The timeless power of music and memory propel South Florida Symphony Orchestra’s (SFSO) “Unstoppable” 29th season under the direction of award-winning Maestra Sebrina María Alfonso. Experience an exhilarating concert series that bridges beloved masterworks and bold contemporary brilliance.
From the sweeping passion of Beethoven, the soaring romance of Tchaikovsky, and the radiant elegance of Barber and Brahms to the evocative, lauded works by living composers including Higdon, Esmail, and Chen & He, SFSO’s upcoming 2026/27 season is filled with unstoppable music and unforgettable moments.
“Our 2026/27 season features larger-than-life music that flies straight to the heart,” said Alfonso. “We aim to connect our audiences to the timeless power of the world’s greatest composers, coupled with the thrill of some of today’s most influential voices. Taking center stage is Beethoven, a composer of incomparable genius, who two centuries after his death, continues to live through music that is as vital today as it was when it was written. Add Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Barber, Shostakovich, Price and a handful of esteemed living composers to the mix; you’ve got a season ready to excite, ignite, and entertain.”
The 2026/27 line-up for Key West performances at the Tennessee Williams Theatre is:
Beethoven:Symphony No. 5
Saturday, Jan. 23, 7:30 p.m.
A sonic tour de force that spans centuries. Four thundering notes and you immediately know the grip of Beethoven’s enigmatic Fifth. Nina Bernat steps into the spotlight with two strikingly different works—Esmail’s searching Perhaps and Bottesini’s electrifying Double Bass Concerto No. 2. And Mozart unleashes a world of intrigue, tension, and theatrical fire with his vivid Overture to Don Giovanni.
Beethoven is in the limelight as SFSO commemorates the 200th anniversary of his passing beginning with the unmistakable four-note grip of his epic Fifth to an all-out, larger-than-life performance of his monumental Ninth, with its exultant “Ode to Joy” finale, that inspires awe, awakens emotion, and celebrates the extraordinary power of live orchestral music to unite us in wonder, beauty, and delight.
Florence Price’s groundbreaking Violin Concerto No. 2 (featuring Melissa White) and the aching beauty of Barber’s Adagio for Strings will leave audiences swooning. Along the way, discover thrilling musical gems by living composers, including three-time GRAMMY and Pulitzer Prize winner Jennifer Higdon’s “Cathedrals” from All Things Majestic, Reena Esmail’s Perhaps, and Chen and He’s Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto (featuring SFSO concertmaster Huifang Chen). Known as the “Romeo and Juliet of the East,” Butterfly Lovers is one of China’s most popular and performed orchestral works.
Esmail: Perhaps (2005, rev. 2015) (SFSO Premiere)
Mozart: Overture to Don Giovanni
Bottesini: Double Bass Concerto No. 2 (SFSO Premiere)
Featuring Nina Bernat, double bass
Florence Price’s Violin Concert No. 1
Saturday, Feb. 13, 7:30 p.m.
Time and breath stand still in Barber’s Adagio for Strings. Florence Price’s expressive Violin Concerto No. 1, featuring violinist Melissa White, blends the Romantic era with musical influences rooted in African-American spirituals and folk idioms. Closing the program is Carl Nielsen’s Symphony No. 2, “The Four Temperaments,” a vivid psychological portrait drawn in sound.
Barber: Adagio for Strings
Price: Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major (SFSO Premiere)
Featuring Melissa White, violin
Nielsen: Symphony No. 2, “The Four Temperaments”
Beethoven’s Ninth and Grand Opera Arias with the South Florida Symphony Chorus
Saturday, March 20, 7:30 p.m.
Two hundred years after his death, Beethoven’s Ninth remains an unstoppable force. Considered one of the greatest pieces of music ever written, and culminating in the famous “Ode to Joy” chorus, its powerful message of hope and brotherly love is equally relevant today and is a testament to the composer’s genius. Performed with the South Florida Symphony Chorus and special guest vocalists, the commemorative evening opens with a selection of popular opera arias.
From sold-out masterworks performances to accompanying today’s musicians such as Natalie Merchant and performing modern musical scores including Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas and Back to the Future, featuring the iconic films screened live with audio and musical accompaniment, South Florida’s largest symphonic orchestra is continuing its journey of excellence inspiring audiences of all ages and musical genres.
Season subscriptions are on sale now for the Key West season at the Tennessee Williams Theatre at The College of the Florida Keys, 5901 College Road. Discounted subscription packages may be purchased by visiting southfloridasymphony.org/2026-27-season or by calling (954) 522-8445. Subscribers save up to 20% off single ticket prices and have first access to the best seats in the house. Three-concert packages in Key West from $105. Flexible ticket packages, single-show tickets, including student ticket and group rates, go on sale September 1, 2026.
For additional information, visit southfloridasymphony.org, call (954) 522-8445 or email info@southfloridasymphony.org.
About South Florida Symphony Orchestra (SFSO)
Founded in 1997 in Key West by Music Director Maestra Sebrina María Alfonso, the Fort Lauderdale-based South Florida Symphony Orchestra (SFSO) is celebrating its 29th season. SFSO is dedicated to providing enriching cultural music experiences to residents and visitors in Monroe, Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. Guided by the belief that music is pivotal to thriving communities, SFSO brings vibrancy and engagement with the arts via innovative programming and transformative educational initiatives. A pioneer in its commitment to symphonic music for underserved communities, its Symphony in the Schools program has touched the lives of over 160,000 students since its inception in 1997. SFSO was recently named the first Partner in the Arts for The Parker by the Broward Center for the Performing Arts and has been recognized by the Broward County Cultural Division as a “Major Cultural Institution,” one of only a handful of organizations to be so honored. For a performance schedule and season tickets, call (954) 522-8445 or visit southfloridasymphony.org.