Helen Gillet, playing this month
APRIL 2026: SYMPHONIC AND ART MUSIC CALENDAR FOR NEW ORLEANS
CLASSICALLY UNTRAINED
Compiled and written by David S. Lewis
Art music listings for New Orleans. Your ONLY guide to symphonic / classical / opera music in the city! This is the only calendar of its kind in the region! (Read more about this calendar and features)
Wednesday April 1st
nienteForte presents: Missing Piece and Sixto Franco
Tulane University, Dixon Concert Hall, 104 Dixon Hall
Doors 7pm; music 7:30pm (free, but donations gratefully accepted)
Part of the Nienteforte new music residency series. Tulane student composers for string trio will have their works performed by Chicago's Missing Piece with the LPO’s violist Sixto Franco. Missing piece is a new music duo that’s been spending a lot of time in New Orleans lately, premiering new works and playing all over town.
Neal Todten, Solo Organ
Hotel Peter and Paul, 2317 Burgundy St.
Doors 7pm; music 7:30pm / Tickets
Long-form improvisations for analog electric organ and stereo tape delay w/ GLASS SPEAKERS. Vibe heavy: rugs will be provided for lounging audience members. Bring a pillow. Chairs will also be available.
Saturday, April 4th
Voices Reclaimed: An Easter Celebration
Mount Zion Baptist Church, 2200 Dumaine St.
2pm (free, but donations deeply appreciated) / Reserve seats or donate online
Embark on a journey through classical music history with 'Voices Reclaimed', a program dedicated to unveiling hidden gems of the genre. A curated and interactive concert spotlighting overlooked yet remarkable Black composers, their unique musical narratives, and cultural legacies. The conert honors the enduring impact of Black composers on classical music, and invites discovery of their vibrant contributions to the art form. Soprano Taylor White’s voice is lyrical, strong and contemporary; her concert series features the classical music of the African diaspora in response to the anti-DEI government initiatives that seek to erase Black artists’ contributions from the American cultural landscape. The composers of this program are New Orleanians, Victor E. Macarty and Moses Hogan (now deceased: how often will you be able to hear their works?) Editor’s Choice concert
Wednesday, April 8
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra presents: Market Nights: George Porter, Jr
New Orleans Jazz & Blues Market, 1436 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd
Cocktails 5:30pm; music from 7 –8:30 pm / Tickets
New Orleans funk royalty George Porter Jr. is joined by the LPO for a legendary night at the Jazz Market. Porter, a founding member of The Meters, has forgotten more about funk than you’ll ever know. So what will it sound like? From the LPO’s website: “expect a dynamic synthesis, where driving basslines meet sweeping strings, bold brass, and a rhythmic conversation between symphonic textures and deep groove. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to experience George Porter Jr.’s legendary sound in orchestral immersion — a night where the heartbeat of funk meets the majesty of symphony.” Part of the LPO Market Nights series, and just one of the many ways our hometown Grammy-winning symphony does orchestra with unmistakable New Orleans style.
Sunday, April 12
Helen Gillet, Unplugged
Studio Saint Philip, 2413 St Philip St.
7pm to 8:30 pm / Tickets
Best known for her electrified cello looping and extensive collaborations, acclaimed local cellist Helen Gillet is taking on something a little different with this rare 'unplugged' acoustic concert of songs and improvisations. The program will include stories of the Walloon countryside and songs of Belgian poet Julos Beaucarne. Improvisations will include RPDD by Ornette Coleman and more. Gillet is a fascinating artist and this show will be great in the Studio St. Phillip space: it’s intimate, like an upscale house show.
Tuesday, April 14
Versipel New Music Presents: Folk Songs from Imaginary Places
Location TBD; check back here or at versipel.org
'New Music' is the appellation given to basically all contemporary 'classical' music since the 1990s. It’s also somehow recognizable in its own right as a genre that emphasizes boundary pushing and re-imagining the roles and voice of the orchestra and chamber ensemble. Versipel is in its 12th season of providing space and ears for this kind of avant-garde music, with incredible artistry and compositions that explore the frontiers of art music. Folk Songs From Imaginary Places is a series of improvisations by old friends and collaborators Annabelle Plum (voice, CZ), Byron Asher (woodwinds), Chris Alford (guitar) and Justin Peake (drums). Imagine these songs as ethnographic field recordings of the music of this quartet’s society. It is their folk music: border-less and genre-less, based in friendship and reciprocal admiration, new yet traditional, lamenting the current state of the world and envisioning a new one. This concert is also a belated local album release concert for the 2025 release of the same name, out jointly on Searching Records (CA, US) and Ma Records (Prague, CZ).
Tommy Mesa and Michelle Cann
Tulane University, Dixon Concert Hall, 104 Dixon Hall
Pre-performance talk 6:30pm, music 7:30pm / Tickets $35; click here
Cellist Tommy Mesa and pianist Michelle Cann join forces for a recital that bridges past and present. Mesa, a 2025 Avery Fisher Career Grant recipient, is one of the most charismatic cellists of his generation. Cann, a returning favorite and 2025 Grammy Award winner, is celebrated for her artistry and advocacy of underrepresented composers. This program will include works by Claude Debussy, Andrea Casarrubios, Kevin Day, and finish with the incredible Sonata for Cello and Piano in G minor by Sergei Rachmaninoff.
Zora Lucent
Siberia
9pm
Now mostly based in Berlin, artist Zora Lucent spent a number of years in New Orleans’ electronic music community, making ethereal, expansive works. Zora recently released a new album, “Vestige,” and is back in New Orleans for a one-off performance.
Thursday, April 16
Dvořák Symphony No. 7
Orpheum Theater, 129 Roosevelt Way
7:30pm – 9:30pm / Tickets
Speaking of new music, this show would be worth seeing just for Canadian composer Vivian Fung's Dust Devils; her Violin Concerto No. 1 from 2025 is a fantastic work and I wouldn’t miss a live performance of her music if I could help it. Not to mention the Séjourné's Marimba Concerto featuring our own LPO Principal Percussionist Aaron Smith that concludes the first half. Then, there’s Kalena Bovell conducting Dvořák's Symphony No. 7. Antonin Dvořák's 9th Symphony 'New World' gets more attention, but the 7th is possibly even more intense: the opening is incredibly exciting and huge, the third movement is possibly my personal all-time favorite scherzo, and the finale is rolling Czech thunder. One of the can’t-miss concerts of the year for this Dvořák stan, and a huge concert for Philadelphia’s Bovell, truly a trailblazing conductor: remember her name. Editor’s Choice concert
Friday, April 17
Louisiana Baroque Chamber Orchestra presents: Fury of Baroque
New Marigny Theatre, 2301 Marais St.
Doors @7pm; music @7:30pm. $30 premium seating; $26 general Tickets
Baroque is weird. Like, that’s what the word means; when it first hit the scene and overtook the Renaissance style, it would have been a lot like the beginning of hip hop or punk rock. Baroque represented a seismic shift in the sonic landscape of its day, with cerebral melodies and fast, energetic rhythmic designs sounding dangerously close to humanism for the pious social structures of the early 1600s. Now, for whatever reason, baroque music is undoubtedly having another moment, and New Orleans is home to at least three ensembles dedicated to 'Historically Informed Performance' (HIP), using strings, bows, and techniques meant to imbue a performance with the qualities you might have heard hundreds of years ago. This show, featuring some of the period’s heavy hitters, is programmed to showcase the passion and energy characteristic of the time: Caccini, Galuppi, Handel, and the great Vivaldi, who is now basically ubiquitous on Insta reels. Stay tuned to this space for a series of profiles on the baroque groups of New Orleans and what makes them tick. Editor’s Choice concert
Tuesday, April 21
Swing in the Oaks: City Park
6pm –7pm
The Peristyle at City Park, 42 Dreyfous Dr / Free
From the LPO website: “Swing in the Oaks is a beloved New Orleans tradition that brings the magic of live orchestral music to the heart of City Park. Each spring, more than 5,000 audience members gather under the oaks to enjoy a free, family-friendly concert performed by the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. This special evening also features 125 talented student musicians from our LPO Academy playing side by side with LPO professionals, creating an inspiring and unforgettable experience. Pack a picnic, bring your lawn chairs, and join us for a night of beautiful music beneath the stars! Rain date is April 28, 2026.”
Symphony of New Orleans presents: FAITH
Christchurch Cathedral, 2919 St. Charles Ave.
Doors 7pm; music 7:30pm / Free admission, donations gratefully accepted
Join the Symphony Of New Orleans and the Voices Of New Orleans choir for their spring concert featuring Aaron Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man, Gustav Holst's Jupiter from The Planets suite, and Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy's 2nd Symphony Lobgesang, also known as 'Hymn of Praise'.
Sunday, Apr 26
James Singleton and MALABAR
Studio Saint Philip, 2413 St Philip St
8pm to 9:30pm / Tickets
An UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL all-star line up of James Singleton on Bass, Johnny Vidacovich on Drums, Rex Gregory on Sax, Aurora Nealand on Clarinet, and Brian Haas on Piano will be just the way to end your first weekend of Jazz Fest.
Thursday, April 30, 2026
Warren Haynes: Dreams & Songs Symphonic Experience with the LPO
Orpheum Theater, 129 Roosevelt Way
8:30pm - 10:30 pm / Tickets are here
Rich Daniels guest conducts as Warren Haynes “brings his iconic sound to the symphonic stage in Dreams & Songs, a powerful collaboration with the LPO that reimagines his music through sweeping orchestral arrangements – blending rock, soul, and symphonic depth for an unforgettable live experience.” (via LPO)
Art music listings for New Orleans. Your ONLY guide to symphonic / classical / opera music in the city! This is the only calendar of its kind in the region! (Read more about this calendar and features)
Wednesday April 1st
nienteForte presents: Missing Piece and Sixto Franco
Tulane University, Dixon Concert Hall, 104 Dixon Hall
Doors 7pm; music 7:30pm (free, but donations gratefully accepted)
Part of the Nienteforte new music residency series. Tulane student composers for string trio will have their works performed by Chicago's Missing Piece with the LPO’s violist Sixto Franco. Missing piece is a new music duo that’s been spending a lot of time in New Orleans lately, premiering new works and playing all over town.
Neal Todten, Solo Organ
Hotel Peter and Paul, 2317 Burgundy St.
Doors 7pm; music 7:30pm / Tickets
Long-form improvisations for analog electric organ and stereo tape delay w/ GLASS SPEAKERS. Vibe heavy: rugs will be provided for lounging audience members. Bring a pillow. Chairs will also be available.
Saturday, April 4th
Voices Reclaimed: An Easter Celebration
Mount Zion Baptist Church, 2200 Dumaine St.
2pm (free, but donations deeply appreciated) / Reserve seats or donate online
Embark on a journey through classical music history with 'Voices Reclaimed', a program dedicated to unveiling hidden gems of the genre. A curated and interactive concert spotlighting overlooked yet remarkable Black composers, their unique musical narratives, and cultural legacies. The conert honors the enduring impact of Black composers on classical music, and invites discovery of their vibrant contributions to the art form. Soprano Taylor White’s voice is lyrical, strong and contemporary; her concert series features the classical music of the African diaspora in response to the anti-DEI government initiatives that seek to erase Black artists’ contributions from the American cultural landscape. The composers of this program are New Orleanians, Victor E. Macarty and Moses Hogan (now deceased: how often will you be able to hear their works?) Editor’s Choice concert
Wednesday, April 8
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra presents: Market Nights: George Porter, Jr
New Orleans Jazz & Blues Market, 1436 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd
Cocktails 5:30pm; music from 7 –8:30 pm / Tickets
New Orleans funk royalty George Porter Jr. is joined by the LPO for a legendary night at the Jazz Market. Porter, a founding member of The Meters, has forgotten more about funk than you’ll ever know. So what will it sound like? From the LPO’s website: “expect a dynamic synthesis, where driving basslines meet sweeping strings, bold brass, and a rhythmic conversation between symphonic textures and deep groove. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to experience George Porter Jr.’s legendary sound in orchestral immersion — a night where the heartbeat of funk meets the majesty of symphony.” Part of the LPO Market Nights series, and just one of the many ways our hometown Grammy-winning symphony does orchestra with unmistakable New Orleans style.
Sunday, April 12
Helen Gillet, Unplugged
Studio Saint Philip, 2413 St Philip St.
7pm to 8:30 pm / Tickets
Best known for her electrified cello looping and extensive collaborations, acclaimed local cellist Helen Gillet is taking on something a little different with this rare 'unplugged' acoustic concert of songs and improvisations. The program will include stories of the Walloon countryside and songs of Belgian poet Julos Beaucarne. Improvisations will include RPDD by Ornette Coleman and more. Gillet is a fascinating artist and this show will be great in the Studio St. Phillip space: it’s intimate, like an upscale house show.
Tuesday, April 14
Versipel New Music Presents: Folk Songs from Imaginary Places
Location TBD; check back here or at versipel.org
'New Music' is the appellation given to basically all contemporary 'classical' music since the 1990s. It’s also somehow recognizable in its own right as a genre that emphasizes boundary pushing and re-imagining the roles and voice of the orchestra and chamber ensemble. Versipel is in its 12th season of providing space and ears for this kind of avant-garde music, with incredible artistry and compositions that explore the frontiers of art music. Folk Songs From Imaginary Places is a series of improvisations by old friends and collaborators Annabelle Plum (voice, CZ), Byron Asher (woodwinds), Chris Alford (guitar) and Justin Peake (drums). Imagine these songs as ethnographic field recordings of the music of this quartet’s society. It is their folk music: border-less and genre-less, based in friendship and reciprocal admiration, new yet traditional, lamenting the current state of the world and envisioning a new one. This concert is also a belated local album release concert for the 2025 release of the same name, out jointly on Searching Records (CA, US) and Ma Records (Prague, CZ).
Tommy Mesa and Michelle Cann
Tulane University, Dixon Concert Hall, 104 Dixon Hall
Pre-performance talk 6:30pm, music 7:30pm / Tickets $35; click here
Cellist Tommy Mesa and pianist Michelle Cann join forces for a recital that bridges past and present. Mesa, a 2025 Avery Fisher Career Grant recipient, is one of the most charismatic cellists of his generation. Cann, a returning favorite and 2025 Grammy Award winner, is celebrated for her artistry and advocacy of underrepresented composers. This program will include works by Claude Debussy, Andrea Casarrubios, Kevin Day, and finish with the incredible Sonata for Cello and Piano in G minor by Sergei Rachmaninoff.
Zora Lucent
Siberia
9pm
Now mostly based in Berlin, artist Zora Lucent spent a number of years in New Orleans’ electronic music community, making ethereal, expansive works. Zora recently released a new album, “Vestige,” and is back in New Orleans for a one-off performance.
Thursday, April 16
Dvořák Symphony No. 7
Orpheum Theater, 129 Roosevelt Way
7:30pm – 9:30pm / Tickets
Speaking of new music, this show would be worth seeing just for Canadian composer Vivian Fung's Dust Devils; her Violin Concerto No. 1 from 2025 is a fantastic work and I wouldn’t miss a live performance of her music if I could help it. Not to mention the Séjourné's Marimba Concerto featuring our own LPO Principal Percussionist Aaron Smith that concludes the first half. Then, there’s Kalena Bovell conducting Dvořák's Symphony No. 7. Antonin Dvořák's 9th Symphony 'New World' gets more attention, but the 7th is possibly even more intense: the opening is incredibly exciting and huge, the third movement is possibly my personal all-time favorite scherzo, and the finale is rolling Czech thunder. One of the can’t-miss concerts of the year for this Dvořák stan, and a huge concert for Philadelphia’s Bovell, truly a trailblazing conductor: remember her name. Editor’s Choice concert
Friday, April 17
Louisiana Baroque Chamber Orchestra presents: Fury of Baroque
New Marigny Theatre, 2301 Marais St.
Doors @7pm; music @7:30pm. $30 premium seating; $26 general Tickets
Baroque is weird. Like, that’s what the word means; when it first hit the scene and overtook the Renaissance style, it would have been a lot like the beginning of hip hop or punk rock. Baroque represented a seismic shift in the sonic landscape of its day, with cerebral melodies and fast, energetic rhythmic designs sounding dangerously close to humanism for the pious social structures of the early 1600s. Now, for whatever reason, baroque music is undoubtedly having another moment, and New Orleans is home to at least three ensembles dedicated to 'Historically Informed Performance' (HIP), using strings, bows, and techniques meant to imbue a performance with the qualities you might have heard hundreds of years ago. This show, featuring some of the period’s heavy hitters, is programmed to showcase the passion and energy characteristic of the time: Caccini, Galuppi, Handel, and the great Vivaldi, who is now basically ubiquitous on Insta reels. Stay tuned to this space for a series of profiles on the baroque groups of New Orleans and what makes them tick. Editor’s Choice concert
Tuesday, April 21
Swing in the Oaks: City Park
6pm –7pm
The Peristyle at City Park, 42 Dreyfous Dr / Free
From the LPO website: “Swing in the Oaks is a beloved New Orleans tradition that brings the magic of live orchestral music to the heart of City Park. Each spring, more than 5,000 audience members gather under the oaks to enjoy a free, family-friendly concert performed by the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. This special evening also features 125 talented student musicians from our LPO Academy playing side by side with LPO professionals, creating an inspiring and unforgettable experience. Pack a picnic, bring your lawn chairs, and join us for a night of beautiful music beneath the stars! Rain date is April 28, 2026.”
Symphony of New Orleans presents: FAITH
Christchurch Cathedral, 2919 St. Charles Ave.
Doors 7pm; music 7:30pm / Free admission, donations gratefully accepted
Join the Symphony Of New Orleans and the Voices Of New Orleans choir for their spring concert featuring Aaron Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man, Gustav Holst's Jupiter from The Planets suite, and Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy's 2nd Symphony Lobgesang, also known as 'Hymn of Praise'.
Sunday, Apr 26
James Singleton and MALABAR
Studio Saint Philip, 2413 St Philip St
8pm to 9:30pm / Tickets
An UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL all-star line up of James Singleton on Bass, Johnny Vidacovich on Drums, Rex Gregory on Sax, Aurora Nealand on Clarinet, and Brian Haas on Piano will be just the way to end your first weekend of Jazz Fest.
Thursday, April 30, 2026
Warren Haynes: Dreams & Songs Symphonic Experience with the LPO
Orpheum Theater, 129 Roosevelt Way
8:30pm - 10:30 pm / Tickets are here
Rich Daniels guest conducts as Warren Haynes “brings his iconic sound to the symphonic stage in Dreams & Songs, a powerful collaboration with the LPO that reimagines his music through sweeping orchestral arrangements – blending rock, soul, and symphonic depth for an unforgettable live experience.” (via LPO)