{"id":122097,"date":"2026-02-27T12:51:35","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T17:51:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=122097"},"modified":"2026-02-27T13:00:02","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T18:00:02","slug":"scoop-toronto-summer-music-announced-details-2026-july-9-august-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2026\/02\/27\/scoop-toronto-summer-music-announced-details-2026-july-9-august-1\/","title":{"rendered":"THE SCOOP | Toronto Summer Music Has Announced Details For 2026: July 9 To August 1"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Les
Les Arts Florissants Baroque specialists will open Toronto Summer Music 2026 (Photo courtesy of the artists)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Toronto\u2019s classical and chamber music fans can look forward to more than three weeks of first rate performances when Toronto Summer Music comes back for 2026. TSM 2026, the first under new Artistic Director William Fedkenheuer, takes place from July 9 to August 1.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis summer marks my first season as Artistic Director. As a Canadian artist shaped by chamber music, mentorship, and a few spirited fiddle tunes along the way, stepping into TSM feels both like coming home and setting out on a bold new adventure. My hope is clear: that TSM 2026 affirms Canada\u2019s place on the global stage \u2014 a festival where artistry, imagination, and excellence meet at the highest level,\u201d says William Fedkenheuer<\/strong>, Artistic Director.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt its heart, TSM is about connection \u2014 artists listening deeply, audiences leaning in, and a city gathering around something meaningful. From intimate chamber music to opera and the sweep of orchestral sound in Koerner Hall, each week invites discovery and celebration. And yes \u2014 for one evening, we\u2019ll tip our hats to my roots, where classical tradition meets the joy and spontaneity of fiddle. Because whether in a grand hall or around a kitchen table, great music is ultimately about belonging.\u201d<\/p>\n

Along with his administrative duties, Fedkenheuer is clearly a musician\u2019s musician. There were several short performance interludes at the TSM announcement event on February 26, many of them featuring his spirited playing.<\/p>\n

\u201cI started the violin as a boy \u2014 and I hated it!\u201d he told the audience to a round of chuckles. It\u2019s an aversion he overcame largely via chamber music, and fiddling, as he related. He\u2019s a performer in six of the mainstage concerts, including one with his own Mir\u00f3 Quartet.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a look at what\u2019s in store.<\/p>\n

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The Mir\u00f3 Quartet (Photo courtesy of the artists)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Toronto Summer Music 2026: At A Glance<\/h2>\n

There are 18 Mainstage concerts, and 8 ReGeneration Concerts featuring Academy Fellows, along with free concerts, children\u2019s programming, and educational events.<\/p>\n

Full details will be announced in June.<\/p>\n

Opening Night: Les Arts Florissants (July 9 at Koerner Hall)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Les Arts Florissants returns to Toronto to perform Charpentier\u2019s La descente d\u2019Orph\u00e9e aux enfers, based on a story from ancient Greek myth. Euridice has died, and Orpheus descends into the underworld to rescue her from Pluto, its god. Also on the program is Les arts florissants, the 1685 opera by Marc-Antoine Charpentier from which the ensemble takes its name.<\/p>\n

Fire & Resilience (July 10 at Walter Hall)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Solitude, song, and survival are the themes for this concert that features Bach\u2019s Violin Partita No. 3 in E Major, BWV 1006; Selections from Copland\u2019s Old American Songs; Kelly-Marie Murphy\u2019s Give Me Phoenix Wings To Fly; and Shostakovich\u2019s Piano Quintet in G minor, Op. 57. Performers include by Sasha Cooke (mezzo-soprano), Blake Pouliot (violin), William Fedkenheuer (violin), Yura Lee (violin\/viola), Estelle Choi (cello), and Philip Chiu (piano).<\/p>\n

Cooke & Jones: Of Thee I Sing (July 13 at Walter Hall)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Two-time GRAMMY Award-winner Sasha Cooke and pianist Warren Jones offer a program featuring works by iconic American composers and others. The mezzo-soprano will sing works by Copland, Barber, Weill, Sondheim, and Gershwin, as well as selections from Granados’s Tonadillas, and more.<\/p>\n

Heifetz & The \u201cDolphin\u201d Strad (July 14 at Walter Hall)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jascha Heifetz was one of the most celebrated violinists in history. This concert pays tribute to him, featuring Timothy Chooi performing on the legendary 1714 \u201cDolphin\u201d Stradivarius, famously played by Heifetz, together with acclaimed pianist Jon Kimura Parker. The program showcases the storied instrument with the Vitali Chaconne, Gluck\u2019s \u201cM\u00e9lodie\u201d, Corigliano\u2019s Red Violin Caprices, and then, after intermission, Franck\u2019s Sonata for violin and piano in A Major.<\/p>\n

Balourdet Quartet (July 15 at Walter Hall)<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Balourdet Quartet took home a Gold Medal at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, along with and Grand Prize at New York\u2019s Concert Artists Guild Competition. They\u2019ll perform a program of Beethoven\u2019s String Quartet No. 11 in F minor, Op. 95; the Canadian Premi\u00e8re of Nicky Sohn\u2019s Galaxy Back to You; and Brahms\u2019s String Quartet No. 3 in B-flat Major, Op. 67.<\/p>\n

\"Met
Met Opera stars Erin Morley & Lawrence Brownlee (Photo courtesy of the artists)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Golden Age: Erin Morley & Lawrence Brownlee (July 16 at Koerner Hall)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Met Opera stars Erin Morley & Lawrence Brownlee released their debut duet album Golden Age in late 2025, and it\u2019s been widely acclaimed ever since. It was named one of the top 25 albums of 2025 by the New York Times and won the Oper! Award for best solo album. The two stellar vocalists have curated a selection of opera gems, highlights arias and duets from the golden age of bel canto, featuring the music of Donizetti, Rossini, Bizet, Delibes, and Verdi.<\/p>\n

Improbable Places: (July 17 at Walter Hall)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Two members of the Dover Quartet (Bryan Lee, violin, and Camden Shaw, cello) get together with two members from the Viano Quartet (Hao Zhou, violin, and Aiden Kane, viola), along with William Fedkenheuer (violin), and Jon Kimura Parker (piano) for this concert. The program features Clara Schumann\u2019s Three Romances for Violin and Piano, Op. 22; Kevin Lau\u2019s String Quartet No. 5, \u201cThe Train to Improbable Places\u201d; Mendelssohn\u2019s String Quartet No. 3 in D Major, Op. 44, No. 1; and Dvo\u0159\u00e1k\u2019s Piano Quintet No. 2 in A Major, Op. 81, B. 155.<\/p>\n

Kleztory (July 20 at Walter Hall)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Humour and music come together in the lively performances of Kleztory. Founded in 2000 and based in Montr\u00e9al, Kleztory\u2019s music respects the heritage of the Eastern European shtetlech, and represents a rich tapestry of cultures, including Russian, Qu\u00e9b\u00e9cois, and Canadian. They perform across a variety of genres, including classical, contemporary, jazz, blues, traditional, country and folk.<\/p>\n

Two Sides Of The Same Fiddle (July 21 at Walter Hall)<\/strong><\/p>\n

What separates a violin from a fiddle? Artistic Director William Fedkenheuer performs the music that ignites his musical passions, including classical music with acclaimed pianist Orion Weiss, and country fiddling with Ben Plotnick and Eric Wright of The Fretless. Repertoire includes Brahms\u2019s Violin Sonata in A minor, \u201cF-A-E”, III. Scherzo, WoO 2; Mozart\u2019s Violin Sonata in B-flat Major, K. 454; Beethoven\u2019s Violin Sonata No. 8 in G Major, Op. 30, No. 3; and Dvo\u0159\u00e1k\u2019s Sonatina in G Major for Violin and Piano, Op. 100, B. 183, with additional fiddle tunes to be announced from the stage.<\/p>\n

\"Harpist
Harpist Emmanuel Ceysson & pianist \u00c9lisabeth Pion (Photos courtesy of the artists)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Poiesis Quartet (July 22 at Walter Hall)<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Poiesis Quartet are the recent winners of the 2026 Cleveland Quartet Award, and the First Prize and Commission Prize recipients of the 2025 Banff International String Quartet Competition<\/a>. They\u2019ve been widely celebrated for their innovative and multifaceted approach to classical music. For this concert, they\u2019re joined by TSM festival favourite pianist Philip Chiu for a program that includes music by Sky Macklay, Maya Irizarry Lambright, and Kevin Lau, culminating in Brahms\u2019s epic Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 34.<\/p>\n

Inon Barnatan (July 23 at Koerner Hall)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Piano superstar Inon Barnatan is one of the most highly acclaimed artists of his generation. He\u2019ll be performing a blockbuster program that features J.S. Bach\u2019s Suite from Violin Partita No. 3 in E Major, BWV 1006 arranged by Rachmaninoff; Ravel\u2019s Valses nobles et sentimentales, M.61; Stravinsky\u2019s Suite from The Firebird arranged by Guido Agosti; and Rachmaninoff\u2019s Symphonic Dances, Op. 45, arranged by Barnatan himself.<\/p>\n

Prodigies & Power (July 24 at Walter Hall)<\/strong><\/p>\n

This concert features the work of composers whose genius was recognized very early in life. The program includes Prokofiev\u2019s Sonata in C Major for Two Violins, Op. 56, Mendelssohn\u2019s Piano Trio No. 2 in C minor, Op. 66, and Dohn\u00e1nyi\u2019s Piano Quintet No. 1 in C minor, Op. 1. The music will be performed by Andrew Wan (violin), Jonathan Crow (violin), William Fedkenheuer (violin), Sharon Wei (viola), Rachel Mercer (cello), and Orion Weiss (piano).<\/p>\n

Council: Kahane & Kuusisto (July 27 at Walter Hall)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Iconic Finnish musician Pekka Kuusisto and cult American singer-songwriter Gabriel Kahane have been friends in music for almost a decade. They come together as Council to perform a program that includes songs and chamber music.<\/p>\n

Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (July 28 at Walter Hall)<\/strong><\/p>\n

The musicians of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center include Sean Lee (violin), Nicholas Canellakis (cello), and Michael Stephen Brown (piano). They\u2019ll be performing Brahms\u2019s Sonata No. 2 in F major for Cello and Piano, Op. 99, Haydn\u2019s Piano Trio No. 39 in G Major, Hob.XV:25, \u201cGypsy\u201d, and Mendelssohn\u2019s Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor, Op. 49.<\/p>\n

Mir\u00f3 Quartet (July 29 at Walter Hall)<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Mir\u00f3 Quartet is Artistic Director William Fedkenheuer\u2019s longtime ensemble, and one of the most highly acclaimed string quartets in America. They mark their return to Toronto as an ensemble following their 2025 GRAMMY nomination for Best Chamber Music\/Small Ensemble Performance for their album Home. They\u2019ll be playing Haydn\u2019s String Quartet No. 55 in D Major, Op. 71, \u201cApponyi\u201d, No. 2, Hob.III:70; Caroline Shaw\u2019s Microfictions, Vol. I; and Beethoven\u2019s String Quartet No. 13 in B-flat Major, Op. 130, with Op. 133, \u201cGrosse Fuge\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u00c9lisabeth Pion & Emmanuel Ceysson (July 30 at Koerner Hall)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00c9lisabeth Pion, who became the first Canadian woman to become a Honens Gold Laureate pianist in 2025, and Los Angeles Philharmonic Principal Harp Emmanuel Ceysson showcase their talents in this unique concert. The program includes Reni\u00e9\u2019s Harp Concerto in C minor, Mendelssohn\u2019s Piano Concerto in G minor, and more. \u00c9lisabeth and Emmanuel are joined by the TSM Festival Orchestra under the baton of Ryan Haskins.<\/p>\n

Souvenir de Florence (July 31 at Walter Hall)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Featured performers include Daniel Ching (violin), Jennifer Frautschi (violin), John Largess (viola), R\u00e9mi Pelletier (viola), Joshua Gindele (cello), Nina Lee (cello), Emmanuel Ceysson (harp), and Kelly Zimba Luki\u0107 (flute) for this concert that lauds the charms of chamber music. The program includes Tournier\u2019s Sonatine in E minor, Op. 30; Debussy\u2019s Trio for Flute, Viola, and Harp in F Major, L. 137; Kod\u00e1ly\u2019s Duo for Violin and Cello in D minor, Op. 7,; and Tchaikovsky\u2019s Souvenir de Florence, Op. 70.<\/p>\n

TSM Finale (August 1 at Walter Hall)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Academy Fellows, Festival Artist Mentors, and Community Program participants come together to wrap up the 2026 Festival with an epic finale concert.<\/p>\n

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L-R: Pianist Jon Kimura-Parker; pianist Philip Chiu; violinist Blake Pouliot (Photos courtesy of the artists)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

More…<\/h2>\n

The ReGeneration Concerts feature performers from the TSM Academy for Emerging Artists, which runs concurrently with the Festival. Participants (ages 18-35) receive intensive training in classical chamber music and art song. Eight ReGeneration Concerts will be presented in Walter Hall to showcase their talents.<\/p>\n