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PORTLAND, OR — What threads tie a newly commissioned work in the 21st century to a Haydn symphony? How do stories from centuries past continue to resonate—and shape us—today? Orchestra Nova Northwest (ONN), Oregon’s progressive orchestra, invites audiences to explore these questions in its 2025–26 season, Throughlines: Composers in Conversation Across Time. 

This season underscores ONN’s visionary approach to the future of classical music — reimagining how concerts are curated, how music resonates in today’s world, and how tradition can evolve. Each program draws intentional connections between the present and the past, pairing works by Haydn, Tchaikovsky, and Dvořák with 21st-century voices like Caroline Shaw, Anna Clyne, Carlos Simon, and Giancarlo D’Addona Castro. Guest artists include acclaimed pianists Maria Garcia, Artina McCain, and Sara Davis Buechner. Audiences will also experience dynamic storytelling in Peter Boyer’s Ellis Island: Dream of America and a new flute concerto written for ONN Principal Flute Adam Eccleston. 

“Throughlines expresses my conviction that our art form is overdue for a recalibration,” says Music Director Steven Byess. “The way we present music must be reconsidered through a modern lens. This season draws intentional parallels between older and newer works, while also embracing the creative developments that define our current era. These programs are not just concerts—they’re conversations across time.” 

In keeping with its mission to expand access and equity, ONN continues to present each concert in venues on both Portland’s east and west sides, ensuring broad access across the city. 

New for 2025–26: 

  • All Gresham concerts will take place at Mt. Hood Community College (MHCC). 
  • Gresham ticket prices have been reduced to $25 for all seats! (previously $35–$60). Reser ticket prices remain the same as in the 2024–25 season. 
  • Early subscribers receive an additional 5% discount on season subscriptions if purchased by May 31. 

 

Season Concerts and Events Include: 

LINEAGE: Sound and Fury
September 27–28, 2025 | Gresham & Beaverton
Wit, theatricality, and transformation take center stage in works by Haydn, Caroline Shaw, and Anna Clyne. This imaginative season opener bridges centuries with flair. 

INNER LANDSCAPES: Depths of Expression
November 15–16, 2025 | Gresham & Beaverton
Featuring Portland pianist Maria Garcia and the Western U.S. premiere of Rainn by Karena Ingram, this evocative program highlights the lyrical power of Lūcija Garūta alongside the warmth of Dvořák. 

ELLIS ISLAND: Dream of America
March 14–15, 2026 | Gresham & Beaverton
A multimedia centerpiece honoring the U.S. Semiquincentennial. Carlos Simon’s Hellfighter’s Blues and Gershwin’s Concerto in F (featuring Artina McCain) culminate in Peter Boyer’s Ellis Island, performed with live actors and archival visuals drawn from the Ellis Island Oral History Project. 

BY NATURE: Resilience and Triumph
May 16–17, 2026 | Gresham & Beaverton
A tribute to the legacy of LGBTQ+ composers, including Bernstein’s The Age of Anxiety and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5, with celebrated pianist and trans advocate Sara Davis Buechner. A stirring close to the season that celebrates resilience and identity through music. 

¡THE ESPECTACULAR! AT THE RESER 2026
January 24, 2026
ONN’s signature annual celebration features a new flute concerto by Portland composer Giancarlo D’Addona Castro, performed by Adam Eccleston, alongside festive works by Freddy Vilches and others in a vibrant celebration of Pan American voices. 

TICKETS & INFO: Subscribe Now
Single tickets go on sale August 1, 2025. For details about subscriptions and individual concert tickets email info@novanw.org or call the Box Office 5032344077.