Pasadena Symphony Announces 25/26 Season Full of American Spirit with Stellar Classical Masterworks Plus Two Commissions and Premieres

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Highlights of 98th Season, which opens November 8, 2025, include:

  • Six Distinctive Programs, all led by Music Director Brett Mitchell, with matinee and evening performances at Ambassador Auditorium;
     
  • Landmark Orchestral Works that haven’t been performed by the orchestra in over a decade, including Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique to open the season and Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6 “Pathétique;”
     
  • Classical Masterworks including Mendelssohn Symphony No. 3, “Scottish,” Beethoven Symphony No. 3, “Eroica” and Dvořák Symphony No. 9 “From the New World;”
     
  • The Future of Classical Music on display with a co-commission of Juan Pablo Contreras’ First Symphony, the west coast premiere of Jennifer Higdon’s Cello Concerto and a co-commission and west coast premiere of Jonathan Leshnoff’s “Rhapsody on America;”
     
  • Slate of Acclaimed Guest Artists performing a mix of old and new concerti – Pianists Orion Weiss (Ravel Piano Concerto in G), Michelle Cann (Mozart Piano Concerto No. 23) and Joyce Yang (Leshnoff Piano Concerto), Violinist Tessa Lark (Meyer Violin Concerto) and Cellist Julian Schwarz (Higdon Cello Concerto)

Pasadena, CA – Music Director Brett Mitchell and the Pasadena Symphony announce his sophomore season with an exhilarating schedule of six performances, curated in honor of the rich tradition of American composition.  “As we close in on America’s 250th birthday next summer,” says Mitchell, “I’m excited to celebrate the best of American orchestral music, past and present, all season long, pairing new American repertoire with great masterworks of the past.” Alongside a stellar program of celebrated Classical works, the Pasadena Symphony cements its commitment to contemporary music by presenting two co-commissions – Juan Pablo Contreras’ Symphony No. 1 and Jonathan Leshnoff’s “Rhapsody on America,” and hosting two west coast premieres – Jennifer Higdon’s Cello Concerto and the Leshnoff Piano Concerto. All concerts take place at the orchestra’s home of over a decade – Pasadena’s historic Ambassador Auditorium with matinee and evening performances at 2pm and 8pm.

Mitchell kicks off the 25/26 season on November 8th with Berlioz’ bold and electrifying Symphonie Fantastique, which the orchestra has never before performed at Ambassador Auditorium. Plus, acclaimed pianist Orion Weiss performs Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G Major and the concert opens with Principal Tuba Jim Self’s Tour de Force, on the occasion of his 50th anniversary with the orchestra! The new year brings Mendelssohn & Meyer on January 24, 2026. Mitchell will take us on a rich musical journey, through Scotland with Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture and Symphony No. 3 “Scottish,” and then through fields of Kentucky bluegrass with Edgar Meyer’s Violin Concerto performed by multiple award-winning phenom Tessa Lark.

The orchestra will perform the Ambassador Auditorium debut for another masterwork on February 21st, with Tchaikovsky’s haunting Symphony No. 6 “Pathétique.” The program opens with Colorado-based composer Jeffrey Nytch’s Beacon and a shimmering performance of Mozart’s 23rd Piano Concerto by Grammy Award-winning pianist Michelle Cann. March 21st brings Mexican-American composer Juan Pablo Contreras to the stage to introduce his first symphony, which the Pasadena Symphony co-commissioned. “My Great Dream” captures Contreras’ journey to becoming both a composer and US Citizen. Bernstein’s Dance Variations from Fancy Free opens the program, and Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 “From the New World” caps this tribute to the American spirit.

Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 “Eroica” fills the concert hall with revolutionary verve on March 21st, accompanied by 2025 ASCAP Young Composer Award-winner Quinn Mason’s Heroic Overture. The west coast premiere of Grammy-winning composer Jennifer Higdon’s Cello Concerto completes the program, performed by cellist Julian Schwarz, whom the concerto was written for. The season closes with a celebration of America @250 on May 30th, highlighting American composition throughout the last century from Copland’s Lincoln Portrait and Appalachian Spring Suite to John Williams’ Selections from American Journey, commissioned by President Clinton for the 2000 Millennium celebrations. The Pasadena Symphony is also proud to present the west coast premiere and co-commission of Jonathan Leshnoff’s “Rhapsody on America” written for and performed by award-winning pianist Joyce Yang.

The Pasadena Symphony provides a quintessential experience specially designed for the music lover, the social butterfly or a date night out. Audiences can enjoy a pre-concert meal at nearby restaurants in Old Town Pasadena or have a drink on Ambassador Auditorium’s beautiful outdoor plaza. The symphony also offers a pre-concert discussion one hour prior to each performance hosted by KUSC Classical California’s Brian Lauritzen, who interviews Music Director Brett Mitchell and special guests including soloists and composers.

All Pasadena Symphony concerts take place at Ambassador Auditorium, 131 S. St. John Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91105, with performances at 2pm and 8pm. Subscription packages start at $120 with single tickets starting at $55. Both may be purchased online at pasadenasymphony-pops.org or by calling (626) 793-7172.