The West Australian Symphony Orchestra (WASO) has announced its 2027 season, Joy Lives Here.
Bold new Australian works will accompany much-loved masterpieces across the season, along with visits from international artists and special events in regional WA.
Principal Conductor and Artistic Adviser Asher Fisch is set to lead the orchestra in some of the symphonic repertoire’s greatest works, including season opener Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Bruckner’s Fifth, Tchaikovsky’s Fourth, and a program of Wagner and Strauss.
Guests artists include world-famous performers and many WASO debuts. Conductors Lawrence Renes and Umberto Clerici return, while conductors Kirill Karabits (Ukraine), Chloé van Soeterstède (France), and Nil Venditti (Turkey) lead WASO for the first time. Visiting pianists include Vadym Kholodenko, Joyce Yang and Alexander Gavrylyuk, while Simone Lasma and Li-Wei Qin feature on violin and cello respectively.
WASO will also shine a spotlight on its own musicians, with performances featuring Concertmaster Laurence Jackson, Principal Oboe Liz Chee, the orchestra’s percussion section, and members of the WASO Chorus.
World premieres include Carl Vine’s Piano Concerto No. 3; Richard Mills’ Percussion Symphony, showcasing WASO’s own percussionists; a new work by Elizabeth Younan; James Ledger’s Cello Concerto; and Lachlan Skipworth’s Oboe Concerto.
The season also continues WASO’s Composition Project, with emerging Western Australian composers Darcy Lewis and Amy Skellern each receiving world premieres of new works. Alongside these new commissions, audiences will discover music being performed by WASO for the first time, including works by Camille Pépin, Anna Clyne, Theodore Akimenko, Louise Farrenc and Ethel Smyth.
The Baroque Series returns to His Majesty’s Theatre, with Shaun Lee-Chen directing programs featuring Handel, Bach, Vivaldi, and other Baroque masters. The Chamber Series will be performed at Government House Ballroom, with WASO musicians presenting programs exploring music by Brahms, Wagner, Shostakovich, Kodály, Janáček, Dvořák, Bacewicz, Stravinsky and Piazzolla.
WASO will celebrate major screen music in its Art of the Score presentation of The Music of the Lord of the Rings, exploring Howard Shore’s acclaimed scores with commentary and live musical demonstrations. And, marking 50 years of Star Wars: A New Hope, WASO will perform John Williams’ Oscar-winning score live to the complete film, conducted by Jessica Gethin.
As the State Orchestra, WASO’s 2027 season extends well beyond Perth. Regional performances begin in March with Sounds of Splendour at Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre, led by Shaun Lee-Chen. In August, Asher Fisch leads WASO in Mandurah and Albany, joined by acclaimed violinist Francesca Dego. The orchestra returns to Bunbury in October with Chloé van Soeterstède and Simone Lamsma.
WASO 2027 Season subscription packages go on sale on Wednesday, September 30, with single tickets on sale from Wednesday, November 4, 2026. For more information and ticket sales go to waso.com.au
