Palm Beach Symphony Announces 2026-2027 Masterworks Concert Series and Ticket On-Sale Dates

Palm Beach Symphony has announced its 2026-2027 Masterworks Concert Series led by Music Director Gerard Schwarz. The seven-concert season spans from November 2026 through May 2027 in Dreyfoos Concert Hall at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach, Florida.

The Symphony will welcome guest pianists Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Yefim Bronfman and Daniil Trifonov, violinists Augustin Hadelich, Pinchas Zukerman and Ray Chen, and cellist Julian Schwarz. This roster marks the Palm Beach Symphony debuts of Hadelich, Trifonov and Chen, as well as the return of audience favorites Thibaudet, Bronfman, Zukerman and Schwarz who have each performed with the Symphony during previous seasons.

“Palm Beach Symphony is excited to host a mix of familiar and fresh faces to our stage next season,” said Palm Beach Symphony CEO David McClymont. “Our audience is in for a spectacular series of famous classical works they know and love, as well as brand new pieces making their world premiere. Our talented orchestra looks forward to filling the concert hall with beautiful music.”

Concert schedule and repertoire:

• Tuesday, November 17 at 7:30 p.m. featuring pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet
  • Daron Aric Hagen: Consolation (World Premiere)
  • Camille Saint-Saëns: Piano Concerto No. 5 in F Major, Op. 103 “Egyptian”
  • Johannes Brahms: Symphony No. 4 in E Minor, Op. 98

• Wednesday, December 16 at 7:30 p.m., featuring pianist Yefim Bronfman
  • George Frideric Handel: Selections from Messiah
  • Dmitry Shostakovich: Symphony No. 6 in B Minor, Op. 54
  • Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 37

• Sunday, January 17 at 3:00 p.m., featuring violinist Augustin Hadelich
  • Cindy McTee: Timepiece
  • Niccoló Paganini: Violin Concerto No. 4 in D Minor
  • Hector Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique

• Wednesday, February 10 at 7:30 p.m., featuring pianist Daniil Trifonov
  • Anna Clyne: Masquerade
  • Antonín Dvorák: Symphony No. 6 in D Major, Op. 60
  • Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-Flat Minor, Op. 23

• Monday, March 15 at 7:30 p.m., featuring pianist Julian Schwarz
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Overture to The Magic Flute
  • Felix Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4 in A Major, Op. 90 “Italian”
  • Richard Strauss: Don Quixote

• Wednesday, April 28 at 7:30 p.m., featuring violinist Pinchas Zukerman
  • Gerard Schwarz: Symphony (World Premiere, Commissioned for Palm Beach Symphony by Don and Mary Thompson)
  • Paul Ben-Haim: Lullaby
  • Max Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 26
  • Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92

• Sunday, May 23 at 3:00 p.m., featuring violinist Ray Chen
  • Richard Wagner: Prelude from Die Meistersinger non Nürnberg (side-by-side)
  • Jean Sibelius: Violin Concerto in D Minor, Op. 47
  • Igor Stravinsky: Rite of Spring

"I'd like to welcome the South Florida community to a fabulous new season at the Palm Beach Symphony, where I'm celebrating my eighth year as music director," said Maestro Schwarz. "For our masterworks series, we're bringing to you some of the most outstanding soloists of our time. I'm especially thrilled about collaborating again with my son Julian, a leading cellist of his generation, on Don Quixote, Strauss’ tone poem featuring an intricate part for solo cello that represents Cervantes' wild-eyed title character. You can also expect to hear masterpieces by Beethoven, Berlioz, Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky, as well as the world premieres of Daron Aric Hagen's Consolation and of my own Symphony. I look forward to seeing you at the concert hall for another season of great music."

Subscription packages for all seven concerts begin at $175 and go on sale June 1. Mini-concert packages and individual tickets go on sale September 8. Individual tickets range in price from $30 to $135. Tickets may be purchased online at PalmBeachSymphony.org, by phone at (561) 281-0145 and at the Palm Beach Symphony Box Office weekdays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at 700 South Dixie Highway, Suite 100, West Palm Beach.

Thibaudet, Bronfman, Hadelich and Zukerman will each conduct a masterclass during their engagement with Palm Beach Symphony. Additional masterclasses may be announced at a later date. During a masterclass, the artist provides an individual coaching session in front of an audience. Student musicians perform a prepared piece for expert feedback on areas for improvement, including musical technique, style, interpretive qualities, presentation and overall musicality.

Symphony Sessions: Lunch & Learns will be held the Thursday preceding each concert from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Symphony's conference room located in the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties building, 700 S. Dixie Hwy. in West Palm Beach. Assistant conductor Alberto Bade will host on November 12, December 10 and January 14; cellist Claudio Jaffé will host on February 4 and Aprill 22; and Maestro Schwarz will host on March 11 and May 20. Individual tickets are $135 per lunch and learn or a subscription package is available for $875 for admission to all seven. During these informal and informative sessions, guests will enjoy a three-course gourmet lunch catered by SandyJames Fine Food & Productions and a selection of wines curated by Palm Beach Symphony sponsor Private Cask Imports while deepening their connection with the musicians and performances through a glimpse behind the curtain of how the Symphony prepares for concerts, selects repertoire and more. Attendees will learn about the subject matter and composers that will be performed during the upcoming concert, while enriching their concert experience. Complimentary valet parking is provided. Tickets may be purchased at PalmBeachSymphony.org beginning on September 8.

Proud sponsors of Palm Beach Symphony include Mrs. James N. Bay, Carol and Harold Baxter, C. Kenneth and Laura Baxter Foundation, Inc., Kathy Lee Bickham and John Bickham, , Leslie Rogers Blum, Je?rey and Tina Bolton, James R. Borynack and Adolfo Zaralegui / FINDLAY Galleries, Broder Family Foundation,  Thomas and Carol Bruce, Cindy and Jerome Canty, Jerome J. Claeys,  Amy and John T. Collins, The Colony Hotel, Suzanne Mott Dansby, The David Minkin Foundation, Susan Hurley Esson, Mary and Will Demory, Herbert H. and Barbara C. Dow Foundation,  Willard H. Dow and Kelly Winter, Dr. Richard and Diane Farber, Ray K. Farris, John Ford,  Bill and Kem Frick/The Frick Foundation, Inc., Edith Hall Friedheim/Eric Friedheim Foundation, Gerry Gibian and Marjorie Yashar, Paul* and Sandra Goldner, Douglas and Jo* Gressette, Irwin and Janet Gusman, Walter Harper, Thomas E. Harvey & Cathleen P. Black Foundation, Doris Hastings Foundation, Carol S. and Joseph Andrew Hays, John Herrick, Addison Hines Charitable Trust, Lisa and George Hines, Hospital for Special Surgery,  Cathy Jacobson, Charles and Ann Johnson/The C and A Johnson Family Foundation, Joseph Kasputys and Vicki Van Mater, Aban and Percy Kavasmaneck, Elaine Kay, Leonard and Norma Klor?ne Foundation, The Kovner Foundation,  Patricia Lambrecht/The Lambrecht Family Foundation, E.M. Lynn Foundation, Maurice Moradof/Yafa Signed Jewels, The Murray Family Charitable Foundation,  Donald C. McGraw Foundation, The Honorable Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, The McNulty Charitable Foundation, Tish Messinger, David Moscow, Norman and Susan Oblon, Park Foundation, Patrick and Milly Park, Nancy and Ellis J. Parker, III, PNC Private Bank, Lois Pope, Provident Jewelry, Ari Rifkin/The Len-Ari Foundation, Dr. Martha Rodriguez and Dr. Jesus Perez-Mendez, Annette Urso Rickel Foundation, Karen Hunt Rogers, The Honorable Ronald A. Rosenfeld, David Schafer, Nancy and Dr. William Schneider, Seth Sprague Foundation, Robin B. Smith, The Telesco Foundation, Inc., Don and Mary Thompson, Jerome and Carol Trautschold, Sieglinde Wikstrom/The Wikstrom Foundation, and The Ann Eden Woodward Foundation/James and Judy Woods.

*Deceased

ABOUT PALM BEACH SYMPHONY

Palm Beach Symphony is South Florida’s premier orchestra known for its diverse repertoire and commitment to community. Founded in 1974, this 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization adheres to a mission of engaging, educating, and entertaining the greater community of the Palm Beaches through live performances of inspiring orchestral music. The orchestra is celebrated for delivering spirited performances by first-rate musicians and distinguished guest artists. Recognized by The Cultural Council for Palm Beach County with a 2020 Muse Award for Outstanding Community Engagement, Palm Beach Symphony continues to expand its education and community outreach programs with children’s concerts, student coaching sessions and master classes, instrument donations and free public concerts that have reached more than 90,000 students in recent years. For more information, visit www.palmbeachsymphony.org.