The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra offered a wide-ranging slate of concerts in February 2026, demonstrating the ensemble’s versatility across orchestral, operatic, and popular repertoire at Powell Hall. The month opened with a symphonic program led by guest conductor Xian Zhang, pairing contemporary and 20th-century works with Sergei Prokofiev’s sweeping Symphony No. 5, a piece long associated with the orchestra. The program explored music shaped by social upheaval and resilience, highlighting the SLSO’s commitment to both historical and contemporary voices.
Mid-month, Music Director Stéphane Denève led the orchestra in a celebration of the lasting impact of music by Mozart. In Amadeus, Denève conducted the orchestra and St. Louis Symphony Chorus performing music by Mozart alongside a screening of the Academy Award–winning film. The multimedia event drew enthusiastic audiences and showcased the orchestra’s ability to bridge concert tradition with cinematic presentation. One reviewer described the performance as “bravissimo,” praising the experience of hearing the score performed live with the film.
February 3 – Saxophonist Steven Banks hosted a community event in the Steward Family Education and Learning Center as part of his Come As Your Are Initiative. The initiative connects symphonic music with historically underrepresented people in the concert hall, making the space welcoming and accessible to all. (Photo by Phillip Hamer)
February 6 – Conductor Xian Zhang leads the orchestra in Sergei Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 5 in a program that explored themes of resilience. (Photo by Jon Gitchoff)
February 6 – Saxophonist Steven Banks gave the SLSO premiere of Billy Childs’ Diaspora, a concerto based on writing by three Black authors and poets. A highlight of his performance was his encore, his own composition “Willow,” dedicated to NICU doctors and nurses following the birth of his friend’s child. (Photo by Jon Gitchoff)
February 13 – The St. Louis Symphony Chorus joined the orchestra for performances of the score to the 1984 film Amadeus. (Photo by Jon Gitchoff)
February 13 – Concertmaster David Halen plays a solo during the presentation of Amadeus in Concert. (Photo by Jon Gitchoff)
February 14 – A patron dresses in period clothing while attending Amadeus, set in the 1700s. (Photo by Jon Gitchoff)
February 15 – The concert stage was awash in gold for the performance of Eternal: A Tribute to Tina Turner. Held in partnership with St. Louis CITY SC, the concert celebrated the body of work of Tina Turner. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin, Shutterstock)
February 15 – Music Director Stéphane Denève cheers of Grammy Award-winning artist Brittany Howard, who performed “Simply the Best” at the orchestra’s tribute to Tina Turner. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin, Shutterstock)
February 15 – A first-of-its-kind partnership for the SLSO, St. Louis CITY SC partnered with the orchestra for a presentation of Eternal, including a gold carpet, merchandise, and memorabilia. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin, Shutterstock)
February 15 – Kennedy Holmes, the homegrown talent who rose to fame on NBC’s The Voice, performed with the orchestra at the tribute to Tina Turner. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin, Shutterstock)
February 16 – In addition to a robust slate of concerts at Powell Hall, musicians shared music throughout the community. As part of the IN UNISON Church program, the trombone section performed at Cote Brilliante Presbyterian Church. (Photo by Michelle Byrd)
February 20 – Most of the cast of The Magic Flute joined the orchestra for a scene near the conclusion wherein the light defeats the dark. This opera in concert version of Mozart’s spellbinding opera drew two sold-out houses. (Photo by Jon Gitchoff)
February 20 – Tenor Ben Bliss, singing the role of Tamino, performs during Act II of The Magic Flute as Denève conducts. (Photo by Jon Gitchoff)
February 21 – SLSO cellist Bjorn Ranheim led a master class for students in the institution’s Peer to Peer program, a mentorship initiative to steward the talents of aspiring Black and Latiné musicians. (Photo by Joseph Hendricks)
February 25 – Tens of thousands of students across the country tuned in for a live stream of the SLSO’s education concert, “Music Without Boundaries.” The new Jack C. Taylor Music Center, opened in September 2025, includes new technology suites that more efficiently allows the orchestra to share music around the world. This concert was the first time the SLSO has live streamed an education event.
February 24 – An educator demonstrates a technique for engaging Pre-K students at a professional development workshop. In addition to concerts, the education team maintained engagement with educators, presenting this workshop in the Steward Family Education and Learning Center at the Jack C. Taylor Music Center. (Photo by Brendan Batchelor)
February 27 – Imara Miles, a rising operatic soprano, reacts to the audience at the annual Lift Every Voice concert. Miles was the featured artist of the concert, and sang several numbers. (Photo by Justin Staggs)
February 27 – Kevin McBeth, director of the St. Louis Symphony IN UNISON Chorus for 15 years, leads the orchestra and chorus in the annual Lift Every Voice concert that celebrates Black History Month. (Photo by Justin Staggs)
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Later in the month, the orchestra and St. Louis Symphony Chorus presented a concert version of Mozart’s opera The Magic Flute, bringing the composer’s theatrical masterpiece to the concert stage with a full cast of vocal soloists. The production highlighted the SLSO’s operatic strengths and its ability to mount large-scale vocal works within its symphonic season.
Beyond the mainstage performances, February programming also included chamber music and genre-crossing events, spanning more than two centuries of repertoire—from classical masterworks to music associated with artists such as Tina Turner and Simon & Garfunkel. Together, the month’s concerts reflected the orchestra’s broad artistic vision: honoring classical tradition while embracing new audiences and diverse musical styles.
Beyond the concert hall, the SLSO had a full slate of education and community events, performing a program for thousands of elementary students, visiting churches, and welcoming teachers to the Jack C. Taylor Music Center for professional development.
Eric Dundon is the SLSO’s Public Relations Director.
