New Haven Symphony Orchestra

08/25/2026

Looking for Fall things to do in Connecticut? Add live music to your fall calendar with four New Haven Symphony Orchestra concerts, ranging from Shakespeare and Broadway to Verdi and dance. 🍂

SEPTEMBER 27 - A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Two-time Tony Award winner James Naughton brings Shakespeare’s comedy to life alongside Mendelssohn’s music, the NHSO, Elm City Girls’ Choir, and soprano Lisa Williamson.

OCTOBER 18 - Broadway & Beyond
Enjoy Broadway favorites and timeless songs from the Great American Songbook with vocalist Amy Maude Helfer and an NHSO chamber ensemble.

OCTOBER 25 - Verdi’s Requiem
Experience the power of the NHSO, Yale Camerata, Hartt Choir, and four acclaimed soloists performing one of classical music’s most dramatic works.

NOVEMBER 22 - Dance Dance Evolution
See music in motion as the NHSO and Tia Russell Dance Studio explore dance through the ages, from The Nutcracker to hip hop.

Whether you’re planning a fall date, a family outing, or a weekend in New Haven, there’s a concert waiting for you. Tickets start at $15, and kids under 18 attend free with the purchase of an adult ticket.

Save this fall concert guide and visit the link in our bio to plan your visit.

08/22/2026

Contest winners will have their art featured on the covers of "program notes for kids" at concerts throughout the season. We can't wait to see what everyone will send in this year!

08/22/2026

We’re delighted to celebrate NHSO Principal Bassoon Rémy Taghavi and the release of his new album, MIZANSEN!

Described by Rémy as a “musical self-portrait,” the album explores his French and Iranian heritage through works by Niloufar Nourbakhsh, Reza Vali, Francis Poulenc, Lili Boulanger, and Roger Boutry.

Congratulations, Rémy! Read more about the project in the Amherst Indy (https://www.amherstindy.org/2026/08/20/amherst-bassoonist-remy-taghavi-explores-french-and-iranian-roots-on-mizansen/), and listen to MIZANSEN on your favorite streaming platform.

08/19/2026

Congratulations to Minh Nguyen, who worked with us this spring and summer as an intern. Minh begins her college studies this Fall at the University of Connecticut, where she will be studying flute. We are excited to share this wonderful piece she wrote about the centerpiece of this season's opening program, "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Bravo, Minh! 🎶

UConn Music

Mendelssohn’s "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" is best known for its Wedding March. But why did Mendelssohn compose "A Midsummer Night’s Dream? What does it have to do with Shakespeare’s play? And what is incidental music, anyways?

08/17/2026

Meet the new members of your NHSO! We are thrilled to introduce you to our newest players, some of whom began with us this past season and some who will be brand new starting this Fall.

Alexander McLaughlin, Principal Viola
Misha Bjerken, Principal Bass
Li Shan Tan, Principal Harp
Abigail Lopez, Assistant Principal Bassoon
Violin Section: Megan Lin and Yeongeun Kim, violin
Viola Section: Linda Numagami, Jiaming Wang, Toby Winarto, and Zitian Lyu
Cello Section: Elisabeth Chang, Isabella Palacpac, and Shengyu Meng
Bass Section: Samuel Zagnit

We’re also delighted to introduce our new Fellows, who will play with the orchestra for two years as part of their post-college professional training:
Violin: Angeles Hoyos and Leah Streety
Viola: Adrian Jackson
Bass: Holdan Silva Acosta
and Valentina Paolucci, who is our new Chelsea Tipton, II Conducting Fellow!

We can’t wait to hear what this remarkable group brings to the stage. Please help us welcome them to the orchestra and to our city!

08/12/2026

We’re thrilled to announce that two-time Tony Award winner JAMES NAUGHTON will bring every character in Shakespeare’s "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" to life at our 2026–27 season opening concert on Sunday, September 27 at Woolsey Hall!

In a virtuosic one-actor performance, Naughton will move among the play’s lovers, fairies, royals, and wonderfully hapless players as selected scenes are woven through Mendelssohn’s beloved incidental music. The setting will be inspired by the celebrated concert interpretation narrated by Dame Judi Dench.

Naughton is a graduate of Brown University and Yale Drama School and the winner of two Tony Awards for Best Actor in a Musical: "City of Angels" and "Chicago." He received the MAC Award for Best Male Vocalist for his one-man concert "Street of Dreams," presented by Mike Nichols, and starred in the PBS Live from Lincoln Center special "James Naughton Sings Randy Newman."

He directed the Tony-nominated Broadway production of Arthur Miller’s "The Price," as well as "Our Town," starring Paul Newman. His screen credits include The Paper Chase, The First Wives Club, The Glass Menagerie, and The Devil Wears Prada, along with appearances in Ally McBeal, Damages, Gossip Girl, The Blacklist, and The Affair.

Led by Music Director Perry So, the full New Haven Symphony Orchestra will be joined by the Elm City Girls’ Choir and soprano Lisa Williamson for Mendelssohn’s enchanting score. The program also explores the mystery and atmosphere of night through Katherine Balch’s "musica pyralis," Howard Swanson’s "Night Music," and F***y Mendelssohn Hensel’s "Hero and Leander." Learn more at NewHavenSymphony.org.

07/02/2026

06/30/2026

The only rain of the night was purple... ☔️

Thank you to everyone who made this night so much fun, including Capathia Jenkins and Ryan Shaw.

Join us in giving a round of applause to our incredible partners for this event, the International Festival of Arts & Ideas and our sponsor, the City of New Haven!

(Recognize the music? This was from the incredible opening performance by Anton Kot and friends. Anton was in the NHSO's Young Composer Project in High School, and now has gone on to get his Master's Degree from Juilliard and has a thriving musical career in NYC. It is a joy to have him back to share our stage!)

06/26/2026

Your concert line-up for the 2026-27 is here! Subscribe today to get your favorite seats and programs. 3-concert subscriptions start as low as $36. (Yes, that mean each subscription ticket would only be $12...) Sign up today at NewHavenSymphony.org/Subscribe.

Inspire.
Delight.
Challenge.
Connect.

Welcome to your 2026-27 Season:

Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream
Sun, Sept. 27 - Woolsey Hall
Perry So, Music Director - Elm City Girls’ Choir

Verdi’s Requiem
Sun, Oct. 25 - Woolsey Hall
Perry So, Music Director - Hartt Choir - Yale Camerata

Dance Dance Evolution: From Nutcracker to Hip Hop
Sun, Nov. 22 - Lyman Center at SCSU
Perry So, Music Director - Tia Russell Dance Studio, Dance & Choreography

Holiday Extravaganza
Sat, Dec. 19 - Shelton High School
Sun, Dec. 20 - Woolsey Hall
Chelsea Tipton, II, Principal Pops Conductor - Elm City Girls’ Choir

Candlelight Concerts
Fri, Jan. 29 & Sat, Jan. 30 - St. Mary’s Church

Rachmaninoff & Romance
Sun, Feb. 14 - Woolsey Hall
Perry So, Music Director - Michelle Cann, Piano

Beethoven & Bryan
Sun, Mar. 21 - Woolsey Hall
Perry So, Music Director - Courtney Bryan, Composer-in-Residence & Piano Soloist

The Wonderful Music of Oz: Wizard, Wicked & Wiz
Sat, Apr. 24 - Shelton High School
Sun, Apr. 25 - Woolsey Hall
Perry So, Music Director

Black, Brown & Beige
Sat, June 5 - Lyman Center at SCSU
Perry So, Music Director

Important Dates:
Subscriptions on sale now!
Tickets to individual concerts go on sale Aug 5.
Young People's Concert tickets and Garden Concert tickets go on sale in 2027.
Learn more at NewHavenSymphony.org.