Toronto Symphony Orchestra Welcomes Toronto to a New Season with Open House & Free Community Concert

A city-wide welcome to the 2025/26 season with performances, activities, and a free Toronto Symphony Orchestra concert at Roy Thomson Hall—Saturday, September 20

(TORONTO, ON, Aug 28, 2025) The Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) invites Toronto to be part of something bigger with the return of its annual Open House & Free Community Concert on Saturday, September 20, 2025 at Roy Thomson Hall. This joyful season-opening tradition blends music, discovery, and community into one welcoming day—uniting newcomers and longtime supporters for the unofficial first concert of the season.

This year’s festivities begin at 10:00am with a host of all-ages lobby activities and special performances by TSO musicians, guest artists, and members of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra. Visitors can explore instrument try-outs, creative activity stations, and immersive music experiences. No tickets or reservations are required for the morning activities; the Roy Thomson Hall doors will be open from 10:00am to 1:30pm for any attendees who wish to join the fun.

The day culminates at 2pm with a 60-minute full-orchestra performance conducted by TSO Music Director Gustavo Gimeno and TSO Barrett Principal Education Conductor & Community Ambassador Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser. The concert contains a wide variety of music—a spirited preview of what’s to come in the 2025/26 concert season. Tickets are required for this free performance, and with an expected crowd of more than 2,000 patrons, early registration on September 8 is recommended.

This year’s event builds on the centennial of TSO School Concerts—a legacy that has introduced more than one million young people to orchestral music over the past 100 years. Open House continues that tradition of inspiring discovery through live performance, now extending it to audiences of all ages.

"This is where the season begins—it all starts now," says Mark Williams, Beck Family CEO of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. "Whether it’s your first visit or your fiftieth, Open House is your invitation to step into a new season with your orchestra. We’re here to celebrate the city we serve, and to make sure everyone feels at home with the TSO. Today, you’re part of something bigger: a shared cultural experience that connects Toronto to the world."

Event Highlights

Open House: Lobby Performances

• Performances by TSO and TSYO chamber ensembles
• Dance presentations from Joy of Dance
• Symphony Storytime with Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser and a TSO Quartet 
• Conducting workshop with RBC Resident Conductor & TSYO Conductor Nicholas Sharma

Open House: Activity Stations

For Young People

• Face painting
• Long & McQuade Instrument Discovery Zone
• Music Playground
• Compose Your Own Music station

For All Ages

• Self-guided building tours available in English, French, Mandarin, and Cantonese
• Write a postcard to a musician
• TSO video station
• Photo booth

The Open House welcomes walk-ins; no RSVP required.

Free Community Concert

• Date and time: Saturday, September 20, 2025, 2:00–3:00pm
• Location: Roy Thomson Hall
• Conductors: Gustavo Gimeno and Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser
• Tickets: Free; registration required at TSO.CA/OpenHouse 

This event is part of Ontario Culture Days, a three-week-long multidisciplinary arts initiative that will attract nearly one million Ontarians across more than 1,000 communities this year. 

Free Concert tickets are available online through TSO.CA/OpenHouse. Guests are asked to RSVP beginning on September 8, 2025 to reserve seats. RSVP online or by contacting TSO Patron Services at 416.598.3375, Mon–Fri, 9:30am–5:00pm.

For current health and safety protocols at Roy Thomson Hall, please visit TSO.CA/Safety.

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For more than a century, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) has played a fundamental role in shaping and celebrating Canadian culture. The TSO’s commitment to musical excellence and ability to spark connection remain as strong as ever. With a storied history of acclaimed concerts and recordings, Canadian and international tours, and impactful community partnerships, we are dedicated to engaging and enriching local and national communities through vibrant musical experiences. Music Director Gustavo Gimeno brings an expansive artistic vision, intellectual curiosity, and sense of adventure to programming the 93-musician orchestra that serves Toronto—one of the world’s most diverse cities. As a group of artists, teachers, and advocates who share the belief that music has the power to heal, inspire, and connect people from all walks of life, we engage audiences young and old through an array of community-access, health-and-well-being, and education initiatives including the TSO-affiliated Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra—a tuition-free training program dedicated to cultivating the next generation of Canadian artists. Symphony With Us at a concert at Roy Thomson Hall, or experience the TSO in your neighbourhood. Visit TSO.CA or Newsroom.TSO.CA.

The TSO relies on the generosity of thousands of donors and partners who provide a critical base of funding that makes possible all of the TSO’s music-making on stage and in the community. 

The TSO Season Presenting Sponsor is BMO.

The TSO acknowledges Mary Beck as the Musicians’ Patron in perpetuity for her generous and longstanding support.

The TSO’s Education and Community Engagement programs are generously supported by the Barrett Family Foundation.

TSYO Conductor generously supported by the Toronto Symphony Volunteer Committee.

RBC Resident Conductor is generously supported by RBC Foundation.

The TSO is grateful for the support of the Toronto Symphony Foundation and all levels of government, including the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, the Toronto Arts Council, and the Government of Canada.