The Charleston Symphony's new season is underway, and Charleston City Paper recently took a closer look at the music, artists, and ideas shaping the year ahead.

In “Symphony launches 2026-27 season with classics, collaborations,” writer Vincent Harris highlights a season designed to balance beloved masterworks with fresh collaborations and unexpected experiences. The article previews Opening Weekend, when Assistant Conductor Ryo Hasegawa makes his Masterworks debut in A Charleston Carnival, featuring Principal Trumpet Antonio Martí and newly appointed Trumpet Laureate Philip Smith. Just days later, internationally acclaimed pianist Lang Lang joins the orchestra for Beethoven’s “Emperor” Concerto.

The feature also looks beyond the opening concerts to a season that includes Broadway star Cheyenne Jackson for Holiday Pops, the return of Charleston’s Grammy-winning Ranky Tanky, and major orchestral works including Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra, Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis, and Mahler’s Third Symphony.

Artistic Director Yuriy Bekker also offers a behind-the-scenes look at how a Charleston Symphony season comes together. Programming decisions draw on ideas from musicians, staff, board and community members, while balancing works audiences know and love with repertoire they may not expect. The Symphony is also increasingly planning several years ahead, creating opportunities for more ambitious projects and immersive concert experiences.

At the heart of it all is a desire to make every performance meaningful and memorable. As Bekker explains in the feature, the goal is to create an experience that draws audiences completely into the music and offers a temporary escape from everyday life.