NEW ORLEANS – The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) (@lpomusic), the region’s premier and GRAMMY® Award-winning orchestra, announced its 2025-2026 season. The LPO presents a lineup of concerts that celebrates the classics of trailblazers from our past and revolutionary new works by the visionaries of the future.
Opening Night for the 2025-2026 season is on Saturday, Sept. 26, and returns to The Orpheum Theater, New Marigny Theatre, Fuhrmann Auditorium in Covington, and communities across the Greater New Orleans area. For more information, visit www.lpomusic.com.
“It is with great pleasure to welcome everyone to the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra’s 2025-26 concert season, one brimming with beautiful and majestic music,” says LPO Music Director Matthew Kraemer. “From Bach, Beethoven, and Tchaikovsky to Ellington, Gershwin, and Price, our classical programming offers something for every musical taste.”
“We are ecstatic to present a season that honors our nation’s rich musical heritage while embracing the diverse voices that shape its future like Stacy Garrop, Carlos Simon, James Lee III and more” says LPO Executive Director Anwar Nasir. “This season will be a tribute to American artistry, culture, and innovation and we look forward to welcoming audiences for an unforgettable journey through the sounds that have shaped orchestral music past, present, and future.”
SUBSCRIPTION PACKAGES
Subscription packages for the 2025-2026 Orpheum Series and Music at the New Marigny are available now for purchase. LPO Subscriber benefits include exclusive pre-sale access to special concerts, discounts on subscription and single tickets, savings on per ticket fees and more. For more information, visit www.lpomusic.com/subscribe.
ORPHEUM SERIES
The LPO will present 12 subscription concerts at New Orleans historic Orpheum Theater during the 2025-2026 season. This series offers a blend of orchestral programming, pairing contemporary works with beloved standards. Concerts in the Orpheum Series showcases a breadth of works byAmerican composers, a world premiere, LPO debut performances, and more. This season’s subscription package also includes LPO’s highly popular holiday concerts, Classical Christmas: Messiah and Holiday Spectacular. Available subscriptions include 12, 9, 6A and 6B concert packages.
CHAMBER ORCHESTRA SERIES
The 2025-2026 Chamber Orchestra Series will be presented as MUSIC AT THE NEW MARIGNY in New Orleans at the New Marigny Theatre and NORTHSHORE CLASSICS in Covington at Fuhrmann Auditorium, offering five intimate and immersive musical experiences in both locations. Each program will feature works by legacy composers along with a work by a living composer with Louisianian roots – amplifying their contributions to the orchestral music landscape. Curated by and under the baton of LPO Music Director Matthew Kraemer, the 2025-2026 Chamber Orchestra series features both beloved works spanning over 300 years and new works defining the future of orchestral music.
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
In 2026, the United States of America marks the 250th anniversary of its independence. In celebration, the LPO presents a lineup of concerts featuring American composers and their contributions to our nation’s musical legacy. Showcasing a dynamic range of works, from the timeless symphonic works of Copland, Gershwin, and Bernstein to the groundbreaking voices of contemporary composers like Carlos Simon, Valerie Coleman, and James Lee III, audiences will experience America through music – reflecting its history, struggles, triumphs, and evolution.
The 2025-2026 season shines a light on the exceptional talent represented within the orchestra. LPO musicians will take center stage as featured guest soloists in concerts at the Orpheum Theater, New Marigny Theatre, and Fuhrmann Auditorium. Musicians include Associate Concertmaster Hannah Yim (Sept. 11 & 12), Principal Trombone Austin Richardson (Jan. 15, 2026), Principal Clarinet Shaquille Southwell (Jan. 29, 2026), and Principal Percussion Aaron Smith (April 16, 2026).
The LPO joins forces with composer, pianist, and educator James Lee III to present a world premiere ofhis newest work, “Concerto in A.” This composition, to be played by American pianist Jeffrey Biegel,commemorates the 100th anniversary of George Gershwin’s Concerto in F – his most ambitious and complex work for the concert stage following his celebrated 1924 Rhapsody in Blue.
SPECIAL CONCERTS
LPO’s cherished traditions return as part of New Orleans’ vibrant holiday season. The annual CLASSICAL CHRISTMAS: MESSIAH (Dec. 5) presents the city’s premier performance of the Christmastime favorite, Handel’s Messiah and HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR features performances of seasonal favorites perfect for the entire family.
After a sold-out series of concerts in 2023, the music of the most iconic film composer John Williams returns to The Orpheum Theater with the LPO. THE MUSIC OF JOHN WILLIAMS (Feb. 20, 2026) presents an evening of nostalgia, adventure, and excitement with a program of music from “Star Wars,” “Jurassic Park,” “Harry Potter” and more.
FREE COMMUNITY CONCERTS
Thousands will join the LPO on the Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain with SUNSET SYMPHONY: AN EVENING WITH THE LPO (Oct. 25) in Mandeville, Louisiana. This concert is in partnership with the City of Mandeville and invites audiences to enjoy the beauty of nature and music together with family and friends under the stars.
The orchestra’s largest, free event SWING IN THE OAKS returns to City Park (April 21, 2026). This family-friendly concert features musical favorites and a special performance by young music students in LPO Academy. LPO Academy is the orchestra’s flagship music education program that provides New Orleans youth the opportunity to intensively study instrumental music in one-on-one and small group settings with a Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra Music Mentor.
TICKETS
Subscription packages are on sale now. Orpheum Series subscriptions begin at $162 and Music at the New Marigny subscriptions begin at $200. Single tickets go on sale in August 2025. For pricing and more information, visit www.lpomusic.com/subscribe or contact Patron Services by calling 504-523-6530. LPO Box Office hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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