St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s April concerts include monumental symphonies, Concert for Teens, and chamber music; Assistant Conductor Samuel Hollister makes his classical debut
SLSO musicians share chamber music from the late 20th and early 21st centuries by Morton Feldman, Philip Glass, David Lang, Steve Reich, and Igor Stravinsky at the Pulitzer Arts Foundation, April 7-8
Music Director Stéphane Denève leads the orchestra in an SLSO co-commissioned piece—Carlos Simon’s Double Concerto Suite with superstar soloists Hilary Hahn and Seth Parker Woods—alongside Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 5, April 10-12
Cross-genre ensemble Tower of Power collaborates with the SLSO for a one-night-only concert, April 15
Conductor Hannu Lintu leads guest pianist Jan Lisiecki in his SLSO debut on Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 9; concerts also include Ottorino Respighi’s Church Windows, Richard Wagner’s Prelude to Act I of Lohengrin, and the St. Louis premiere of Samy Moussa’s Elysium, April 18-19
SLSO Assistant Conductor Samuel Hollister makes his classical subscription debut, leading pianist Gabriela Montero in Sergei Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3, along with Gabriella Smith’s Tumblebird Contrails and Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 3, April 24-25
The SLSO and conductor Samuel Hollister explore the emotion behind music in a new concert offering designed for teenagers: Cinematic Symphony, April 26
In the final Live at The Sheldon chamber music concert, SLSO violists Shannon Farrell Williams and Chris Tantillo lead performances of music by Johannes Brahms, José Elizondo, Dobrinka Tabakova, and Ralph Vaughan Williams, April 30
(March 18, 2026, St. Louis, MO) – Today, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra announced details of its April 2026 concerts. Highlights include performances of Gustav Mahler’s soul-searching Symphony No. 5, a genre-defying concert with R&B and funk band Tower of Power, a concert for teenagers designed around film music, and chamber music performances at the Pulitzer Arts Foundation and The Sheldon.
SLSO Assistant Conductor Samuel Hollister makes his classical subscription debut in a program anchored by Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 3 on April 24-25. Hollister has led the orchestra in several special concerts, education events, and run-out concerts. He has served as Assistant Conductor since 2024. He replaces Ryan Bancroft, who withdrew from his SLSO debut due to personal reasons.
Tickets for all concerts are on sale now. Tickets may be purchased at slso.org or by calling the Box Office at 314-534-1700. A full concert calendar is available at slso.org or on the SLSO’s mobile app available for iOS or Android. Audiences can attend a Pre-Concert Conversation, an engaging discussion about the music and artists on the program, one hour prior to each classical concert, or listen to the orchestra’s podcast, Noted, which explores classical concerts, available on slso.org.
Live at the Pulitzer | Dialogues and Conversations
Tuesday, April 7, 7:30pm CDT
Wednesday, April 8, 7:30pm CDT
Pulitzer Arts Foundation
3716 Washington Blvd., St. Louis, MO,63108
Erin Schreiber, violin
Shawn Weil, violin
Shannon Farrell Williams, viola
Yin Xiong, cello
Jennifer Nitchman, flute
Kevin Ritenauer, percussion
Johanna Ballou, keyboard
David Lang “Before Glory”from Mystery Sonatas (First SLSO performance)
Igor Stravinsky Three Pieces for String Quartet
Steve Reich Vermont Counterpoint for Flute & Tape
Morton FeldmanThe Viola in My Life 1
Philip Glass String Quartet No. 3, “Mishima”
Art and music come together as SLSO musicians perform adventurous chamber music by composers of today, curated by composer Christopher Stark, within the galleries of the Pulitzer Arts Foundation. The SLSO brings back classic works from the Live at the Pulitzer series to celebrate the 25-year history of the Pulitzer Arts Foundation. From minimalism to abstract expressionism, this concert features a wide range of styles that reflect the curation of Emily Rauh Pulitzer’s exhibition, Dialogues and Conversations. Curated by St. Louis-based composer Christopher Stark, the program features music by some of the most prominent composers of the 20th and 21st centuries, including Morton Feldman, Philip Glass, David Lang, Steve Reich, and Igor Stravinsky.
Mahler’s Fifth | Landscapes of Emotion
Friday, April 10, 7:30pm CDT
Saturday, April 11, 7:30pm CDT
Sunday, April 12, 3:00pm CDT
Stéphane Denève, conductor
Hilary Hahn, violin
Seth Parker Woods, cello (SLSO debut)
Carlos Simon Double Concerto Suite (First SLSO performances/SLSO Co-Commission)
Gustav Mahler Symphony No. 5
Presented by the Whitaker Foundation
With its tremendous emotional range, breathtaking melodies, and the exceptional virtuosity required of its musicians, Gustav Mahler’s Fifth Symphony creates a soul-stirring orchestral experience. Written while vacationing in an Austrian resort town, Mahler surveyed two milestone moments in his life from which to draw his musical ideas: his near-death experience and his marriage to Alma Schindler. This monumental symphony is paired with a new concerto by Carlos Simon performed by two of the brightest stars in the string world: three-time Grammy Award-winning violinist Hilary Hahn and Grammy-nominated cellist Seth Parker Woods.
Tower of Power
Wednesday, April 15, 7:30pm CDT
Damon Gupton, conductor
Tower of Power
Repertoire announced from the stage.
Tower of Power—the R&B and funk band and horn section—teams up with the SLSO for a night of genre-crossing performances. Fusing their signature funk and soul with sweeping symphonic arrangements, this concert transforms iconic hits like “What Is Hip?” and “You’re Still a Young Man” with lush orchestrations. The band’s powerhouse horns and irresistible grooves meet the grandeur of the orchestra in a one-night-only event centered on rhythm, energy, and excitement.
From Mozart to Wagner | Mysticism and Wonder
Saturday, April 18, 7:30pm CDT
Sunday, April 19, 3:00pm CDT
Hannu Lintu, conductor
Jan Lisiecki, piano (SLSO debut)
Richard Wagner Prelude to Act I from Lohengrin
W.A. Mozart Piano Concerto No. 9, “Jeunehomme”
Samy Moussa Elysium (First SLSO performances)
Ottorino Respighi Church Windows
Jan Lisiecki, “perhaps the most ‘complete’ pianist of his age” (BBC Music Magazine), performs one of Mozart’s spellbinding piano concertos at the center of a deeply spiritual program that muses on the interplay of shadow and light. Returning to the SLSO podium, frequent SLSO guest Hannu Lintu leads the orchestra through Richard Wagner’s melodies of Lohengrin, inspired by a holy relic. Samy Moussa expresses his vision of timelessness and paradise in Elysium. The program concludes with the mysticism and wonder of Ottorino Respighi’s Church Windows, a suite of music based on Gregorian chant.
Rachmaninoff’s Third | Taking Flight
Friday, April 24, 10:30am CDT*
Saturday, April 25, 7:30pm CDT
Samuel Hollister, conductor (SLSO classical subscription debut)
Gabriela Montero, piano (SLSO debut)
Gabriella Smith Tumblebird Contrails
Sergei Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 3
Sergei Rachmaninoff Symphony No. 3
*Coffee Concert Series supported by EverTrue. Complimentary refreshments courtesy of Kaldi’s Coffee Roasting Co. and Eddie’s Southtown Donuts.
Like birds soaring through the sky or fingers sweeping across piano keys, this program promises an experience of awe-inspiring beauty. Assistant Conductor Samuel Hollister makes his SLSO classical debut leading the orchestra in Sergei Rachmaninoff’s exhilarating Third Symphony and an imaginative work that gazes skyward by composer and environmentalist Gabriella Smith. Gabriela Montero takes on Prokofiev’s emotionally turbulent Third Piano Concerto in her SLSO debut. Listeners have described Montero’s playing as wonderfully imaginative with a monster technique.
Note: Due to personal reasons, originally scheduled conductor Ryan Bancroft has withdrawn from these performances. Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 3 replaces Copland’s Symphony No. 3 on the program.
Concerts for Teens: Cinematic Symphony
Sunday, April 26, 3:00pm CDT
Samuel Hollister, conductor
Peter Henderson, piano
Program includes excerpts from:
John Williams Flight to Neverland from Hook
Richard Wagner Ride of the Valkyries
Joe Hisaishi “Reprise” from Spirited Away Suite
Igor Stravinsky The Firebird Suite (1919 version)
John Williams The Imperial March from The Empire Strikes Back
Gustav Holst Mars, the Bringer of War from The Planets
Joe Hisaishi “One Summer’s Day” from Spirited Away Suite
Dmitri Shostakovich Piano Concerto No. 2
John Williams Princess Leia’s Theme from Star Wars
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Romeo and Juliet Overture-Fantasy
Valerie Coleman Umoja: Anthem of Unity
Joe Hisaishi Symphonic Variation: “Merry-Go-Round and Cave of Mind”
Most enjoyed by ages 12+. Concerts for Kids are inclusive of people with sensory sensitivities. Accommodations will be provided so that everyone may enjoy the experience of live orchestral music.
Discover the power of music in movies as the SLSO brings beloved film scores to life, revealing the composers’ art of creating heart-pounding and unforgettable moments. This immersive performance, led by SLSO Assistant Conductor Samuel Hollister, will change the way soundtracks are heard. Cinematic Symphony provides a bridge between concerts for families with young children and full-length orchestral performances—perfect for teens and parents to enjoy together.
Live at The Sheldon | Lucid Dreams
The Sheldon
3648 Washington Ave., St. Louis, MO,63108
Thursday, April 30, 7:30pm CDT
Chris Tantillo, curator and viola
Shannon Farrell Williams, curator and viola
Hannah Ji, violin
Jessica Cheng Hellwege, violin
Melissa Brooks, cello
Bjorn Ranheim, cello
José Elizondo Danzas Latinoamericanas for two violas (First SLSO performance)
New work by Mizzou New Music Initiative composer
Ralph Vaughan Williams Phantasy Quintet (First SLSO performance)
Dobrinka Tabakova Organum Light (First SLSO performance)
Johannes Brahms String Sextet No. 1
Sponsored by the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation. Welcomed by Classic 107.3.
SLSO string musicians take center stage in this chamber concert curated by SLSO violists Chris Tantillo and Shannon Williams. Johannes Brahms’ soulful String Sextet showcases the boldness of a young composer on the rise while works by José Elizando and Ralph Vaughan Williams convey dreamy, colorful landscapes. Dobrinka Tabakova was inspired by the particles that come together to create pure, powerful light in her piece.
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