Kamloops Symphony Orchestra: 50th Anniversary Season To Celebrate Music, Community, and Canada

If there has ever been a Kamloops Symphony Orchestra season that captures the depth of Canada’s musical identity, it is this year—the Orchestra’s 50th anniversary season.

The 2026/27 season marks half a century of musical performance by the Kamloops Symphony Orchestra (KSO), and it is one of their most ambitious seasons to date. The orchestra sums up its mission as being champions of cultural life across the BC Interior, and that messaging comes through in vibrant notes across its bicentennial concert season.

Celebrations kick off in September 2026 with special evenings to commemorate the orchestra’s past, present, and future, a great way for music lovers to take in the full diversity of the KSO. Christopher Young, the Executive Director of the Kamloops Symphony Orchestra + Music School, says the milestone is an opportunity to celebrate five decades of music-making across the region.

“We make music that connects, that is deeply felt, and that demonstrates something new and exciting to all who experience it,” Young says, describing the goal for this year’s playbook.

A key objective for all artists taking part in the 2026-2027 season is to reflect Canadian themes within the local Kamloops context. Their deep connection to being Canadian played a big role in the final selection of the many programs on offer.

A Celebration of Canada’s Musical Identity

An example of the spotlight being placed on Canada is that the KSO will be the weaving together of music and culture from the country’s three coastlines—the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic. The cross-country playbill includes Indigenous artists such as JUNO Award-winning Inuk soprano Deantha Edmunds, a collaboration of singer-songwriters Celeigh Cardinal, Kym Gouchie and Diyet, and hip hop-inspired spoken word artist Zoey Roy.

By now, it should be clear that this KSO Anniversary season extends well beyond traditional classical repertoire. Sure, the talented musicians love featuring the works of Tchaikovsky, Sibelius, and Beethoven (among many Canadian composers), but their mandate is to be an orchestra of the people.

Symphonically Hip: Celebrating the Music of the Tragically Hip

Are you more of a grassroots-Canadian rock band lover? Well, you will be excited to hear that in late October Symphonically Hip: The Music of the Tragically Hip brings the songs of one of Canada’s most-loved rock groups into the realm of symphony. This tribute will pair the KSO musicians with the talents of the Strictly Hip, blending orchestral depth with iconic Canadian anthems. The performance ties one of Canada’s most influential rock catalogues with orchestral arrangements, creating a uniquely Canadian concert experience.

Jazz Celebrations with Vancouver’s TRIOLOGY

The celebration this year will be for all ages. “We are running our family-friendly series again this year,” Young says, referring to the Jazz Jam with TRIOLOGY on October 3, part one of their concert series at Kelson Hall. This concert is one of the many ways KSO introduces young listeners to the joy of music. The concert features playful rhythms, melodies, and live performances by Vancouver-based jazz artists. TRIOLOGY will also perform in the evening with a program tailored to adult audiences, bring their bold sounds of swing, spontaneous improvisation, and groove to center stage for all to enjoy.

Christmas with the KSO: 50 years of the KSO

Christmas is synonymous with orchestral music, and the KSO’s bicentennial season reflects that in a big way. “One of the biggest highlights of the year is our Christmas with the KSO together with BCLC concerts, and this year we have that alongside our 50th anniversary celebration” Young explains. “The value of live music and symphonies like ours is that our audiences are not just consuming content; they are participating in the whole experience. Even if you have been to dozens of Christmas concerts, there is always something new to take in, and this year’s Christmas season will be thrilling.”

Carrying Community Spirit Across the Central Interior

Young works hard on both community building as much as musical oversight. “We want to make music accessible to everyone in Kamloops and the surrounding region,” he says. Meeting that objective means being mobile and taking the concert series on the road.

The venues that the KSO plays in represent the Interior-wide community spirit of the orchestra. They perform in several Kamloops venues, but they also feature concerts in Salmon Arm, and for this year, a venue in Merritt has also been added, and other destinations are being planned.

For the KSO, sharing music goes beyond the stage, too. They link great music to the Kamloops community is through top calibre musical education at the KSO Music School— an all-ages place for private and group lessons for aspiring musicians.

Tickets for the 50th Anniversary Season are now available here. To learn more about the exciting Anniversary season ahead at the KSO or enroll in one of the Music School’s many programs, reach out to Chris Young and his team at info@kamloopssymphony.com, by phone at 250.372.5000, or on the Kamloops Symphony Orchestra website.

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