada.
So here it is: our most ambitious season yet. Repertoire of greater scale and consequence; music that tests us, elevates us, and reveals us, alongside a remarkable lineup of guest artists and more renowned soloists than ever before, joining us not as adornments, but as true partners in the music-making we are now known for.
I am profoundly proud of what this season represents, and I remain deeply committed to this orchestra and its community. I hope you will be part of it by joining us in the hall, bringing others with you, and standing behind what we are creating.
Because our voice can only live through the curiosity of your ears and the courage of your hearts.
Sandra Lackenbauer
CHRISTIAN KLUXEN
MUSIC DIRECTOR UNDERWRITER
Message from the CEO
Every season of the Victoria Symphony begins with a simple and hopeful idea: that great music has the power to bring people together. The 2026/27 Season continues that tradition, offering moments of beauty, discovery, and connection that we hope will resonate long after the final applause.
What makes those moments possible is you. Together, our subscribers, donors, sponsors, musicians, staff, volunteers, board members, and community partners form an extraordinary network of support for this orchestra. Whether we are on stage at our own concerts, performing with Pacific Opera Victoria, Dance Victoria, or Ballet Victoria, or collaborating with choirs and presenters across the region, this orchestra belongs to the entire community. That is why we truly mean it when we say this is your Victoria Symphony
This season reflects that spirit of shared ownership and momentum. You will hear cherished masterworks alongside fresh new voices, and returning favourites alongside artists you are
meeting for the first time. It is a season shaped by curiosity, ambition, and care — designed not just to entertain, but to invite you into the music and into the life of the orchestra itself.
The Victoria Symphony continues to grow in remarkable ways: artistically, administratively, and in its reach across our region. That growth invites us to imagine what comes next, including a permanent rehearsal home that reflects the orchestra’s role in the life of this community. The orchestra’s sense of purpose has never been stronger, and its future has never felt more full of possibility.
Thank you for being part of the Victoria Symphony community. We cannot wait to welcome you back to the hall.
MATTHEW WHITE, CEO
Cory Balzer, Violin
Kimberly Durflinger, Principal 2nd Violin
2026/27 SEASON AT A GLANCE
JULY
To be announced
AUGUST
To be announced
SEPTEMBER
13 Royal Theatre: Season Opening
Kluxen & Hetherington –Beethoven Symphony No. 7
19 & 20 Royal Theatre
Aretha – A Tribute
27 Farquhar at UVic
Kluxen & Pouliot – Dvořák’s
New World Symphony & Sibelius Violin Concerto
OCTOBER
4 Farquhar at UVic
Aadland & Tam – The Lark Ascending
17 Farquhar at UVic (Kids)*
The Unicorn’s Birthday®
25 Royal Theatre
Parameswaran & Liu –
Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 1
30 Royal Theatre
Spirited Away – The Music of Studio Ghibli
DECEMBER
5 & 6
Royal Theatre
Christmas Pops with Steven Page 11, 12, & 13 Christ Church Cathedral
Messiah by Candlelight
16 Mary Winspear Centre*
Christmas Pops with the VS
17 Qualicum Beach Civic Centre*
Christmas Pops with the VS
19 & 20 Royal Theatre*
Home Alone in Concert
JANUARY
1 Royal Theatre
New Year’s Day Celebration
23 & 24 Royal Theatre
Latin Nights with Sal Ferreras & Adonis Puentes
31 Farquhar at UVic
Kluxen – Wagner/Maazel: The Ring Without Words
FEBRUARY
7 Farquhar at UVic*
Kluxen - Marc-André Hamelin
Plays Rachmaninoff's
Piano Concerto No. 3
13 Farquhar at UVic (Kids)*
M is for Music!
28 Royal Theatre
Baigent & Crozman – Mozart’s
Jupiter & Walton’s Cello Concerto
MARCH
3 & 4 Royal Theatre*
How to Train Your Dragon in Concert
5 Qualicum Beach Civic Centre*
Sinatra and Friends in Hollywood
6 & 7
Royal Theatre
Sinatra and Friends in Hollywood
14 Royal Theatre
Cohn & Pion – Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade
SEASON SPECIALS
NOVEMBER
1 Royal Theatre
Spirited Away – The Music of Studio Ghibli
8 Royal Theatre*
Kluxen - Ray Chen
Plays Mendelssohn
15 Farquhar at UVic
Kluxen & Choi – Prokofiev Classical & Haydn Cello Concerto
22 Royal Theatre
Huynh & Valcheff – Beethoven Symphony No. 1 & Copland’s Tender Land Suite
20 & 21 Christ Church Cathedral
Tausk – Bach's Mass in B minor
27 Farquhar at UVic (Kids)*
The Science of Sound
APRIL
11 Royal Theatre
Tzigane, Boutin-Bourque, & Gunter – Schubert Symphony No. 9
18 Farquhar at UVic
Kluxen & Sarkissian –Schubert Symphony No. 5 & Rautavaara Flute Concerto
25 Royal Theatre
Kluxen & Parker – Mozart & Sibelius
30 Royal Theatre*
Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert
MAY
1 & 2 Royal Theatre*
Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert
9 Royal Theatre: Season Finale
Kluxen – Shostakovich Leningrad Symphony
Home Alone
Darren Buhr, Bass
Jennifer Gunter, Principal Bassoon
MUSICIANS OF THE VICTORIA SYMPHONY FEBRUARY 2026
MUSIC DIRECTOR
CHRISTIAN KLUXEN
Underwritten by Sandra Lackenbauer
VIOLIN
TERENCE TAM, Concertmaster
Underwritten by
Steve & Barb McKerrell
KIMBERLY DURFLINGER, Principal
2nd Violin
CORY BALZER
Underwritten by Clark Family
CELLO
BRIAN YOON, Principal
VINCI CHEN
HANNAH CRAIG
JOYCE ELLWOOD
Underwritten by Anonymous Donor
BASS
MALCOLM ARMSTRONG, Principal
Underwritten by Clark Family
DARREN BUHR
ALEX OLSON
Underwritten by
Julie & Harry Swain
FLUTE
ARIN SARKISSIAN, Principal
Underwritten by
Dora Boehm
HOLLY VENKITASWARAN
PRINCIPAL POPS CONDUCTOR
SEAN O’LOUGHLIN
Underwritten by Lynda Farmer O.B.C. & Murray Farmer O.B.C.
MÜGE BÜYÜKÇELEN
Underwritten by Clark Family
MICHELE KWON
JEREMY POTTS
Underwritten by Jack Boomer & Stephen Hammond
EMILY SALMON
Underwritten by
Julie & Harry Swain
JULIAN VITEK
COMPOSER-MENTOR IN RESIDENCE TAYLOR BROOK
VIOLA
KENJI FUSÉ, Principal
Underwritten by Terry Scandrett & Angela Bassage
KAY COCHRAN
Underwritten by Marjorie Clegg and Helen Bochonko
MIEKA MICHAUX
Underwritten by Clark Family
JESSICA PICKERSGILL
OBOE
MICHELLE FENG, Principal
Underwritten by
Julie & Harry Swain
RUSSELL BAJER
Underwritten by Clark Family
ENGLISH HORN
RUSSELL BAJER
Underwritten by Clark Family
CLARINET
DAVID BOUTIN-BOURQUE, Principal
Underwritten by Clark Family
JENNIFER CHRISTENSEN
BASSOON
JENNIFER GUNTER, Principal
Underwritten by Terry Scandrett & Angela Bassage
ANNE MARIE POWER
HORN
ALANA DESPINS, Principal
Underwritten by
Helen Stuart & Bob Hoogendoorn** Mozart Fund at the Victoria Foundation
MIKE OSWALD
Underwritten by George Lovick
SAM McNALLY
Underwritten by George Lovick
DAN MOSES
TRUMPET
RYAN COLE, Principal
Underwritten by
George Lovick
DAVID MICHAUX
Underwritten by Sheridan Scott & David Zussman
TROMBONE
GRAHAM MIDDLETON, Principal
Underwritten by
Julie & Harry Swain
RICCARDO NAZARIO DEL CASTELLO
BASS TROMBONE
ROBERT FRASER
TUBA
JAY USCHOLD, Acting Principal
TIMPANI
JONAS KOH, Principal
PERCUSSION
JACOB VALCHEFF, Principal
Underwritten by Adele Malo & David Drinkwater
HARP
ANNABELLE STANLEY, Principal
Vinci Chen, Cello
Emily Salmon, Violin
September 2026
Arin Sarkissian, Principal Flute
SEASON OPENING
Kluxen & Hetherington –Beethoven Symphony No. 7
Sunday, September 13, 2:30 pm
Royal Theatre
CHRISTIAN KLUXEN, conductor
ALEX HETHERINGTON, mezzo-soprano
KUHLAU: Elverhøj (Elves’ Hill) Overture
BERLIOZ: Les Nuits d’été (Summer Nights)
BRITTA BYSTRÖM: A Walk to Beethoven
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 7 in A major
A festive Danish curtain-raiser by Friedrich Kuhlau (Beethoven’s contemporary and a composer central to Denmark’s musical identity) sets the tone for a season that celebrates place and belonging in a time when national songs resonate more than ever. Berlioz, another nineteenth-century visionary who expanded the orchestra’s expressive range, turns that brightness inward with Les Nuits d’été, a tender farewell to summer sung by mezzo-soprano Alex Hetherington. Britta Byström’s
A Walk to Beethoven, commissioned by Christian Kluxen during his Arctic Philharmonic tenure, answers across time with a luminous bridge leading naturally into Beethoven’s radiant Seventh Symphony—a “celebration of humanity being unworried and free.”
Concert underwritten by Alan Hollingworth
Sandra Lackenbauer
SUNDAYS AT THE ROYAL SERIES UNDERWRITER
Aretha – A Tribute
Saturday, September 19, 7:30 pm
Sunday, September 20, 2:30 pm
Royal Theatre
SEAN O’LOUGHLIN, conductor
CAPATHIA JENKINS & RYAN SHAW, vocalists
R-E-S-P-E-C-T! The “Queen of Soul,”
Aretha Franklin, is celebrated in a powerhouse concert of her greatest hits, from Respect and Think to A Natural Woman, Chain of Fools, and Amazing Grace. Broadway star Capathia Jenkins and three-time GRAMMY®-nominee Ryan Shaw bring soaring vocals and electric energy to the stage, backed by Sean O’Loughlin and the musicians of the VS. More than a concert, it’s a heartwarming, soul-stirring tribute to one of music’s most legendary voices.
Concert underwritten by A & A King Family Foundation
Michelle Feng, Principal Oboe
Robert & Devi Jawl Foundation
POPS AT THE ROYAL SERIES UNDERWRITER
Kluxen & Pouliot – Dvořák’s New World Symphony & Sibelius Violin Concerto
Sunday, September 27, 2:30 pm Farquhar at UVic
CHRISTIAN KLUXEN, conductor
BLAKE POULIOT, violin
ELLER: Koit (Dawn)
SIBELIUS: Violin Concerto in D minor
DVOŘÁK: Symphony No. 9 in E minor
(“From the New World”)
Heino Eller’s Dawn captures both the first light of day and the awakening of Estonian national identity after World War I. Sibelius’s Violin Concerto, lyrical and vast, reflects the mystery of the landscape that shaped him, here brought to life by the brilliant Canadian violinist Blake Pouliot. Dvořák’s New World Symphony, written during his stay in America, weaves homesickness and discovery into one of the most beloved works in all symphonic literature.
Concert underwritten by George Lovick
Blake Pouliot underwritten by Sandra Lackenbauer
Dora Boehm
SUNDAYS AT THE FARQUHAR SERIES UNDERWRITER
October 2026
Barb & Steve McKerrell
CONCERTMASTER UNDERWRITERS
Aadland & Tam
– The Lark Ascending
Sunday, October 4, 2:30 pm
Farquhar at UVic
EIVIND AADLAND, conductor
TERENCE TAM, violin
ELGAR: Introduction and Allegro
WILLIAMS: The Lark Ascending
SCHUMANN: Symphony No. 2 in C major
October 2026
Elgar’s Introduction and Allegro was written in 1905 to showcase the virtuosity of the London Symphony Orchestra’s string players and its warmth and elegance remain irresistible today. Vaughan Williams’s beloved The Lark Ascending, performed by VS Concertmaster Terence Tam, floats with pastoral grace and quiet transcendence. The concert concludes with Schumann’s Symphony No. 2, a radiant triumph over adversity, conducted by the distinguished Norwegian maestro Eivind Aadland, Artistic Director of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra.
Joyce Ellwood, cello
The Unicorn’s Birthday®
Saturday, October 17, 3:00 pm
Farquhar at UVic
BOB SINGLETON: “The Unicorn’s Birthday®”
Everyone’s invited to the unicorn’s birthday party! Meet musical penguins, monkeys, ducks, and other whimsical creatures in this interactive concert for young families and sensory-friendly audiences. Composer Bob Singleton—best known for his decade as music director of Barney & Friends created The Unicorn’s Birthday for the Dallas Symphony, co-commissioned by orchestras across North America. A joyful introduction to the orchestra for all ages.
Parameswaran & Liu
– Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 1 Sunday, October 25, 2:30 pm
Royal Theatre
VINAY PARAMESWARAN, conductor
SOPHIA LIU, piano
VIVIAN FUNG: Parade
LISZT: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major
TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 1 in G minor ("Winter Dreams")
Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 1 evokes the frost-bright landscapes of winter, with its sweeping melodies and crisp orchestral colours revealing a youthful work of striking imagination. Rising Canadian pianist Sophia Liu dazzles in Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1, a brilliant showcase of fire, finesse, and fearless virtuosity. Vivian Fung’s Parade opens the concert with the vibrant rhythms and colours of San Francisco’s Lunar New Year celebrations. Vinay Parameswaran, one of the most versatile young conductors on the podium today, leads a program that moves from celebration to triumph in a blaze of orchestral colour.
Concert underwritten by Sara Neely
Sophia Liu underwritten by Natexa Verbrugge
Spirited Away – The Music of Studio Ghibli
Friday, October 30, 7:30 pm
Sunday, November 1, 2:30 pm
Royal Theatre
JULIANE GALLANT, conductor
JOE HISAISHI: Symphonic Variation “Merry-Go-Round” from Howl’s Moving Castle
Orchestra Stories: My Neighbor Totoro “A Town with an Ocean View” from Kiki’s Delivery Service
Departures
Spirited Away Suite
Enter the enchanting worlds of Studio Ghibli through the magical music of Joe Hisaishi, the composer behind their most beloved animated films. This tribute concert journeys through the nostalgic melodies of My Neighbor Totoro, the lyrical flights of Spirited Away, and the epic rhythms of Kiki's Delivery Service
Each note opens a doorway to wonder, capturing the imagination and heart of every listener—an unforgettable experience for audiences of all ages.
Concert underwritten by A & A King Family Foundation
Concert underwritten by Carol Bellringer & Greg Doyle
Eivind Aadland and Terence Tam’s performance underwritten by A Private Foundation
Terence Tam, Concertmaster
Terry Scandrett & Angela Bassage
Ryan Cole, Principal Trumpet
November 2026
Kluxen – Ray Chen
Plays Mendelssohn
Sunday, November 8, 2:30 pm
Royal Theatre
CHRISTIAN KLUXEN, conductor
RAY CHEN, violin
SAMY MOUSSA: Elysium
MENDELSSOHN: Violin Concerto in E minor
BARTÓK: Concerto for Orchestra
Superstar violinist Ray Chen—one of the most celebrated classical artists on the world stage—makes his long-awaited Victoria debut. Acclaimed for his aweinspiring technique, deep artistry, and magnetic presence both on stage and online, Chen performs Mendelssohn’s beloved Violin Concerto, a perfect showcase for his radiant virtuosity.
The concert opens with Canadian composer Samy Moussa’s Elysium, a luminous vision of reward and renewal.
Bartók’s masterful Concerto for Orchestra, written in exile yet brimming with vitality and hope, concludes the evening and continues the VS’s exploration of the composer’s bold, transformative orchestral works.
Concert underwritten by
Tim McGee, KC & Mary Mullens
Ray Chen underwritten by
Julie & Harry Swain, Natexa Verbrugge, and Barbara Winters
Kluxen & Choi
– Prokofiev Classical & Haydn Cello Concerto
Sunday, November 15, 2:30 pm Farquhar at UVic
CHRISTIAN KLUXEN, conductor
HAYOUNG CHOI, cello
ROSSINI: Il signor Bruschino Overture
HAYDN: Cello Concerto No. 1 in C major
PROKOFIEV: Symphony No. 1 in D major (“Classical”)
HAYDN: Symphony No. 75 in D major
Rossini’s mischievous Il signor Bruschino Overture sparkles with wit and charm— proof that classical can also be playful. Hayoung Choi, winner of the 2022 Queen Elisabeth Competition, brings brilliance and elegance to Haydn’s muchloved Cello Concerto No. 1. Prokofiev’s Classical Symphony playfully reimagines eighteenth-century forms through a modern lens, before Haydn returns to close with Symphony No. 75, whose humour and grace remind us that true classicism is always alive, never antique.
Concert underwritten by
Adele Malo & David Drinkwater
Hayoung Choi underwritten by Jim & Betty Hesser
Huynh & Valcheff
– Beethoven Symphony No. 1 & Copland’s Tender Land Suite Sunday, November 22, 2:30 pm Royal Theatre
NORMAN HUYNH, conductor JACOB VALCHEFF, percussion
COPLAND: The Tender Land Suite
SAMUEL KERR: Percussion Concerto WORLD PREMIERE
With the support of the Hugh Davidson Fund at the Victoria Foundation
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 1 in C major “The promise of living with hope and thanksgiving / Is born of our loving our friends and our labor.” So sing the closing lines of Copland’s The Tender Land, whose open harmonies celebrate community and gratitude. Dynamic conductor Norman Huynh leads a program grounded in musical friendship: VS Principal Percussion Jacob Valcheff joins as soloist in a vibrant new concerto by Canadian composer Samuel Kerr, commissioned with support from the Hugh Davidson Fund at the Victoria Foundation. Beethoven’s youthful First Symphony closes with exuberant optimism and elegant humour—music born of curiosity, confidence, and connection.
Concert underwritten by Millingtons: Trustees of the Lou Williamson Scholarship Fund
Jacob Valcheff’s performance underwritten by Nancy Bell & Kevan King
Jacob Valcheff, Principal Percussion
December 2026
Christmas Pops with Steven Page
Saturday, December 5, 7:30 pm
Sunday, December 6, 2:30 pm
Royal Theatre
STEVEN PAGE, vocalist
Celebrate the season with acclaimed singer-songwriter Steven Page, co-founder of Barenaked Ladies, in a festive concert blending heart, humour, and harmony.
Hear the iconic hits Brian Wilson, Jane, Call and Answer, The Old Apartment, and What a Good Boy, along with joyful holiday favourites guaranteed to make you feel merry and bright. A feel-good evening that sparkles with wit, nostalgia, and warmth.
Concert underwritten by A & A King Family Foundation and in memory of Dallas & Len Chapple**
Steven Page, Vocalist
Messiah by Candlelight
Friday, December 11, 7:30 pm
Saturday, December 12, 7:30 pm
Sunday, December 13, 2:30 pm
Christ Church Cathedral
GIUSEPPE PIETRAROIA, conductor
SARAH DUFRESNE, soprano
GEORGIA BURASHKO, mezzo-soprano
JAMES REESE, tenor
SUMNER THOMPSON, baritone
VICTORIA CHORAL SOCIETY
BRIAN WISMATH, conductor CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL YOUNG CHORISTERS
HANDEL: Messiah
“Hallelujah!” In 1741, Handel composed his great oratorio Messiah in just three weeks, and its message of hope and redemption has echoed ever since. Victoria’s magnificent Christ Church Cathedral glows with candlelight as the VS, local choirs, and four outstanding soloists bring this timeless story to life—a tradition that has sold out two years in a row!
Concert underwritten by
Matthew White & Catherine Webster
Giuseppe Pietraroia underwritten by Jade Gan
Christ Church Cathedral Young Choristers underwritten by Chris Graham & Joan Yates
CONCERT SPONSOR
Home Alone in Concert
Saturday, December 19, 7:00 pm
Sunday, December 20, 2:30 & 7:00 pm
Royal Theatre
GIUSEPPE PIETRAROIA, conductor
A true holiday favourite, this
Christmas Pops with the VS
Wednesday, December 16, 3:00 & 7:30 pm Mary Winspear Centre
Thursday, December 17, 3:00 & 7:30 pm Qualicum Beach Civic Centre
GIUSEPPE PIETRAROIA, conductor
Santa Claus isn’t the only one coming to town! Maestro Giuseppe Pietraroia and the VS make a welcome return to Sidney and Qualicum Beach for the annual favourite Christmas Pops tradition. Bringing you music for The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, from holiday classics to spirited renditions of favourite carols, join us for a festive celebration right in your own backyard!
Malcolm Armstrong, Principal Bass
beloved comedy classic features renowned composer John Williams’ charming and delightful score performed live to picture by the Victoria Symphony. Macaulay Culkin stars as Kevin McCallister, an 8-year-old boy who’s accidentally left behind when his family leaves for Christmas vacation, and who
must defend his home against two bungling thieves. Hilarious and heart-warming, Home Alone is holiday fun for the entire family! © 1990 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All rights reserved.
Concert underwritten by Linda Pendray
January 2027
New Year’s Day Celebration
Friday, January 1, 2:30pm
Royal Theatre
GIUSEPPE PIETRAROIA, conductor
MATTHEW CAIRNS, tenor
MEMBERS OF PACIFIC OPERA
VICTORIA CHORUS
DANCERS FROM BALLET VICTORIA
Ring in the New Year with sparkling arias, choruses, and dances in Victoria’s most joyful musical tradition. Tenor Matthew Cairns joins Ballet Victoria and members of the Pacific Opera Victoria Chorus for an afternoon brimming with glamour, melody, and celebration. A toast to 2027 that has sold out three years running!
Concert underwritten by Suzanne & John Stewart
Giuseppe Pietraroia underwritten by Jade Gan
Matthew Cairns underwritten by Christine & Shane O’Leary
Latin Nights with Sal Ferreras & Adonis Puentes
Saturday, January 23, 7:30 pm
Sunday, January 24, 2:30 pm
Royal Theatre
SEAN O’LOUGHLIN, conductor SAL FERRERAS, percussion
ADONIS PUENTES, vocalist
LATIN JAZZ SEXTET
After their crowd-pleasing Symphony SPLASH! debut in 2025, percussionist Sal Ferreras, vocalist Adonis Puentes, and the Latin Jazz Sextet return with irresistible energy, rhythm, and joy. Featuring new works from Adonis Puentes and Miguelito Valdés, plus musical gems from Lalo Schifrin (Argentina), Ernesto Lecuona (Cuba), Sergio Mendes (Brazil), and Oscar Hernández (Puerto Rico), Latin Nights is an electrifying celebration of song and dance.
Concert underwritten by A & A King Foundation
Lynda Farmer O.B.C. & Murray Farmer O.B.C.
PRINCIPAL POPS
CONDUCTOR UNDERWRITERS
Kluxen – Wagner/Maazel: The Ring Without Words
Sunday, January 31, 2:30 pm Farquhar at UVic
CHRISTIAN KLUXEN, conductor WAGNER (ARR. LORIN MAAZEL): Der Ring ohne Worte for Orchestra (The Ring Without Words)
Experience Wagner’s monumental Ring Cycle—Das Rheingold through Götterdämmerung— in a single, seamless symphonic journey. The Ring Without Words, arranged by Lorin Maazel, distills fifteen hours of drama into seventyfive minutes of breathtaking orchestral storytelling. Christian Kluxen leads one of the largest ensembles ever assembled by the VS in this landmark event for Wagnerians and newcomers alike.
Presented without intermission.
Concert underwritten by Clark Family, Marc & Patricia Lortie, George Lovick, Julie & Harry Swain, and A Private Foundation
Sean O'Loughlin, Principal Pops Conductor
February 2027
Jessica Pickersgill, Viola
Kluxen - Marc-André Hamelin Plays Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3
Sunday, February 7, 2:30 pm Farquhar at UVic
CHRISTIAN KLUXEN, conductor
MARC-ANDRÉ HAMELIN, piano
RACHMANINOFF: Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor
BRAHMS: Symphony No. 1 in C minor
Canadian piano legend Marc-André Hamelin, hailed by The New York Times for his “near-superhuman technical prowess,” takes on the towering “Rach 3,” one of the most challenging concertos ever written. Christian Kluxen pairs it with Brahms’s heroic First Symphony, a work born of grief for Schumann yet resolved in radiant strength, affirming resilience through beauty.
Concert underwritten by
Millingtons: Trustees of the Lou Williamson Scholarship Fund
Marc-André Hamelin underwritten by George Lovick and Marc & Patricia Lortie
M is for Music! Saturday, February 13, 3:00 pm Farquhar at UVic
SHAUNA JOHANNESEN, writer / performer
Eight-year-old Sarah T. Murdoch isn’t thrilled about her class trip to the Symphony—no sharks, no climbing wall, not even a frog! But with the help of a conductor and a magical book, she discovers that the orchestra is full of adventure. Through music by Mussorgsky, Barber, Bizet, Saint-Saëns, and John Williams, Sarah learns that symphonic music can move hearts, bodies, and imaginations alike. A fun, participatory concert for children and families.
This concert will also be presented as the Education Concerts program from February 17 - 19 at the Farquhar at UVic and February 22 at the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre.
Baigent & Crozman –Mozart’s Jupiter & Walton’s Cello Concerto Sunday, February 28, 2:30 pm Royal Theatre
BERTIE BAIGENT, conductor
CAMERON CROZMAN, cello
MARCUS GODDARD: Antarctica: Life Emerging WALTON: Cello Concerto
RAVEL: Pavane pour une infante défunte (Pavane for a Dead Princess)
MOZART: Symphony No. 41 in C major (“Jupiter”)
The program opens with Marcus Goddard’s Antarctica: Life Emerging, an immersive orchestral work and film tracing the fragility of life on one of the planet's most extreme environments. The evening then turns inward with William Walton’s lyrical Cello Concerto, premiered by Gregor Piatigorsky and brought vividly to life by Canadian cellist Cameron Crozman. After intermission, Maurice Ravel’s Pavane pour une infante défunte opens the second half, its translucent orchestration and nostalgic grace offering a moment of poised reflection. The program concludes with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s radiant Symphony No. 41, Jupiter, a jubilant finale to the Classical era.
This performance is generously supported by the Gail O'Riordan Climate and the Arts Legacy Fund at the Victoria Foundation
Bertie Baigent underwritten by Helen Stuart & Bob Hoogendoorn** Mozart Fund at the Victoria Foundation
Cameron Crozman underwritten by Jim & Betty Hesser
Jeremy Potts, Violin
Müge Büyükçelen, Violin
2026/27 CONCERTS BY VENUE & GENRE
SUNDAYS AT THE ROYAL
Underwritten by Sandra Lackenbauer
13 September: Season Opening
Kluxen & Hetherington – Beethoven Symphony No. 7
25 October
Parameswaran & Liu – Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 1
8 November*
Kluxen - Ray Chen Plays Mendelssohn
22 November
Huynh & Valcheff – Beethoven Symphony No. 1 & Copland’s Tender Land Suite
28 February
Baigent & Crozman – Mozart’s Jupiter & Walton’s Cello Concerto
14 March
Cohn & Pion – Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade
11 April
Tzigane, Boutin-Bourque, & Gunter – Schubert Symphony No. 9
25 April
Kluxen & Parker – Mozart & Sibelius
9 May: Season Finale Kluxen – Shostakovich Leningrad Symphony
SUNDAYS AT THE FARQUHAR
Underwritten by Dora Boehm
27 September
Kluxen & Pouliot – Dvořák’s New World Symphony & Sibelius Violin Concerto
4 October
Aadland & Tam – The Lark Ascending
15 November
Kluxen & Choi – Prokofiev Classical & Haydn Cello Concerto
31 January
Kluxen – Wagner/Maazel: The Ring Without Words
7 February*
Kluxen – Marc-André Hamelin Plays Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3
18 April
Kluxen & Sarkissian – Schubert Symphony No. 5 & Rautavaara Flute Concerto
POPS AT THE ROYAL
Underwritten by Robert & Devi Jawl Foundation
19 & 20 September
Aretha – A Tribute
30 October & 1 November
Spirited Away – The Music of Studio Ghibli
5 & 6 December
Christmas Pops with Steven Page
FILMS IN CONCERT
Underwritten by Robert & Devi Jawl Foundation
19 & 20 December* Home Alone in Concert
3 & 4 March*
How to Train Your Dragon in Concert
30 April & 1 – 2 May* Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert
23 & 24 January
Latin Nights with Sal Ferreras & Adonis Puentes
6 & 7 March
Sinatra and Friends in Hollywood
KIDS AT THE FARQUHAR
by Terry
CONCERTS AT CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL 11, 12, & 13 December
Messiah by Candlelight
20 & 21 March
HOLIDAY CONCERTS 5 & 6 December Christmas Pops with Steven Page 11, 12, & 13 December Messiah by Candlelight
&
Tausk – Bach's Mass in B minor Concerts
REGIONAL CONCERTS
Qualicum Beach Series underwritten by Petra Janusas & Bill Majercsik August 2026
Symphony in the Summer Qualicum Beach Civic Centre (on sale in June)
Concert underwritten by Suzanne & John Stewart
16 December: Mary Winspear♦ Christmas Pops with the VS 17 December: Qualicum Beach Civic Centre♦ Christmas Pops with the VS
5 March: Qualicum Beach Civic Centre♦ Sinatra and Friends in Hollywood SEASON SPECIALS 8 November* Kluxen – Ray Chen Plays Mendelssohn
7 February* Kluxen – Marc-André Hamelin Plays Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3
Sean O'Loughlin, Principal Pops Conductor
How to Train Your Dragon in Concert
Wednesday, March 3, 6:30 pm
Thursday, March 4, 6:30 pm
Royal Theatre
SEAN O'LOUGHLIN, conductor
A young Viking named Hiccup defies tradition when he befriends a ferocious dragon he calls Toothless, and together, these unlikely heroes must fight against all odds to save both their worlds. Featuring John Powell’s Oscar-nominated score performed live to picture by the Victoria Symphony, DreamWorks’ How to Train Your Dragon is a thrilling experience for all ages.
March 2027
How to Train Your Dragon © 2010 DreamWorks Animation LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Concert underwritten by Linda Pendray
Sinatra and Friends in Hollywood
Friday, March 5, 7:30 pm Qualicum Beach Civic Centre
Saturday March 6, 7:30 pm
Sunday, March 7, 2:30 pm
Royal Theatre
SEAN O’LOUGHLIN, conductor / co-creator
JULIA GOODWIN & NICK ZIOBRO, vocalists
Come Fly With Me! This film-withsymphony event celebrates four-time Oscar®-winning songwriter Jimmy Van Heusen, whose music defined Hollywood’s golden era. Hits like Love and Marriage, All the Way, Ain’t That a Kick in the Head, My Kind of Town and more come to life on stage and screen with iconic performances by Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Dean Martin, and Bing Crosby. Sean O’Loughlin’s arrangements and guest vocalists bring to life an unforgettable evening of swing and style.
Concert underwritten by A & A King Family Foundation
Cohn & Pion – RimskyKorsakov’s Scheherazade
Sunday, March 14, 2:30 pm
Royal Theatre
MAURICE COHN, conductor
ÉLISABETH PION, piano
JOCELYN MORLOCK: Oiseaux bleus et sauvages (Wild Blue Birds)
FALLA: Noches en los jardines de España (Nights in the Gardens of Spain)
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: Scheherazade
VS transforms the Royal Theatre into a gallery of musical paintings under guest conductor Maurice Cohn. Jocelyn Morlock’s Oiseaux bleus et sauvages captures the exuberance of wild birds in flight; pianist Élisabeth Pion, RadioCanada’s 2024–25 Classical Revelation, brings vivid colour to Falla’s Nights in the Gardens of Spain. Finally, RimskyKorsakov’s Scheherazade unfolds its timeless tales of adventure and imagination—a symphonic storytelling masterpiece.
Concert underwritten by Millingtons: Trustees of the Lou Williamson Scholarship Fund
Élisabeth Pion underwritten by Sandra Lackenbauer
Tausk – Bach's Mass in B minor
Saturday, March 20, 7:30 pm
Sunday, March 21, 2:30 pm
Christ Church Cathedral
OTTO TAUSK, conductor
YULIA VAN DOREN, soprano
DANIELLE SAMPSON, soprano
SARA COUDEN, alto
JAMES REESE, tenor
SUMNER THOMPSON, baritone
VANCOUVER CHAMBER CHOIR
BACH: Mass in B minor, BWV 232
Bach’s Mass in B minor stands as one of the greatest summations of his genius. Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
Music Director Otto Tausk leads the VS, Vancouver Chamber Choir, and five exceptional soloists in a sweeping tapestry of spiritual awe and luminous choral writing. Sacred or secular in resonance, the Mass invites listeners into a profound meditation on hope, beauty, and transcendence.
Otto Tausk underwritten by Julie & Harry Swain
The Science of Sound
Saturday, March 27, 3:00 pm Farquhar at UVic
MAESTRO JOEY, conductor BOB M c DONALD, host
A symphony makes a giant sound, but did you know it all comes from just four basic actions? Hitting, blowing, stroking, and plucking! Join CBC Quirks & Quarks host Bob McDonald for a lively afternoon of scientific hijinks the whole family will enjoy. With plenty of audience participation, discover how everyday objects can create music, how those sounds compare to the orchestra, and how you can build your own instruments!
Giuseppe Pietraroia (Maestro Joey) underwritten by Sheridan Scott & David Zussman
April 2027
Tzigane, Boutin-Bourque, & Gunter – Schubert Symphony No. 9
Sunday, April 11, 2:30 pm
Royal Theatre
EUGENE TZIGANE, conductor
DAVID BOUTIN-BOURQUE, clarinet
JENNIFER GUNTER, bassoon
JACQUES HÉTU: Légendes (Legends)
R. STRAUSS: Concertino for Clarinet and Bassoon in F major
SCHUBERT: Symphony No. 9 in C major (“The Great”)
Canadian composer Jacques Hétu’s Légendes weaves three Québec folk tales into devilishly clever orchestral storytelling, rich in colour and dramatic flair. Richard Strauss’s Concertino for Clarinet and Bassoon offers a rare and playful spotlight for two wind soloists, and provides a special opportunity to feature Victoria Symphony’s own principal players, David Boutin-Bourque (Principal Clarinet) and Jennifer Gunter (Principal Bassoon), in a work full of wit, lyricism, and elegant dialogue. Schubert’s monumental Ninth Symphony crowns the program: a vast, life-affirming journey often likened to a fourvolume novel that leaves you yearning for more. Guest conductor Eugene Tzigane unites these works through a shared fascination with storytelling, character, and symphonic scale.
Kluxen & Sarkissian –Schubert Symphony No. 5 and Rautavaara
Flute Concerto Sunday, April 18, 2:30 pm Farquhar at UVic
CHRISTIAN KLUXEN, conductor
ARIN SARKISSIAN, flute, piccolo, alto flute, & bass flute
LANGGAARD: Upaaagted
Morgenstjerner (Unnoticed Morning Stars)
EINOJUHANI RAUTAVAARA: Flute Concerto (“Dances with the Winds”)
SCHUBERT: Symphony No. 5 in B-flat major
JOSEF STRAUSS: Sphärenklänge (Music of the Spheres) – Waltz
Heavenly inspiration and earthly beauty intertwine in this celestial program. Langgaard (Danish visionary, eccentric, and long misunderstood) paints a luminous morning sky, his melodic imagination anticipating modernism’s bold colours. Rautavaara’s Dances with the Winds, performed by VS Principal Flute Arin Sarkissian, breathes spiritual life and mystery into the instrument’s voice. Schubert’s pastoral and light Fifth Symphony follows, clear and human in its warmth, before Josef Strauss brings us full circle with his cosmic Music of the Spheres, where Viennese grace meets the harmony of the heavens.
Concert underwritten by Sara Neely
Arin Sarkissian’s performance underwritten by Helen Stuart & Bob Hoogendoorn** Mozart Fund at the Victoria Foundation
Kluxen & Parker – Mozart and Sibelius Sunday, April 25, 2:30 pm
Royal Theatre
CHRISTIAN KLUXEN, conductor
JON KIMURA PARKER, piano
RAMINTA ŠERKŠNYTĖ: Midsummer Song
MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 9 in E-flat major (“Jenamy”)
SIBELIUS: Symphony No. 3 in C major
Internationally acclaimed pianist Jon "Jackie" Kimura Parker—one of Canada's most beloved and dynamic artists—brings elegance, wit, and sparkle to Mozart’s radiant Jenamy (also known as Jeunehomme) Concerto. Lithuanian composer Raminta Šerkšnytė’s Midsummer Song glows with the serenity and timelessness of the solstice, while Sibelius’s Third Symphony, a masterpiece of restraint and clarity, closes the program with balance, poise, and quiet revolution. Music that finds grandeur not in excess, but in refinement.
Concert underwritten by Helen Stuart & Bob Hoogendoorn** Mozart Fund at the Victoria Foundation
Jon Kimura Parker underwritten by Julie & Harry Swain
May 2027
Star Wars:
A New Hope in Concert
50th Anniversary Celebration!
Friday, April 30, 7:00 pm
Saturday, May 1, 7:00 pm
Sunday, May 2, 2:30 & 7:00 pm Royal Theatre
SEAN O’LOUGHLIN, conductor
Star Wars : A New Hope ™ sees young Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) beginning to discover his destiny. Joined by Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi, hotshot pilot Han Solo (Harrison Ford), and droids R2-D2 and C-3PO, the rogue team sets out to rescue Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) and mount a climactic battle with Darth Vader. Experience the magic of this intergalactic epic like never before as the Victoria Symphony performs John Williams’ Oscar®-winning score LIVE to the film on the big screen.
Presentation licensed by Disney Concerts. © All rights reserved.
Concert underwritten by Suzanne & John Stewart
SEASON FINALE
Kluxen – Shostakovich Leningrad Symphony
Sunday, May 9, 2:30 pm Royal Theatre
CHRISTIAN KLUXEN, conductor
SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 7 in C major ("Leningrad")
Shostakovich’s monumental Seventh Symphony was composed in 1942 during the brutal Nazi siege of Leningrad, as the composer refused evacuation and wrote from the besieged city. Its historic performance by the starving musicians of Leningrad, broadcast across the city, became a symbol of defiance against totalitarianism. Later smuggled to New York, the work caused a sensation under Toscanini. Scored for a very large orchestra, this multi-layered symphony questions whether Shostakovich’s dedication refers to the city besieged by the Nazis or the one he reportedly said “Stalin destroyed and Hitler simply finished off.” What remains clear is its powerful portrayal of fascism and the triumph of the human spirit.
Presented without intermission.
Concert underwritten by A Private Foundation
Robert & Devi Jawl Foundation
Christian Kluxen, Music Director
Kay Cochran, Viola
SEASON
KLUXEN - RAY CHEN PLAYS MENDELSSOHN
Sunday, November 8, 2:30 pm
Royal Theatre
CHRISTIAN KLUXEN, conductor
RAY CHEN, violin
SAMY MOUSSA: Elysium
MENDELSSOHN: Violin Concerto in E minor
BARTÓK: Concerto for Orchestra
Violinist and online personality Ray Chen redefines what it means to be a classical musician in the 21st century. With a global reach that inspires a new classical audience, his remarkable musicianship reaches millions worldwide through online platforms and performances with leading orchestras and concert halls.
Initially coming to attention as First Prize winner of the Yehudi Menuhin (2008) and Queen Elizabeth (2009) Competitions, he has built a profile across Europe, Asia, the USA, and his native Australia, both live and on disc.
Profiled as “one to watch” by The Strad and Gramophone, his career has expanded to include the Forbes list of 30 Under 30 Asia, appearances in Mozart in the
Jungle, a multi-year partnership with Giorgio Armani (who designed the cover of his Mozart album with Christoph Eschenbach), and performances at major events such as France’s Bastille Day, the Nobel Prize Concert, and the BBC Proms.
He has appeared with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, Leipzig Gewandhausorchester, Munich Philharmonic, Filarmonica della Scala, Orchestra Nazionale della Santa Cecilia, Los Angeles Philharmonic, SWR Symphony, New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Berlin Radio Symphony, and Bavarian Radio Chamber Orchestra.
In 2025, Ray began exploring rare violins, play-testing 24 Stradivari and Guarneri del Gesù instruments. A 1727 Stradivarius is currently the instrument on which he performs.
Concert underwritten by Tim McGee, KC & Mary Mullens Ray Chen underwritten by Julie & Harry Swain, Natexa Verbrugge, and Barbara Winters
"It's so exciting to have Ray Chen perform in Victoria with the VS. He is an artist of international stature who performs in the biggest and most important venues all over the world. I have been myself inspired by his numerous recordings and videos. His presence on the 'violin scene' has been huge over the past 10 years. In addition to being a fabulous musician, he has succeeded in reaching out to a huge crossover audience with his forays into social media, comedy, fashion, and technology. Our audience is going to love him!"
– TERENCE TAM, CONCERTMASTER
SEASON SPECIAL
KLUXEN - MARC-ANDRÉ HAMELIN
PLAYS RACHMANINOFF'S PIANO CONCERTO NO. 3
Sunday, February 7, 2:30 pm Farquhar at UVic
CHRISTIAN KLUXEN, conductor
MARC-ANDRÉ HAMELIN, piano
RACHMANINOFF: Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor
BRAHMS: Symphony No. 1 in C minor
Pianist Marc-André Hamelin, a “performer of near-superhuman technical prowess”
(The New York Times), is acclaimed worldwide for his rare combination of profound musicianship and dazzling technique. He regularly performs around the globe with the leading orchestras and conductors of our time, and gives recitals at major concert venues and festivals worldwide. In North America, Hamelin appears with the Philadelphia Orchestra under Yannick Nézet-Séguin, the San Diego Symphony with Thomas Guggeis, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.
An exclusive recording artist for Hyperion Records, Hamelin has released more than 90 albums to date, with notable recordings of a broad range of solo, orchestral, and chamber repertoire. Also a noted composer, Hamelin has written more than 30 works.
Hamelin is the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the German Record Critics’ Association, and over 20 of its quarterly awards. Other honors include eight JUNO Awards, 12 GRAMMY® nominations, the 2018 Jean Gimbel Lane Prize from Northwestern University, and the Paul de Hueck and Norman Walford Career Achievement Award from the Ontario Arts Foundation. Hamelin is an Officer of the Order of Canada, a Chevalier de l’Ordre national du Québec, and a member of the Royal Society of Canada.
Concert underwritten by Millingtons: Trustees of the Lou Williamson Scholarship Fund Marc-André Hamelin underwritten by George Lovick and Marc & Patricia Lortie
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TAKE NOTE
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This initiative provides children of all ages the opportunity to try a musical instrument. It’s a relaxing and fun way to spark a child’s interest in music and gives them a firsthand try at many different instruments. Our youth volunteers facilitate the Zoo at Kids at the Farquhar concerts and community events around Greater Victoria.
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This innovative program supports local young composers as they write new works for small ensembles of dedicated VS musicians. Aspiring composers attend workshops guided by our VS Composer-Mentor in Residence, and at the end of the program, there is a performance of the new music.
HUGH DAVIDSON
COMPOSER READINGS
Dedicated to the late Hugh Davidson, a strong supporter of new music, this program provides the opportunity for composers writing new music for orchestra to have their pieces rehearsed by the VS, and to receive feedback. A call for submissions occurs annually.
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Soile Stratkauskas, Education and Outreach Officer By Email soile@victoriasymphony.ca
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