Cornwall Concert Series – Celebrating Our 40th Season

Cornwall, ON – The Cornwall Concert Series announces another outstanding concert line-up in celebration of our 40th season, continuing a tradition of bringing world-class performances to the Aultsville Theatre stage.
Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra has been invited to open the 2025-2026 season on Friday, September 19, 2025. Delight in the inspiring artistry of the NAC Orchestra in this one-night-only performance featuring Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony — a high-energy work that sweeps you off your feet as you experience exhilarating dances and heartbreaking solemnity. With its timeless message of hope and resilience, Beethoven’s symphony showcases music’s power to communicate our deepest, most intimate emotions.
The National Arts Centre Orchestra was the first concert presented by the Cornwall Concert Series and we are thrilled that they will be returning to help celebrate this milestone 40th season. The NAC Orchestra is one of the most accessible, inclusive, and collaborative orchestras in the world. Recognized for its daring programming, powerful storytelling, inspiring artistry, and innovative partnerships, it is at the vanguard of orchestral performance. In an age of continuous disruption, they place audiences at the centre, empower young artists to become leaders, and help redefine the orchestra’s role in society.
At a matinee performance on Sunday, October 5, 2025 experience Schmaltz & Pepper. This uniquely virtuosic and entertaining chamber ensemble perform original music inspired by Klezmer, Yiddish Swing, Jazz and Classical music. Featuring Eric Abramovitz, the principal clarinetist of the Toronto Symphony and the Grammy-nominated multi-instrumentalist and arranger, Drew Jurecka, virtuosic violinist/vocalist/composer, Rebekah Wolkstein founder/leader of the acclaimed Payadora Ensemble, Juno-nominated bassist, Michael Herring and Juno-award winning pianist, Jeremy Ledbetter.
The fall concert season closes on Sunday, November 9, 2025 with a concert entitled Ô-Celli at the Movies. What can sound better than one cello? Eight cellos! This instrument, the closest to the human voice, when played together add up to a unique and exceptional sound. Belgian based Ô-Celli eagerly take us on a musical journey of music used in movies, ranging from Strauss to Bernstein.
Canadian public radio broadcaster, concert host, trombonist and author, Tom Allen, brings his chamber musical J.S. Bach’s Long Walk in the Snow to Cornwall on Sunday, April 12, 2026 to open the spring concert season. Tom has hosted classical and popular music programming on CBC Music since the 1990s, including Fresh Air, Weekender, Music and Company, Radio 2 Morning, Shift and About Time.
Johann Sebastian Bach is usually seen as the wise, old man of Western Music, but he didn’t begin his working life that way. At 18, and in his first job as an organist, still barely beginning life as a composer but already a spectacular performer, the young genius got into such trouble that the only thing he could do was to walk away. This coming-of-age odyssey follows the young genius Johann Sebastian Bach on a 400 km journey to a glittering port city with street fights, big business, insight, the father figure he didn’t know he needed and, quite possibly, love. With harpist Lori Gemmell and a various cast of brilliant musical friends, Tom Allen takes us on J.S. Bach’s Long Walk in the Snow and brings that troubled young man in from the cold.
Both Tom and his spouse Lori have a personal connection to Cornwall. Lori’s grandparents are from Cornwall, and the family was very involved with St. John’s Presbyterian church. Lori’s father Tom went on to become a presbyterian minister, and the family frequently came to Cornwall to visit relatives. Lori often performed at St. John’s as she was growing up.
Tom was born in Montreal, and while attending Montreal West High School, he got his start playing the trombone with music teacher Barb Hunter. Barb now lives in Cornwall and is the conductor of Cornwall’s Seaway Winds Concert Band.
Ballet Jörgen closes the season on Sunday, May 24, 2026 with their newest production of William Shakespeare’s classic comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, with a Canadian twist. Accompanied by Mendelssohn’s famous score and set in Canada’s mysterious North this production will captivate audiences of all ages. The ballet is a tale of love, and often misguided magic, set in motion by the mischievous trickster Puck. Ballet Jörgen last performed for the Concert Series in June 2022 with their sold-out performance of Anne of Green Gables: The Ballet.
We invite you to join us on this musical journey as we celebrate another season of connecting great artists with great audiences.
Additional Information
All concerts are held at Aultsville Theatre. Subscriptions ($175 for five concerts) are on sale now, and single tickets ($40 & $50) for all performances are on sale June 30th. Tickets may be purchased in advance (cash or cheque) at these locations: TD Canada Trust, 1 Ninth Street East; Jolly Tours, Eastcourt Mall; The Squire Shop, 113 Pitt Street; and the City of Cornwall Box Office.
For any additional information visit their website.
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