Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra at Garde Arts Center

The Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra opens its 2025–2026 season with Voyage of Passion: Elgar and Beyond on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at 7:30 pm at the Garde Arts Center in New London. Led by Music Director and Conductor Toshiyuki Shimada, the evening begins with The Star-Spangled Banner before moving into a program of works that all premiered under their composers’ own direction.

The concert features Johann Strauss II’s Spanish March, Op. 433, first performed in Vienna in 1888; Elgar’s Violin Concerto in B Minor, performed by ECSO Instrumental Competition Winner Nicholas Hammel, a Yale master’s candidate with degrees from the University of Texas and New England Conservatory; Brahms’s Haydn Variations (also known as the Saint Anthony Variations); and Rimsky-Korsakov’s Capriccio Espagnol, a vibrant suite built on Spanish themes.

This performance marks Shimada’s 16th season with the orchestra and continues the ECSO tradition of presenting powerful and inspiring music in the region. Season ticket holders enjoy exclusive benefits, priority seating, and access to unforgettable live performances throughout the year.

The Garde Arts Center is located at 325 State Street, New London, CT 06320. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit ectsymphony.com or call 860-443-2876.