INDIANAPOLIS—The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra announced a stellar 2025–26 season featuring a celebration of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, two iconic Mahler symphonies, an exciting new production from the legendary Dolly Parton, an all-new Taylor Swift-inspired fusion, and a fantastic lineup of film favorites that will surprise and delight audiences of all ages. Subscriptions are available starting Feb. 18, 2025, at IndianapolisSymphony.org or by calling the Box Office at 317-639-4300. See the full season lineup here. Tickets to individual concerts may be purchased beginning July 22, 2025.
The new season, beginning in September 2025, features seven debut artists and conductors, with Maestro Jun Märkl, who returns for his first full season as music director, conducting ten programs, including the Opening Night Gala endowed by Christel DeHaan. The Classical Series ushers in the season with the beloved “New World” symphony by Dvořák, along with superstar cellist Daniel-Müller performing Saint-Saëns’ Cello Concerto No. 1. The ISO also begins a multi-season look at the symphonies of Gustav Mahler with the epic No. 2 “Resurrection” and the powerful No. 6 “Tragic.” These tour-de-force symphonies are a rare treat not to be missed.
The new season features all four of Rachmaninoff’s piano concertos performed by Sofya Gulyak (Indiana University Jacobs School of Music faculty), Joyce Yang, Alexander Gavrylyuk, and Vadym Kholodenko, along with renowned jazz pianist Makoto Ozone performing the Paganini Variations. World-renowned mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton returns to perform selections from Mahler’s Des Knaben Wunderhorn. Baroque specialist conductor Jeannette Sorrell returns along with violinist Francisco Fullana to perform Vivaldi’s Four Seasons in recognition of the work’s 300th anniversary. Violinist and IU Jacobs School of Music faculty James Ehnes performs Bruch’s evocative Scottish Fantasy.
Guest conductors and audience favorites Kevin John Edusei, David Danzmayr, and Robert Spano return for thrilling programs including Shostakovich’s 10th Symphony, Schubert’s “Unfinished,” and Copland’s Appalachian Spring, while conductors Rebecca Tong and Anthony Parnther make their ISO subscription debuts. The new season features two new solo works co-commissioned by the ISO, including one by James Lee III themed on the life of Coretta Scott King for Indianapolis’ very own soprano Angela Brown and a saxophone concerto by renowned composer Joan Tower for Steven Banks.
The 2025 Opening Night Gala endowed by Christel DeHaan (October 4, 2025) features Maestro Märkl conducting the ISO and violin virtuoso Augustin Hadelich on a voyage through Bohemia featuring Brahms’ captivating Violin Concerto. Paired with the lively Hungarian Dance No. 5, this celebratory evening also features Smetana’s exuberant “Dance of the Comedians” and the folkloric charm of Kodály’s “Dances of Galánta.”
Led by Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly, the 2025–26 Printing Partners Pops Series opens the season Sept. 19–20 with an all-new production, Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs in Symphony, arranged by Dolly Parton, celebrated icon and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee. This unique symphonic experience reimagines Dolly’s greatest hits—including “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors,” and “I Will Always Love You,” with new orchestrations, vivid multimedia storytelling by Dolly, and guest vocalists and musicians personally selected by the legendary artist herself. (Note: Dolly Parton will not be performing in this program.)
Arrival from Sweden: The Music of ABBA brings their exuberant, soaring harmonies on Nov. 7–8, powered by the ISO for chart-toppers like “Fernando,” “Dancing Queen,” and other memorable hits.
Maestro Everly returns Feb. 6–7, 2026, to conduct a new program from Troupe Vertigo: “Cirque Magic,” featuring spellbinding acrobatics set to the music of Wicked “Defying Gravity” and “Popular,” John Williams beloved scores like “Harry’s Wondrous World,” and classical favorites. Rounding out the Pops season June 5-6, 2026, is “And the winner is: Best Picture, Best Score, Best Song,” as Maestro Everly leads the ISO on a star-studded journey through the iconic music of Oscar nominees and winners of “Best Picture” and “Best Score.”
Principal Guest Conductor of Pops Enrico Lopez-Yañez conducts three programs in 2025–26 beginning Oct. 17-18, with singer, songwriter, showman, and two-time AES Indiana Yuletide Celebration host Frankie Moreno for King for a Day: The Music of Elvis, featuring hits like “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” “Burning Love,” “Suspicious Minds,” and more. Jan. 16–17, 2026, Maestro Lopez-Yañez conducts An Enchanted Evening with the Three Mexican Tenors for an unforgettable journey from operatic songs like “Libiamo” and “O Sole Mio” to pop hits such as “You Raise Me Up” and “Time to Say Goodbye.” May 8–9, 2026, singer-songwriter Ben Rectorand the ISO celebrate the USA’s 250th anniversary, featuring the wondrous musical journey of Rector’s “Songs For America” as he pays homage to our great nation and plays his impressive catalog.
The Film Series presented by Bank of America offers four programs for 2025–26, with cult classic Home Alone in Concert setting the holiday scene Nov. 15–16. The ISO returns to Hogwarts with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in Concert Jan. 30–Feb. 1, 2026, while the Star Wars saga continues March 20–21 with Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in Concert. Disney Pixar’s Ratatouille in Concert finishes the film season on May 16 with Michael Giacchino’s beloved score.
Maestro Jack Everly leads the 39th annual AES Indiana Yuletide Celebration from December 5 to 23, 2025, for a magical holiday production featuring Broadway-level singers and dancers, dazzling choreography, and stunning costumes. The 2025 host announcement will come this spring! Become a subscriber or donor to get presale access in August.
Conductor and composer Steve Hackman returns to bring his innovative Uncharted Series to Hilbert Circle Theatre, offering music fans new avenues into classical music by fusing the work of contemporary artists with classical composers. The 2025–26 Uncharted season begins on October 15 with Beethoven X Beyoncé, a thrilling blend of pop’s Queen and classical music’s King. Audience favorite Resurrection Mixtape returns on January 14, 2026, for an exploration of composer Gustav Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony with the notable works of The Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur. On June 2 and 3, witness the world premiere of an all-new work, Taylor Swift: The Symphony Era, that pays tribute to the unparalleled pop icon and takes you on a musical journey you won’t soon forget.
New for the 25-26 season: All evening Pops Series concerts will begin at the new start time of 7:30 p.m. All Friday Classical Series will also start at 7:30 p.m. Saturday Classical Series concerts remain at 5:30 p.m.
Classical Series programs featuring Music Director Jun Märkl:
- Sept. 25-27: Dvořák’s “New World” Symphony
- Oct. 10-11: Transformations of Spirit: Jackiw plays Berg
- Feb. 13-14: Mahler: Symphony No. 2
- Feb. 19-21: Beethoven’s “Eroica” Symphony
- Feb. 27-28: Scottish Impressions: James Ehnes plays Bruch
- April 16-18: French Images: Debussy, Ravel & Fauré
- April 24-25: Jun Märkl conducts Rachmaninoff and Dvořák
- June 12-13: Mahler’s Symphony No. 6
- June 18-20: Season Finale: Makoto Ozone plays Rachmaninoff
Other Classical Series highlights:
- Oct. 24-25: Coming to America: Rachmaninoff, Stravinsky & Korngold (feat. Vadym Kholodenko, Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 4)
- Oct. 30-Nov. 2: Vivaldi’s Four Seasons Rediscovered (feat. Francisco Fullana, violin) and multi-media presentation.
- Jan. 9-10: Dark Passions and Triumph: Shostakovich’s Tenth Symphony (feat. Sofya Gulyak, Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 1)
- Jan. 23-24: Romantic Powerhouses: Rachmaninoff 3 and Tchaikovsky (feat. Alexander Gavrylyuk, Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3)
- March 12-14: Beethoven’s 8th Symphony (conducted by Anthony Parnther)
- April 10-11: Rhythm of Dance: Schubert and Strauss (feat. concertmaster Kevin Lin)
- May 29-30: Appalachian Spring
The ISO is honored to welcome a host of new and returning guest artists and conductors, including:
Classical SeriesDebut Conductors:
- Anthony Parnther
- Rebecca Tong
Returning Conductors:
- David Danzmayr
- Kevin John Edusei
- Thierry Fischer
- Jeannette Sorrell
- Robert Spano
Debut Artists:
- Steven Banks, saxophone
- Francisco Fullana, violin
- Alexander Gavrylyuk, piano
- Sofya Gulyak, piano
- Makoto Ozone, piano
Featured ISO Artists:
- Yu Jin, principal viola
- Kevin Lin, concertmaster
- Claire Thai, principal harp
- Austin Brown, principal flute
- Bryson Karrer, principal second violin
Returning Artists:
- Jamie Barton, mezzo-soprano
- Angela Brown, soprano
- James Ehnes, violin
- Stefan Jackiw, violin
- Vadym Kholodenko, piano
- Daniel Muller-Schott, cello
- Kelley O’Connor, mezzo-soprano
- Lauren Snouffer, soprano
- Joyce Yang, piano
Unheard Voices
Through the Unheard Voices initiative, the ISO continues to highlight the works of composers who deserve more intentional recognition in classical music. The 2025–26 season features works by brilliant composers from the past and present, including Ka-Chia Chen, Elena Katz-Chernin, James Lee III, Makoto Ozone, Joan Tower, Eunike Tanzil, and Chen Yi.
ISO Subscriptions—Best Value
Subscriptions are the best way to experience the ISO, offering the greatest value and the most benefits. For the Classical Series, patrons who subscribe to the full 16-concert package can receive up to a 40% savings over the cost of purchasing a single ticket. For the Printing Partners Pops Series, patrons who subscribe to the eight-concert series receive the equivalent of a 25% savings over the cost of a single ticket purchase.
ISO Subscriptions—on sale February 18, 2025
Patrons may renew current subscriptions or become a new subscriber beginning February 18 by visiting the ISO’s website at IndianapolisSymphony.org, by phone at 317-639-4300, by mail, or in person at the Hilbert Circle Theatre Box Office.
Among many of the benefits of becoming an ISO subscriber is advance ticket buying opportunities for and discounts to special events such as Kroger Symphony on the Prairieand the annual holiday tradition, AES Indiana Yuletide Celebration. Subscriber benefits include discounted tickets to Classical and Pops concerts and an opportunity to purchase a pre-paid season parking pass to Express Park Garage, located at 20 N. Pennsylvania. For more information about all ISO presentations, visit IndianapolisSymphony.org or call the Hilbert Circle Theatre Box Office at 317-639-4300.
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