St. Louis Symphony Orchestra October concerts include Grammy-winning artists, concert for kids, new film-in-concert experience, and a happy hour concert, plus landmark pieces from Debussy, Mozart, and Beethoven

(August 25, St. Louis, MO) – Today, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra announced details of its October 2026 concerts, which includes classical favorites by Ludwig van Beethoven, W.A. Mozart, and Claude Debussy; a celebration of the centennial of John Coltrane’s birth; the SLSO’s first performance of Edward Scissorhands in Concert; two performances with Grammy-winning artists; and the first of three happy hour concerts in the 2026/27 season.

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. SLSO concerts will also be broadcast at 7:30pm CST on October 3 and October 17 on 90.7 KWMU St. Louis Public Radio and Classic 107.3.

Friday, October 2, 7:30pm CST
Sunday, October 4, 3:00pm CST

Dalia Stasevska, conductor
Aphrodite Patoulidou, soprano and nyckelharpa 

Anna Meredith Nautilus (First SLSO performances)
Jean Sibelius Scene with Cranes (First SLSO performances)
Luciano Berio Folk Songs (First SLSO performances)
Traditional / arr. Aphrodite Patoulidou Kalevala Melody
Jean Sibelius Luonnotar
Claude Debussy La Mer 

Conductor Dalia Stasevska, admired for her “unbridled, animated conducting” (South German Newspaper), makes her SLSO debut with Claude Debussy’s La Mer, guiding listeners through a striking portrayal of a day on the sea. Multi-talented artist Aphrodite Patoulidou sings Luciano Berio’s Folk Songs and Jean Sibelius’ Luonnotar and also introduces the nyckelharpa, a traditional Swedish keyed fiddle, on which she improvises. The concert is also the SLSO’s first performance of Anna Meredith’s Nautilus, a piece that advances the program’s nautical theme.

Thursday, October 8, 7:30pm CDT
At Powell Hall at the Jack C. Taylor Music Center
Saturday, October 10, 7:30pm CDT
At the J. Scheidegger Center for Performing Arts at Lindenwood University, 2300 W. Clay St., St. Charles, MO 63301

Samuel Hollister, conductor

Felix Mendelssohn  A Midsummer Night’s Dream Overture
Kaija Saariaho Ciel d’hiver
Arnold Bax Tintagel
Joe Hisaishi Symphonic Suite from Princess Mononoke
Joe Hisaishi Spirited Away Suite

Joe Hisaishi’s luminous, imaginative music and decades-long collaboration with Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli has produced some of the most beloved works in cinema. The SLSO Orchestra performs selections from the composer’s acclaimed scores for Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke, paired with classical works that share the same sense of magic and wonder. Led by Assistant Conductor Samuel Hollister, this program reveals surprising connections between cinematic and symphonic storytelling. This concert is presented without film.

Friday, October 9, 7:30pm CST

Bryan Carter, conductor (SLSO debut)
Jeff Goldblum, vocals and piano (SLSO debut)
Mildred Snitzer Orchestra

Actor and jazz pianist Jeff Goldblum, known for his roles in Wicked and Jurassic Park, and his band, the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, join the SLSO for an evening celebrating jazz and American Songbook classics. With his charismatic stage presence and passion for jazz, Goldblum offers a fresh take on beloved standards, infusing them with wit, warmth, and style.

Repertoire to be announced.

Sunday, October 11, 2026, 3:00pm CST

Samuel Hollister, conductor

The SLSO begins its Concerts for Kids series with a spooktacular, 45-minute concert filled with playful melodies, ghostly tunes, and fun surprises. Families are invited to come in costume to this not-so-scary Halloween concert. Howl at Powell is recommended for children ages 6 and older. Pre-concert activities begin one hour before the performance. The SLSO provides sensory accommodations so that everyone can enjoy the experience.

Additional artists and repertoire to be announced.

Friday, October 16, 2026, 10:30am CST*
Saturday, October 17, 2026, 7:30pm, CST

Kristiina Poska, conductor
Marie-Ange Nguci, piano 

Ülo Krigul Proteus Pulse (US Premiere)
W.A. Mozart Piano Concerto No. 21
Robert Schumann Symphony No. 3, “Rhenish” 

The SLSO welcomes conductor Kristiina Poska in her St. Louis debut leading a concert that celebrates a variety of European folk music. Poska introduces the musical shapeshifting of a new composition by fellow Estonian, Ülo Krigul, leading the SLSO in the US premiere of his piece, Proteus Pulse. Rising-star pianist Marie-Ange Nguci, in her second SLSO appearance, plays Mozart’s sweet and playful Piano Concerto No. 21. Robert Schumann’s Third Symphony emphasizes the vibrant culture along the Rhine River in Germany, reimagining folk dances, bucolic scenes, and the grandeur of a cathedral.

*Coffee Concert Series Supported by EverTrue. Friday morning complimentary refreshments courtesy of Kaldi’s Coffee Roasting Co. and Eddie’s Southtown Donuts. 

Sunday, October 18, 2026, 7:00pm CST

Branford Marsalis, saxophone
Dianne Reeves, vocals 

Grammy-winning jazz artists Branford Marsalis and Dianne Reeves come together to commemorate the centennial birthday of jazz musician John Coltrane. To celebrate the milestone, the John Coltrane Estate has launched “Coltrane 100,” a global, year-long centennial event recognizing his lasting impact as a saxophonist, bandleader, and composer. Inspired by the landmark 1963 recording by John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman, this anniversary tribute concert joins two critically acclaimed performers with the artistry and influence of one of the most important figures in jazz history.

Note: The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra does not perform at this event.
Presented in partnership with The Sheldon Concert Hall and Galleries.

Friday, October 23, 2026, 7:00pm CST
Saturday, October 24, 2026, 7:00pm CST
Sunday, October 25, 2026, 2:00pm CST

Larwrence Loh, conductor (SLSO debut)

Danny Elfman Edward Scissorhands

Step into the shadowy, surreal universe of Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands and follow Edward, played by Johnny Depp, the gentle outsider with scissors for hands, as he navigates love, friendship, and the bittersweet challenges of fitting in. Experience this off-kilter modern fairy tale with the SLSO performing Danny Elfman’s haunting score live to picture on the big screen at Powell Hall for the first time.

Presentation licensed by Disney Concerts © All rights reserved.

Wednesday, October 28, 2026, 6:30pm CST

Stéphane Denève, conductor 

Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 6, “Pastoral”  

Savor each note at this season’s Playlist: Symphony Happy Hour concerts—designed for the classical curious and those looking to share their love of music. The SLSO invites patrons to sip signature cocktails and mocktails, enjoy conductor insights, and mingle with musicians at these special one-hour concerts designed to inspire, relax, and spark conversation. October 28 will transport listeners to a world of wonder, beauty, and melancholy with Beethoven’s sublime Pastoral Symphony.

Presented by the William T. Kemper Foundation.

Friday, October 30, 2026, 10:30am CST*
Saturday, October 31, 2026, 7:30pm CST

Stéphane Denève, conductor
Julia Bullock, soprano (SLSO debut)

George Walker  Folksongs for Orchestra
Samuel Barber Knoxville: Summer of 1915
Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 6, “Pastoral” 

Music Director Stéphane Denève and St. Louis native Julia Bullock—winner of the 2024 Grammy Award for Best Classical Solo Vocal Album—join forces for the SLSO’s performance of Samuel Barber’s poignant, brooding reverie on childhood with his Knoxville: Summer of 1915. This work is performed alongside Beethoven’s iconic Pastoral Symphony and Geroge Walker’s Folksongs for Orchestra.

Presented by the Whitaker Foundation.
*Coffee Concerts are sponsored by EverTrue. Complimentary refreshments at Friday Coffee Concerts courtesy of Kaldi’s Coffee Roasting Co. and Eddie’s Southtown Donuts.

#  # #