Announcing our 2025-26 Season! It's our 87th Season and we are ready for a blockbuster year!

The Waterbury Symphony Orchestra (WSO) proudly presents its 87th season, 'Where Music Takes Us' with the launch of three new concert series, fresh and innovative twists on traditional favorites, world-renowned guest artists and, drum roll please, the Symphony’s 2nd ever Candle Quartet Concert this time featuring the music of EAGLES, FLEETWOOD MAC & QUEEN and a HOLIDAY POPS Concert! We are also thrilled to be partnering again with the Palace Theater to present our popular Annual Cinema & Symphony - this year, with the symphony performing the full John Williams score live to the marvelous Jurassic Park on Saturday, March 14th.

The three concert series include the traditional full-orchestra MasterWorks & Holiday Pops Concert Series at the Fine Arts Center in Waterbury, a Newtown Series at the stunning Edmond Town Hall and finally, a Litchfield Series at the Litchfield Community Center.

Our Litchfield Series

Litchfield Community Center, Litchfield, CT

Mozart’s Greatest Serenade: The Gran Partita

Mozart’s Serenade No. 10 in B-flat major stands as one of the most remarkable works in the wind ensemble repertoire. Commonly known as the Gran Partita— the famous third movement Adagio—perhaps best known from its poignant use in the film Amadeus—is a profound example of Mozart’s lyrical genius.

MOZART – Gran Partita, K. 361 (1781-84) (50’)

WSO’s Annual Young Artist Chamber Concert Subtile: Featuring Yale Chamber Ensemble

Join us for an intimate evening of world-class chamber music, featuring talented musicians from Yale University bringing the great masters to life!

April in Paris - Circa 1926 "Sounds from the City of Lights"

Step into the chic salons and sun-dappled gardens of 1920s Paris, where charm, wit, and elegance flowed as freely as champagne. From shimmering strings to playful winds and brass, their music captures a moment when tradition danced with modernity—and every note wore a smile.

Our Master Works & Holiday Pops Series

Fine Art Center, NVCC Waterbury

Tchaikovsky and a Twist of Fate [Copland’s Appalachian Spring, Tchaikovsky 4]

Embark upon a sweeping journey through three powerful musical visions—one rooted in American simplicity and optimism, one involving a journey of the spirit and the last a stormy passionate quest—and all three are connected by a common thread: Fate.

• Aaron Copland – Appalachian Spring (approx. 25 min)

• Paul Frucht – Finding Religion (approx. 15 min)  [TBD?]

• Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky – Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36 (approx. 40 min)

Twin Titans: Brahms and Schumann [Featuring Garrick Ohlsson on piano]

Experience the heart of Romantic passion as the WSO journeys through Schumann’s soaring Symphony No. 2— a sweeping, joyful work that balances euphoric intensity with moments of deep introspection.

• Robert Schumann – Symphony No. 2 in C major, Op. 61 (approx. 41 min)

• Johannes Brahms – Piano Concerto No. 1,  D minor (44 Min) Feat, Garrick Ohlsson, piano

MasterWorks Season Finale: Simply Fantastique [Mendelssohn & Berlioz]

It’s a fever dream, a love letter, and a full-blown obsession set to music – it’s Symphonie fantastique. Written in 1830, this groundbreaking piece tells the story of a young artist who falls madly in love, spirals into despair and dreams up a series of increasingly surreal and dramatic scenes.

• Ludwig van Beethoven: Overture Side By Side (TBD) 

• Felix Mendelssohn – Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64 (approx. 27 min)    Featuring Young Artist Competition Winner

• Hector Berlioz – Symphonie Fantastique (45 min)

WSO's Holiday Pops, with a fun twist! Sun, December 7th at the Fine Arts Center

HOLIDAY POPS CONCERT: Christmas In Connecticut: The Ugly Sweater Edition

Patrons will also have a few months to hunt for their best choice of attire for what will be a new fan favorite we are sure, for our HOLIDAY POPS Concert: Christmas In CT, Ugly Sweater Edition Sunday December 7th at the Fine Arts Center, NVCC. Leif has already set his aside and the from that mischievous gleam in his eye, we suspect it will be a 'doozy'.

Newtown Series

Edmond Town Hall, Newtown, CT

Echoes of España: With Ritual Fire Dance, Carmen Fantasy with Solo Violin

Let the passion of classic Spanish music whisk you away to a sun-soaked land of fiery rhythms and lush melodies. This performance brings Spain’s rich musical soul to life. From vibrant flair to tender romance, it’s an afternoon that dances between drama, passion and beauty—perfectly timeless

Candlelight String Quartet: Music of Fleetwood Mac, Eagles & Queen

Rock Royalty by Candlelight! WSO's String Quartet, led by concertmaster Alyce Cognetta Bertz. Step into a night of timeless classics surrounded by the soft flicker of candlelight, you’ll be swept away by the elegance of strings and the soul of rock 'n' roll. It’s moody, magical, and utterly unforgettable.

Silent Film with Live Score: Harold Lloyd’s 'Speedy', World Premiere of Donald Sosin Original Score

Step into the roaring 1920s with Speedy, a high-spirited silent film starring the legendary Harold Lloyd. This whirlwind comedy follows our lovable underdog through a zany, fast-paced adventure in old New York

Calendar at a Glance

WSO offers both Subscription Offers starting as low as $90 which secures first dibs on best seating for our MasterWorks Concerts. For those who subscribed last season, your seats are held for you for the duration of the Subscription window. Subscriptions are available for any of the three Series or the Whole Season taking advantage of 15% off single tickets and WAIVED per ticket booking fees. Alternatively take advantage of our FLEX SUBSCRIPTION PACKAGE - a MIX & MATCH option to order any three or more concerts and enjoy 10% off single ticket prices and waived 'per ticket' booking fees. Subscription Packages are available until August 1st and can be ordered by mail or phone. WSO/Palace Box Office at 203-346-2000 Monday - Friday.

Now throughout the entire season this year, WSO is offering a Flex Package Subscription Option—a MIX & MATCH option for any three or more concerts from the full 10-concert season. Flex Package orders enjoy 10% discount on all tickets and waived 'per ticket' booking fees. Available throughout the entire season, prices start as low as $73 for 3 concerts.

Subscriptions are available by phone or by mailing in a completed Subscription Form.

By Telephone: Call our WSO/Palace Box Office at 203-346-2000 Mon-Friday.

By Mail: Fill out the Subscription Form below and mail it with your payment to WSO, 500 Chase Parkway, Unit 4C, Waterbury, CT 06708

We can also email you an easy to fill out Subscription Form if you like as well. Please call or email info@waterburysymphony.org.

Our Three Series Line-Up

MasterWorks & Holiday Pops Series: 

Sun, Oct 5 • Sun Dec 7 • Sun Apr 26 • Sun May 17

Fine Arts Center, NVCC, 750 Chase Parkway, Waterbury, CT

Maestro Leif Bjaland and the WSO have lined up a real treat this year and our MasterWorks Series will not disappoint! Enjoy traditional full orchestra performances at the

Fine Arts Center, NVCC, now called CT State College, Naugatuck Valley. 

Full concert programs are detailed below.

Season Subscriptions offered through August 1st - Enjoy priority seating, 15% discount on each concert and waived per ticket booking fees.

Three Seating Levels as per previous years: Premium [$65]  Choice [$45]  Value [$25]

Litchfield Series: Sun, Sep 14 • Sun Jan 18 • Sun Apr 12

Litchfield Community Center, 421 Bantam Rd, Litchfield, CT

Delightful chamber ensembles crafted by our one and only WSO Music Director Leif Bjaland, at the Litchfield Community Center in Litchfield, CT

[General Admission $30]

WSO's Newtown Series: Sun, Nov 2 • Sat Feb 14 • Sat Jun 13 

Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main Street, Newtown, CT

WSO is pleased to also announce its three concert series at Edmond Town Hall in Newtown, CT. Innovative performances with a twist, including our 2nd Candlelight Concert, this time feature the beloved artists more of our collective era Eagles, Fleetwood Mac & Queen, a delightly romp and love letter to the music of Spain and a supremely fun Silent Film with live original score by the world renowned Donald Sosin and our concertmaster Alyce Cognetta Bertz, on violin.

Plus....

Annual Cinema & Symphony Concert at the Palace Theater -

Jurassic Park Sat, March 14th, 2pm

At the Palace Theater, Waterbury

Thrilled that our Cinema and Symphony concerts are selling out...!

Tickets will go on sale for this concert first as presale opportunity extended to all our main Season Subscribers in early September and following that, as single tickets, several weeks later. We will announce these dates by email well ahead of time.

There's nothing like just signing up for a Subscription to our Season!

Save up to $98 per person for Full Season All 3 Series [All 10 Concerts] Subscription Package, or any one of our three Series [MasterWorks & Pops, Newtown, or Litchfield], and/or Flex Subscription Package available again this year! 

This year we continue to offer a ‘FLEX PACKAGE’ option. Select any 3 or more concerts* from the entire regular season of 10 concerts and enjoy a 10% discount on each of those concert tickets and $0/ticket booking fees.

* The Flex Package Offer excludes the March 14th Cinema & Symphony Concert, which nearly sold out last year - please do order your Cinema & Symphony Tickets early to not be disappointed. We will announce dates for pre-ales and Single Ticket sales in late August.

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If you would like to be mailed our new 2025/2026 WSO Season Brochure - please email us at info@waterburysymphony.org - provide your full name, address, telephone number and email address. We'd be delighted to send you this brochure.