2025-2026 Season At A Glance
MASTERWORKS
- Beethoven & Tchaikovsky (9/19 & 9/20)
- New World Symphony (10/10 & 10/11)
- Scheherazade (11/21 & 11/22)
- Bruch’s Violin Concerto (1/9 & 1/10)
- Tchaikovsky’s 4th Symphony (2/6 & 2/7)
- An Evening With Emanuel Ax (3/13 & 3/14)
- Gershwin’s Piano Concerto (4/10 & 4/11)
- Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy (4/24 & 4/25)
POPS
- Rick Steves’ Europe: A Symphonic Journey (11/13)
- Holiday Pops! (12/18-12/20)
- Cirque Musica: Heroes And Villains (1/23)
- Portrait Of A Nation: America Celebrates 250 (3/21)
Beethoven & Tchaikovsky: CSO Opening Weekend
Friday, September 19 & Saturday, September 20, 2025
Katharina Wincor, Conductor
Yuriy Bekker, Violin
Benjamin Mekinulov, Cello
Celebrate the season launch with Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations, Beethoven’s 7th Symphony, and a world premiere.
New World Symphony: With Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto
Friday, October 10 & Saturday, October 11, 2025
Andrew Litton, Conductor
Charles Messersmith, Clarinet
CSO Chorus (Nicholas Quardokus, Director)
One of the most popular symphonies of all time, Dvořák’s 9th will be performed with Mozart and Brahms.
Rick Steves’ Europe: A Symphonic Journey
Thursday, November 13, 2025
Yuriy Bekker, Conductor
Rick Steves, Host & Narrator
Embark on a Symphonic Journey with Rick Steves, America’s favorite European travel expert, for a breathtaking musical adventure as the CSO kicks off its 2025-2026 Pops series.
Scheherazade: And Cellist Zuill Bailey
Friday, November 21 & Saturday, November 22, 2025
William Eddins, Conductor
Zuill Bailey, Cello
Yuriy Bekker, Violin
Enjoy Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade, a passionate and dazzling masterpiece inspired by One Thousand and One Nights. Also not to be missed, the CSO will be joined by one of the top cellists in the world.
Holiday Pops! A Spectacular Celebration
Thursday, December 18-Saturday, December 20, 2025
Yuriy Bekker, Conductor
Special Guests will be announced
CSO Chorus
Unwrap the joy of the season with Charleston’s most cherished holiday tradition! Holiday Pops is back with a spectacular celebration that is bigger and brighter than ever.
Bruch’s Violin Concerto
With a Journey through the Alps
Friday, January 9 & Saturday, January 10, 2026
Carl St.Clair, Conductor
Aubree Oliverson, Violin
Hearing Strauss’s “Alpine Symphony” live is a rare opportunity you don’t want to miss.
Cirque Musica: Heroes And Villains
Friday, January 23, 2026
Yuriy Bekker, Conductor
Cirque Musica
This one-of-a-kind production brings the iconic worlds of heroes and villains to life through a thrilling night of music, acrobatics, and jaw-dropping performances.
Tchaikovsky’s 4th Symphony: James Ehnes Plays Sibelius
Friday, February 6 & Saturday, February 7, 2026
Keitaro Harada, Conductor
James Ehnes, Violin
This powerful program features Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 and award-winning, celebrated violinist James Ehnes, who will tackle Sibelius’s demanding Violin Concerto.
An Evening with Emanuel Ax
Friday, March 13 & Saturday, March 14, 2026
Carlos Miguel Prieto, Conductor
Emanuel Ax, Piano
An evening of Brahms with one of the world’s greatest pianists.
Portrait of a Nation: America Celebrates 250
Saturday, March 21, 2026
Yuriy Bekker, Conductor
Mary Whyte, Artist
The CSO’s 2025-2026 Pops finale will be a powerful experience for the senses, combining visual and musical storytelling of American composers and artists.
Gershwin’s Piano Concerto: With the Pines + Fountains of Rome
Friday, April 10 & Saturday, April 11, 2026
Ming Luke, Conductor
Maxim Lando, Piano
Take a musical journey to the early 20th century with the Charleston Symphony inspired by American jazz and the beauty of Rome.
Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy: Season Finale Weekend!
Friday, April 24 & Saturday, April 25, 2026
Yuriy Bekker, Conductor
Daniela Liebman, Piano
Laquita Mitchell, Soprano
Morris Robinson, Bass
Additional vocalists will be announced
CSO Chorus (Nicholas Quardokus, Director)
Join us for an uplifting program featuring Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy, a massive work with a stunning chorus-charged grand finale.