Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra - 2026 Opening Concert

The Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra opens its 2026 season at the Perelman Theater in the Kimmel Center on Sunday, November 29. It's a matinee, starting at 3 PM and running about an hour and fifteen minutes, so it's one of those Sunday afternoon things that gets you home well before dinner.

The program is built around dance, and the pieces they've picked make that pretty clear. They're opening with Weber's Oberon Overture, followed by Saint-Saëns's Dance Bacchanale from Samson et Dalila. From there, the set moves into Copland's Four Dance Episodes from Rodeo and closes with Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite No. 1. It's a mix of European classics and American orchestral writing, with the dance connection running through the whole thing.

Leading the orchestra is Maestra Rosalind Erwin, who serves as both the ensemble's director and its conductor. Since this is the season opener, it's the first time the orchestra will be out in front of an audience this year, and the program is a good way to kick things off.

If you're planning to go, the Perelman Theater is at 300 South Broad Street in Center City. The concert starts at 3 PM on Sunday, November 29, and runs for about an hour and fifteen minutes.