Author: Anita Wong

Musical excellence. Local heart.  

We’re looking forward to seeing you again and are thrilled to share our 2026-2027 Season! 

Those of you who joined us during our last season had the opportunity to sample three exceptional guest conductors who were finalists to become our new Music Director–and to provide feedback on the candidates. For those of you who have yet to experience a KCO season, we hope you’ll enjoy the no-hassle, relaxed experience of great music played by your neighbors and friends.  

As a community orchestra, we consider you—our audience—an essential part of our journey, and we are incredibly excited to have you to join us this season, and experience where the music can take you.  

We are very pleased to announce that Dr. James Welsch has accepted our offer to become the new Music Director of KCO beginning with the 2026-2027 season. He has programmed an outstanding season–please mark your calendars and reserve your free tickets!

Full Season Tickets (3 performances)

     12th Season (3 performances)

Single Performance Tickets:

    November 1, 2026 – Impressions of Spain

    March 14, 2027 – The Quiet & the Vast

    May 23, 2027 – Cathedrals

We are all volunteers in this organization. There are many volunteer roles in support of our organization, and we are grateful when folks step up. High school students can also get volunteer credit towards their graduation goals. Please see our Volunteer page if you are interested in getting involved!

KCO at the Locks 2026

The Kirkland Civic Orchestra has played annually as a part of the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks Summer Concert Series for many years and are pleased to return.

Come for a mix of popular, movie and patriotic selections! Bring a blanket or lawn chairs! Maybe pack a lunch and enjoy the sunshine and some fun music!

Details:
June 27, 2026
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM PDT
Hiram M. Chittenden [Ballard] Locks
3015 NW 54th St, Seattle, WA 98107

Concert Program:
– Washington Post March – Sousa
– The American Frontier – arr. Custer
– An American in Paris – Gershwin
– The Liberty Bell March – Sousa
– American Salute – Gould
– A Trumpeter’s Lullaby – Anderson; soloist: David Spangler
– Leroy Anderson Favorites – Anderson
– The Fairest of the Fair – Sousa
– Raiders March – Williams
– Hollywood Blockbusters – Horner
– Superman March – Williams
– The Stars and Stripes Forever – Sousa

Facebook event

American 20-Something

Details:
Sat, May 30, 2026
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM PDT
Juanita High School Performing Arts Center

The 1920s was a time of invention, upheaval, and joy, and so too is this concert: a time to hear America finding and reinventing its voice.

Join us to welcome guest conductor James Welsch to the podium, our last finalist to become the next Music Director of Kirkland Civic Orchestra–and your feedback will help write the next chapter in the KCO story!

Program

March with Trumpets – Bergsma
Charleston for Orchestra – Johnson
Song of the Liberty Bell – O’Conner
Rhapsody in Blue – Gershwin; featuring Isabella Jie, piano
Symphony No. 1 in E minor, “Nordic” Op. 21 – Hanson
Satchmo! A Tribute to Louis Armstrong – arr. Ricketts

TICKETS

Escapade

Details:
Sat, March 14, 2026
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM PDT
Lake Washington High School Performing Arts Center

The music on this program carries us on a series of adventures: a flight of imagination and playful indulgence, away from the ordinary.
 
Join us to welcome guest conductor Tigran Arakelyan to the podium, our next finalist to become the next Music Director of Kirkland Civic Orchestra–and your feedback will help write the next chapter in the KCO story!
 

Concert Program:

Mendelssohn, Hebrides Overture
Humperdinck, Prelude from Hansel and Gretel
Debussy, Afternoon of a Faun
Rimsky-Korsakov, Capriccio Espagnol
Tchaikovsky, Capriccio Italien

TICKETS

Fantasy

Details:
Sat, November 8, 2025
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM PDT
Lake Washington High School Performing Arts Center

Step into a world where forests are alive, fairytales shimmer, and the underworld teems with both terror and mischief.
 
Join us to welcome guest conductor Nickolas Carlson to the podium, our first finalist to become the next Music Director of Kirkland Civic Orchestra–and your feedback will help write the next chapter in the KCO story!

Concert Program:

Overture to Der Freischütz – Weber
Overture to Der Vampyr – Lindpaintner
Ma Mere L’Oye – Ravel
Overture to Orpheus in the Underworld – Offenbach
Symphonie Fantastique – Movements IV. and V. – Berlioz

TICKETS

Welcome to our 2025-26 Season!

We’re looking forward to seeing you again and are pleased to announce our 2025-2026 Season! 

After months of deliberation, the Kirkland Civic Orchestra is beyond excited to introduce you to our Music Director finalists!

  • Nickolas Carlson
  • Tigran Arakelyan
  • James Welsch

Each will conduct one concert throughout the 2025-2026 season–and your feedback will help write the next chapter in the KCO story! Come back soon to find more information about each of the candidates.

Concert dates are being finalized and tickets for our full season will be available soon!

We are all volunteers in this organization. There are many volunteer roles in support of our organization, and we are grateful when folks step up. High school students can also get volunteer credit towards their graduation goals. Please see our Volunteer page if you are interested in getting involved!

KCO at the Locks 2025

The Kirkland Civic Orchestra has played annually as a part of the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks Summer Concert Series for many years and are pleased to return.

Come for a mix of popular, movie and patriotic selections! Bring a blanket or lawn chairs! Maybe pack a lunch and enjoy the sunshine and some fun music!

Details:
June 28, 2025
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM PDT
Hiram M. Chittenden [Ballard] Locks
3015 NW 54th St, Seattle, WA 98107

Concert Program:
– American Salute – Gould
– An American in Paris – Gershwin
– Our Town – Copland
– Leroy Anderson Favorites – Anderson
– Colonel Bogey – Alford
– The Gallant Seventh March – Sousa
– A Trumpeter’s Lullaby – Anderson; soloist: David Spangler

Facebook event

Celebration! Forward!

Details:
Sat, May 17, 2025
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM PDT
Juanita High School Performing Arts Center

Concert Program:

Slavonic Dances, Op. 46, – Dances 1, 2, & 8 – Dvořák
Violin Concerto no. 2, featuring Eleanor O’Brien, soloist, violin – Price
Symphony no. 9 in E Minor, Op. 95, “From the New World” – Dvořák

TICKETS

Celebration! Retrospect

Details:
Sat, March 8, 2025
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM PDT
Lake Washington High School Performing Arts Center

Concert Program:

Procession of the Nobles – Rimsky-Korsakov
Capriol Suite – Pieds-en-l’air – Warlock 
Fanfare for the Common Man – Copland
Sinfonietta in F Major, Op. 188 – Larghetto – Raff 
Winter (Christmastide) – German
Overture to Iolanthe – Sullivan
Hungarian Folk Dance Suite, Op. 18 – Weiner

TICKETS