Orpheus Chamber Orchestra Opens Carnegie Hall To All New Yorkers With Orpheus for All On October 17

Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Credit: Chris Lee)

Tuesday, September 15 – The conductorless, 3x GRAMMY-winning conductorless Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (“edge-of-the-seat intensity” - The New York Times) will open its 2026/27 season at Carnegie Hall on Saturday, October 17 at 4:00 PM with Orpheus for All – tickets here.

Orpheus for All opens the doors to world-class music for every New Yorker, bringing thousands of free tickets to Carnegie Hall for those who might not otherwise have the chance to attend. With every ticket free of charge, this landmark initiative raises the standard of accessibility and redefines what inclusion in the arts looks like. By moving beyond the stage and into the community, Orpheus invites all New Yorkers to share in the extraordinary experience of live orchestral music.

Community groups and organizations are invited to request tickets for the October 17 concert and join Orpheus’ community partners list, with priority access to future Orpheus for All concerts, first word on programming and community impact opportunities with the orchestra.

"Orpheus for All is one of the proudest initiatives in our 50-plus year history. Last year, all 2,700 tickets were claimed within hours, and we welcomed an audience that included many people experiencing classical music and Carnegie Hall for the very first time,” said Orpheus Chamber Orchestra’s Executive Director Alexander Scheirle. “That response confirmed something we've always believed: extraordinary music shouldn't be limited by what someone can afford. We're honored to make this a lasting tradition for New Yorkers."

It’s a family affair when brothers Lucas and Arthur Jussen make their Orpheus debut, intertwined in effervescent phrases first played by Mozart and his sister. Schumann’s Piano Trio, a creative leap fueled by his intimate collaboration with his wife, Clara, radiates passion and power. Brian Raphael Nabors, the son of a church musician, brings a lifetime of immersion in America’s soulful traditions to this Orpheus commission. The concert is presented with the support of the Consulate General of the Netherlands and the Netherland-America Foundation.

Lucas and Arthur Jussen (Credit: Enrico Fischer)

The Orpheus for All concert launches a 2026/27 season reflecting Orpheus’ signature style of musical democracy, new collaborations and fresh commissions, featuring collaborations with Branford Marsalis, Isata Kanneh-Mason, Lucas and Arthur Jussen, Anthony McGill, Garrick Ohlsson, Paul Huang and Nobuyuki Tsujii.

With GRAMMY® Award–winning violinist Anne Akiko Meyers as its new Artistic Partner, Orpheus kicks off its upcoming season at its New York home with three Carnegie Hall programs spotlighting the next generation of musical stars. The lineup includes commissioned world premiere scores from acclaimed composers Brian Nabors and Katie Jenkins, and a bespoke arrangement of Dvořák's "American" String Quartet by Orpheus cellist and Artistic Director Jim Wilson. The Carnegie Hall programs also feature a modern classic, Shimmer, by composer Elena Ruehr, and the season proudly welcomes dynamic new partners, with violinist Paul Huang performing Beethoven, andpianist Isata Kanneh-Mason.

At performances hosted by New York’s 92NY, the new season celebrates the orchestra’s reunions with two musical titans—clarinetist Anthony McGill and pianist Garrick Ohlsson. McGill last performed with Orpheus in Copland’s clarinet concerto in 2023. Their coming collaboration features the beloved and challenging Mozart Clarinet Concerto. Garrick Ohlson’s connection with Orpheus began just after he won the 1970 Chopin International Piano Competition and joined an inspired group of New Yorkers who launched Orpheus Chamber Ensemble in 1972.

Orpheus also just honored Global Infrastructure Partners’ Alberto Mihelcic Bazzanaand Clark’s Botanicals’ Francesco Clark during its 2026 Annual Gala at Guastavino’s in New York City, raising $600,000 for life-changing lessons in musical democracy & collaborative leadership. Alberto Mihelcic Bazzana also joined the orchestra on cello for a special performance.

A pioneering New York-based ensemble since 1972, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra grew from a radical experiment in musical democracy. The ensemble’s unique conductorless design continues to provide Orpheus members with equal opportunities to honor classical music’s traditions and explore fresh perspectives of its norms—valuing its members’ musical, intellectual, and personal contributions to the ensemble. 

In addition to Orpheus for All, the orchestra continues to enrich its community through Access Orpheus, engaging nearly 1,500 New York City public school students each year, and Orpheus Reflections™, bringing the power of music to those living with dementia and their caregivers.

Always evolving as artists and leaders, the Orpheus musicians carry their legacy forward, counting on their shared artistry and mutual respect to make music and effect change.

Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Credit: Neda Navaee)

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