The Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO) enters a historic chapter in 2026 with its Centennial Season, celebrating 100 years of music, cultural legacy, and artistic contribution to the Philippines.
Titled In Pursuit of Excellence: The Manila Symphony Orchestra at 100 (1926–2026), the Centennial Season is presented by the Manila Symphony Orchestra Foundation Inc. and Standard Insurance. The program brings together landmark performances, established performers, and emerging Filipino talent over a full year of concerts.
The season opens March 13–15, 2026 at Aliw Theater with Concert I: The Sleeping Beauty, featuring Ballet Manila and conductor Alexander Vikulov. Tchaikovsky’s enduring score anchors a large-scale production that blends orchestral richness, classical ballet, and visual spectacle, formally launching the centennial year.
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On May 30, Concert II: Rising Stars of the Philippines takes place at the Proscenium Theatre in Rockwell, Makati. Violinist Jeanne Rafaella Marquez and cellist Damodar Das Castillo join conductor Joshua Dos Santos for a program highlighted by Brahms’ Double Concerto in A minor, underscoring the promise of the country’s next generation of musicians.
National identity comes into focus on July 4 at the Manila Metropolitan Theater with Concert III: Symphony of a Nation, featuring violinist Emanuel John Villarin and conductor Thanos Adamopoulos. The program traces 100 years of Philippine orchestral music while also marking 80 years of Filipino-American friendship.
Vocal tradition headlines Concert IV: Legacies in Song on August 29 at FEU Auditorium. Soprano Rachelle Gerodias-Park, mezzo-soprano Michelle Mariposa, baritone Byeong In Park, and conductor Marlon Chen perform excerpts from Bizet’s Carmen and other operatic works, reflecting the MSO’s long-standing role in vocal performance.
The centennial year continues on October 24 at Hyundai Hall, Areté with Concert V: Philippine Master Composers, Past, Present, and Future. The program features the world premiere of a new work by Ryan Cayabyab, conducted by Marlon Chen, alongside works by other Filipino composers.
The celebration concludes in January 2027 with Concert VI: MSO 100 Centennial Finale, with the venue to be announced. Featuring Franco-Belgian cellist Camille Thomas and conducted by Marlon Chen, the concert is presented in partnership with UNICEF and brings the centennial season to a close with a program reflecting both gratitude for the past and hope for the future.
Program, artists, dates, and venues are subject to change. Audiences may support the season by becoming MSO Centennial Season Subscribers, with promotional offers available through official MSO social media channels.
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