Spectacular Symphonic Spring & Summer Planned at Magnificent New Powell Hall

St. Louis Symphony Orchestra just announced details of its May and June 2026 concerts, which include concerts across several genres and collaborations with award-winning artists. In addition to previously announced concerts, the SLSO has added performances that span musical styles from country to Americana and two nights of music accompanying animation. Concerts include additions to the SLSO’s Powell Hall Presents, a presentation series that showcases Powell Hall’s beauty in bold ways across genres.

Concerts include

Bugs Bunny at the Symphony, Friday, May 22, 7:00pm

This beloved concert has played to millions all over the world with over 300 major symphony orchestras and now returns to Powell Hall just in time to celebrate its 35th anniversary—and Bugs Bunny’s 85th birthday. Seventeen classic Looney Tunes hit the big screen as the SLSO, conducted by George Daugherty, performs the original, iconic scores live as inspired by Wagner, Rossini, Donizetti, Strauss, Liszt, Smetana, Mendelssohn, Ponchielli, von Suppé, and others. Animated masterpieces include Baton Bunny, The Rabbit of Seville, What’s Opera, Doc?, Corny Concerto, Long-Haired Hare, and others—plus brand new additions, including the world premiere of Skyscraper Scrap starring Tweety and Sylvester, a just-completed animated short saluting Bugs’ 85 years on the silver screen, and a suite of three new Wile E. Coyote/Road Runner 3D shorts.

George Daugherty, conductor

George Daugherty and David Ka Lik Wong, creators

Route 66 Rewind with the Doo Wop Project, Saturday, May 30, 7:30pm

Road trip through America's musical past as the SLSO teams up with the Doo Wop Project as part of the Route 66 Centennial. This performance of vintage soul and seamless harmonies highlights the iconic sounds that shaped American music through the evolution of Doo Wop. The performance includes favorites like “Tears of a Clown,” “Sherry,” and “Walk like a Man,” along with "Doo Wopified" renditions of modern hits and more. Featuring stars from the Broadway shows Jersey Boys, Motown, Beautiful and Hairspray, the Doo Wop Project is inspired by inner city African American vocal groups like The Del Vikings, The Marcels, and The Tymes, delivering the classic sounds of the guys who, back in the day, harmonized with each other on stoops, in the subway, and on street corners.

The Doo Wop Project, vocals, piano, and drums.

Additional artists to be announced. Repertoire announced from the stage.

Ben Rector: Symphonies Across America with Jon McLaughlin, Friday, June 5, 7:30pm

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Ben Rector joins the SLSO and special guest Jon McLaughlin for a moving musical tribute to America’s 250th anniversary and the places we call home. Inspired by 15 years of touring across the country, this performance pairs Rector’s most popular originals with new orchestral works honoring the American songbook. Equal parts golden era pop, Broadway shine, and modern hymn, the evening showcases the honest lyrics and magnetic stage presence Rector is known for.

Samuel Hollister, conductor
Ben Rector, vocals

Jon McLaughlin, vocals

Repertoire announced from the stage.

Powell Hall Presents: Terence Blanchard and Ravi Coltrane—Miles Davis and John Coltrane Centennial, Saturday, June 6, 7:30pm CDT

In 1926, two monumental voices in music were born: Miles Davis and John Coltrane. A century later, their influence reverberates in a concert that’s equal parts tribute and transformation. Bringing together two of today’s most visionary artists, this once-in-a-generation collaboration continues their legacy.

Saxophonist Ravi Coltrane brings a sound that is at once deeply personal and rooted in his father’s groundbreaking style, blending reverence with bold experimentation.

Terence Blanchard, a boundary-pushing trumpeter and composer, draws from a lifelong engagement with Miles Davis’ fearless artistry. Together with an exceptional ensemble, they create a performance that celebrates jazz’s rich past while embracing its future.

Terence Blanchard, trumpet

Ravi Coltrane, saxophone

Additional artists to be announced. Repertoire announced from the stage.

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra does not perform at this concert.

Country Hits: Songs from Nashville, Sunday, June 7, 7:00pm CDT

The SLSO and celebrated artists collaborate for a honky-tonking, heart-aching, rocking night celebrating country music of the past and present. This concert showcases the classic hits, from legendary stars Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, and Johnny Cash to today’s chart-topping stars including Kacey Musgraves, Tim McGraw, and The Chicks. With brand-new symphonic arrangements by Grammy Award-winner Jeff Tyzik, this genre-celebrating concert features Grace Leer and Rick Brantley, two of Nashville’s most exciting rising vocal talents.

Rick Brantley, vocals

Grace Leer, vocals

Dean Berner, guitar, banjo, and mandolin

Brian Dawley, bass guitar

Ross McReynolds, drums

Andrew Sovine, guitar and steel guitar

Repertoire announced from the stage.

An Evening with Bernadette Peters, Friday, June 12, 8:00pm

The lgendary Bernadette Peters—Tony Award-winning star of stage and screen—and the SLSO join forces for a night of unforgettable music. With her signature charisma and unmatched artistry, Peters brings to life iconic songs by Stephen Sondheim, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Jerry Herman, and more. This one-night-only performance offers an intimate concert experience with one of musical theater’s most luminous voices and one of America’s most acclaimed orchestras in a must-see event for Broadway and symphony fans alike. Peters’ most celebrated stage performances include roles in Sunday in the Park with George, Annie Get Your Gun, Gypsy, Song and Dance, and Follies.

Bernadette Peters, vocals

Repertoire announced from the stage. Additional artists to be announced.

Soul of a People: A Juneteenth Celebration of Black Music, Friday, June 19, 7:30pm

In honor of Juneteenth and Black Music Month, the SLSO celebrates the extraordinary legacy of Black artists whose music has shaped generations. Conducted by Kevin McBeth, this vibrant program features powerhouse vocalists LaKisha Jones (American Idol) and Ryan Shaw (America’s Got Talent) alongside the orchestra and IN UNISON Chorus for an evening of soul, gospel, pop, and R&B classics. Together, these remarkable voices bring new symphonic life to songs that have inspired audiences for decades. Highlighting the iconic music of legendary artists like Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, Sam Cooke, Diana Ross, Bill Withers, Gloria Gaynor, Lionel Richie, Kool & the Gang, and more, the program honors the enduring artistry and cultural impact of Black performers and songwriters.

Kevin McBeth, conductor

Ryan Shaw, vocals

St. Louis Symphony IN UNISON Chorus | Kevin McBeth, director

Repertoire announced from the stage.

Powell Hall Presents: An Evening with Punch Brothers, Wednesday, June 24, 8:00pm

Acclaimed Grammy Award–winning quintet Punch Brothers return to Powell Hall for an evening of genre-defying contemporary bluegrass music. Featuring the talents of mandolinist Chris Thile, guitarist Chris Eldridge, bassist Paul Kowert, banjoist Noam Pikelny, and violinist Brittany Haas, the ensemble blends bluegrass roots with fearless innovation. Praised by The Washington Post for taking bluegrass to “its next evolutionary stage,” Punch Brothers create music and lyrics that are both intellectually daring and emotionally resonant.

Punch Brothers

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra does not perform at this concert.

Beethoven X Coldplay, Friday, June 26, 7:30pm
Classical genius meets pop brilliance. Composer-conductor Steve Hackman transforms Beethoven’s Eroica (Symphony No. 3) into a sweeping vocal-orchestral presentation, interweaving Coldplay’s greatest hits—“Yellow,” “Viva la Vida,” “The Scientist,” and more—with one of Beethoven’s most influential works. Performed by the SLSO and acclaimed guest vocalists, this concert reimagines Beethoven’s struggles and triumphs through the lens of 21st-century rock.

Steve Hackman, conductor

Additional artists to be announced.

Flow in Concert, Sunday, June 28, 7:00pm

Experience the Oscar-winning animated masterpiece Flow while the SLSO performs Rihards Zaļupe’s haunting, atmospheric score live. Director Gints Zilbalodis’ animated film unfolds as a poetic, dialogue-free journey through a post-apocalyptic world shaped by water. At its center is a solitary cat whose encounters with other animals and the remnants of a lost civilization forge moments of resilience and connection. With breathtaking visuals and a meditative pace, Flow in Concert offers an immersive evening of quiet wonder and cinematic beauty.

Samuel Hollister, conductor

Rihards Zaļupe Flow

Powell Hall Presents: Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music Sing-A-Long, Saturday, July 18, 7:00pm

Powell Hall presents a sing-a-long screening of the smash-hit 1965 movie musical The Sound of Music in full-screen technicolor, complete with onscreen lyrics. Based on the true story of The Trapp Family Singers, The Sound of Music is a cinematic landmark and winner of five Academy Awards®, including Best Picture. Starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, the film features timeless songs by Rodgers & Hammerstein including "My Favorite Things," "Do-Re-Mi," "Edelweiss,” "Climb Ev'ry Mountain,” and more. This non-orchestral event begins with movie trivia and audience participation throughout the screening, and includes a complimentary tote bag filled with interactive surprises.

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra does not perform at this concert.

Tickets for all concerts are on sale now

Tickets may be purchased at slso.org or by calling the Box Office at 314-534-1700. A full concert calendar is available at slso.org or on the SLSO’s mobile app available for iOS or Android.

Opera Theatre of Saint Louis Residency at the Symphony

Throughout May and June, the orchestra also serves as the resident orchestra for Opera Theatre of Saint Louis.

The current 2026 Festival Season runs May 23–June 28, 2026, and includes The Pirates of Penzance, The Light in the Piazza, A Streetcar Named Desire, Romeo and Juliet, and the annual Center Stage concert.

About the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra

Celebrated as one of today’s most innovative, exciting, and enduring orchestras, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is the second-oldest orchestra in the country, marking its 146th year with the 2025/26 season and its eighth with Stéphane Denève, The Joseph and Emily Rauh Pulitzer Music Director. Widely considered one of the leading American orchestras, the Grammy® Award-winning SLSO maintains its commitment to artistic excellence, educational impact, and community collaborations—all in service to its mission of enriching lives through the power of music. The transformational project that expands and renovates the orchestra’s historic home, Powell Hall—designed by Snøhetta and creating the Jack C. Taylor Music Center—opened in September 2025. This milestone builds on the institution’s momentum as a civic leader in convening individuals, creators, and ideas, while fostering a culture welcoming to all. For more information, visit slso.org.