Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra looks ahead to a bold 44th season

The Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra has unveiled its 2025-2026 season lineup, marking its 44th year with the theme “Music for Everyone!” The upcoming season blends classical staples, jazz, pop culture tributes, and community-focused programming aimed at reaching broader audiences while honoring America’s 250th anniversary.

Music Director John Morris Russell, whose contract was recently extended through 2028, will lead many of the performances. Russell’s tenure has coincided with a notable rise in artistic reach and community impact.

Orchestra Series Highlights

The centerpiece of the season is the nine-concert Orchestra Series, which includes two performances of each program at First Presbyterian Church on Hilton Head Island.

The series opens Oct. 19-20 with cellist Christine Lamprea, a Sphinx Competition winner, performing Dvorák’s Cello Concerto. Other highlights include:

• A November program led by jazz pianist Marcus Roberts, who will reinterpret Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and James P. Johnson’s Yamekraw, paired with two works by Carlos Simon.
• The return of the Holiday Pops concerts Nov. 30–Dec. 1, featuring baritone Michael Preacely and Youth Concerto Competition winner Brooklynn Thatcher.
• A February performance of Ellis Island – The Dream of America, with the Lean Ensemble Theater joining the orchestra for Peter Boyer’s dramatic tribute to immigrant stories.
• A March 8–9 concert celebrating The Music of Harry Potter, where audiences are encouraged to attend in costume for a family-friendly experience.
• The season closes April 26–27 with pianist Jonathan Mamora, recent Hilton Head International Piano Competition winner, performing Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 2.
  Subscription packages are available now, with single tickets going on sale Sept. 2.
  Free Jazz and Outdoor Pops

The fifth season of Jazz in the Park kicks off June 24 with six free concerts scheduled biweekly through Sept. 2 at Lowcountry Celebration Park. Performers include Tuffus Zimbabwe, Charlton Singleton Quartet, and Junior Jazz Foundation All Stars.

Outdoor pops concerts return Oct. 16-17 for Symphony Under the Stars in Bluffton and Hilton Head. A spring edition of the event is also scheduled for April 7, 2026.

Competitions and Community Engagement

The Hilton Head International Piano Competition runs March 16–21, 2026, featuring 20 pianists ages 13–17. Finalists will perform concerto movements with the HHSO, with the first-place winner invited back for a full concerto performance in 2026-2027.

Additional community programming includes:

• The HHSO Youth Concerto Competition (Jan. 31, 2026)
• The Gullah Geechee Cultural Series, returning in October for its fourth season, highlighting Lowcountry heritage through music, storytelling, and visual arts

At SoundWaves, the orchestra’s venue at Coligny, the Coastal Home Supper Club series offers monthly vocal performances paired with dinners from partner restaurants, featuring genres from Motown to country.

For tickets and a full schedule, visit hhso.org or call (843) 842-2055.