KW Symphony set for ‘resurrection’ with return to Centre in the Square
Posted Nov 20, 2025 10:36:45 AM.
Last Updated Nov 20, 2025 12:21:42 PM.
Strings, brass, voices, and more are all set to return as the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony makes its triumphant return home to Centre in the Square.
The regional staple will perform Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 “Resurrection,” looking to be joined by the Grand Philharmonic Choir and various vocal soloists, including Allyson McHardy and Lauren Margison, under the direction of James Sommerville.
The chosen piece is a clear emotional and literal reference to what the KW Symphony has endured over the past few years, after its future was uncertain following an announcement that it had filed for bankruptcy in September 2023.
It led to layoffs for both musicians and staff with the local symphony, leading many to wonder if those instruments would be played again. Later, in October 2024, a new board was elected, and the bankruptcy was annulled, bringing hope back to its future.
The performance, set to fill the halls of Centre in the Square on Thursday, Nov. 30, is one that holds a lot of impact for both the symphony and the venue as well.
It originally opened back in 1980, with the KW Symphony being the first to set the tone with a performance of the same piece being played once again, Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 “Resurrection.”
The symphony said, “This majestic symphony blends orchestral grandeur with transcendent choral power,” hoping to begin its latest season on a high note.
There are 9 orchestral concerts throughout the course of the year:
- Franz Joseph Haydn’s Symphony No.83, La Poule
- Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 in G, Op. 58
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 in G Minor, K. 550
- Antonio Vivaldi’s Violin Concerto in D major, RV 229
- Antonín Dvořák’s Nocturne in B Major, Op.40
- Claude Debussy’s Clair de Lune
- And more…
The theme is one that’s set to stretch across the entirety of the season, with the KW Symphony naming its 2025-26 season “Resurrection.”
The full list of details on the KW Symphony’s upcoming performances, including tickets for its first performance back at Centre in the Square on Nov. 20, can be found on its website.
