Welcome to our 2026–27 Season!
ESO is dedicated to bringing the finest music and professional performers to the rural counties we serve.
Across our 2026–27 Cheltenham Residency concerts, we are proud to celebrate the symphony, with landmark works from some of the greatest masters of the genre — Sibelius, Shostakovich, Tchaikovsky and Bruckner. Alongside this exploration of these monuments of music, we’re joined by some of the most exciting soloists working today, bringing their unique virtuosity and poetry to works by Dvořák, Rachmaninoff, Korngold and Strauss.
Introducing the ESO Insight Series — join us a little earlier at 6.30pm (2pm for matinees) for relaxed pre-concert conversations that bring you closer to the music. Hear the stories, ideas and creative voices behind each programme, and enjoy a relaxed start to your ESO evening.
Over in Malvern, we have two further wonderful concerts: celebrating great American music at Thanksgiving, and the effervescence of Mendelssohn and Strauss in the spring. We’ll be performing a choral extravaganza in Hereford and returning to the Elgar Festival in late May.
Care Home and dementia-friendly concerts continue to be a hugely important part of our community and outreach work, alongside our growing number of highly acclaimed ESO Youth courses.
However you like to experience music, we’d love to see you this season.
Owing to a sudden and significant funding shortfall, we regret that our concerts in Cheltenham on Nov 19th and Malvern on Nov 26th can no longer go ahead as planned.
We recognise that this will be deeply disappointing for our ESO audiences, followers and supporters, and we offer our sincere apologies for the inconvenience and frustration this will cause.
This has been an extremely difficult decision. We greatly value your loyalty and encouragement and ask for your understanding as we look for ways to secure the orchestra’s future.
It is now more important than ever that we look to new fundraising opportunities and every little helps.
If you would like to contribute to the work of the ESO, please follow the link here: Donate to English Symphony Orchestra – English Symphony Orchestra
Every donation contributes towards the cost of our dementia-friendly and care home concerts, helping to train young musicians and providing world-class classical music concerts by the only professional orchestra performing across Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
Your support is greatly appreciated.
David Blake
Chair, ESO
WHAT’S ON
Whether you’re looking to join us in-person, online, or for one of our community projects, you’ll find them all listed below.
WATCH AGAIN
Missed a performance? Watch it again here with ESO Digital.
Join our Mailing List
Want to receive all the latest news, information and special offers from the Orchestra? Click here to join our mailing list.
Support our work
Of course, all our activity is only possible with the kind support of our donors and sponsors. If you are able, please support us in whatever way you can to help keep the music playing. Regular donors will receive free access to our ‘ESO Digital’ archive as a thank you. Find out more here.