From classical favorites and international artists to holiday music under the stars, The Symphonia's 2026–27 season brings something for everyone in South Florida
Grammy-nominated conductor Alastair Willis, Music Director of The Symphonia, joins The Paige Kornblue Show
Boca Raton's cultural calendar is hitting all the right notes this season.
From classical favorites and international guest artists to a holiday concert under the stars, The Symphonia is preparing for its 22nd season with something for longtime music lovers and newcomers alike.
Titled Music in Motion, the 2026–27 season features five concert programs from November through April, led by Grammy-nominated conductor and Music Director Alastair Willis.
I recently caught up with Willis to talk about what's ahead, what makes South Florida's premier chamber orchestra unique and why he believes everyone should experience the magic of live orchestral music.
"We perform in venues where our audiences are closer to the musicians than a traditional concert hall and I think this closeness is pretty special," said Willis.
That intimate setting is part of what distinguishes The Symphonia from larger orchestras. Audiences can experience world-class musicians up close, with programs that combine recognizable classics and lesser-known works selected to surprise and engage listeners.
And there's a personal connection among the performers, too. Willis has known many of The Symphonia's musicians for decades, describing the ensemble as feeling like family.
The season opens November 15 at St. Gregory's Episcopal Church with a performance featuring violinist Leonid Sigal and Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto.
On December 5, The Symphonia heads outdoors for its annual Holiday Pops concert at Mizner Park Amphitheater, featuring conductor John Devlin, the FAU Chamber Singers and Schola Cantorum of Florida.
For families looking for something special to do during the holidays, Willis says the concert is an especially welcoming introduction to orchestral music.
"It's for the whole family," he told me, pointing to the outdoor setting and shorter musical selections, including familiar favorites from The Nutcracker and Sleigh Ride.
The new year brings No Strings Attached to The Studio at Mizner Park on January 23 and 24 followed by one of the season's most distinctive programs, Copland and Silk Road, on March 21.
That performance blends American classical music with Asian musical traditions and features Japanese bamboo flute master Kojiro Umezaki, a musician Willis previously worked with through Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Ensemble.
Japanese bamboo flute master Kojiro Umezaki
The season concludes April 24 and 25 with Waltzing with Strauss, part of The Symphonia's New Directions series, which brings storytelling, history and theatrical elements into the concert experience.
For those unfamiliar with classical music, Willis offers a welcoming perspective.
He points out that classical music is already part of our everyday lives, from movies and television to video games and public spaces. Hearing it performed live simply brings that music into a different setting.
"Classical music is an art form," Willis said, "and it's there, like all the arts, to inspire us, to change us, to move us, to enrich our lives and so much more."
One of my favorite moments of our conversation came when Willis recalled attending a concert in London at age 13. He was so captivated by a trumpet concerto that the very next day, he went to his school's music department and announced he wanted to learn the instrument.
Five years later, he performed that same piece at his graduation recital.
It's a wonderful reminder of the lasting impact one live performance can have, particularly on young people discovering the arts for the first time.
And perhaps that's the invitation The Symphonia is extending to South Florida this season: Whether you're a devoted classical music fan, a curious first-timer or a parent introducing your children to something new, there's a seat waiting for you.
The Symphonia's Music in Motion season runs November 15 through April 25, 2027, with performances at St. Gregory's Episcopal Church, Mizner Park Amphitheater and The Studio at Mizner Park in Boca Raton.
Individual concert tickets start at $58, with season subscriptions starting at $205. Each concert also includes a pre-concert conversation with conductors and featured artists.
For the complete schedule and tickets, visit thesymphonia.org.
Listen to Paige Kornblue's full conversation with Alastair Willis here on The Paige Kornblue Show.
Photos Courtesy of The Symphonia