Brantford Symphony Orchestra is tuning up for its “When All Other Lights Go Out: Beethoven and Shore” concert on Saturday, October 24, 2026.
The performance will feature the first of four guest conductors who will take turns leading the orchestra throughout the 2026-27 season.
Typically led by former longtime Artistic Director and conductor Philip Sarabura, the BSO Board of Directors is using this season to audition potential replacements following his retirement earlier this year.
“From Brazil to Italy, all over the United States and Canada, we had over 72 applications come in for the job,” said Joann Alho, co-chair of the BSO Board of Directors. “Now, the only request of the outgoing Artistic Director, Philip, was that we hire a Canadian. We have incredible musicians in this country, but believe it or not, no major Canadian orchestra actually has a Canadian at its helm. So when we did the interviews, we tried to keep a 150-kilometre radius in mind.”
Alho said that while the BSO typically has only one large concert at the Sanderson Centre a year, with the other three featuring small ensembles, the board is making the investment to ensure each guest conductor has the same size orchestra.
“I’m just so excited about this season because normally we can only afford one really big concert and then the others are smaller,” she said. “The Sanderson Centre is expensive and our musicians are all professional. They come in, they get the music beforehand, but they have one rehearsal before they perform and do so beautifully. But if you’re giving every guest conductor the same chance, you have to give them the same size orchestra of 40 musicians. So, for the first time in over 20 years, we are going to have four huge concerts, and I’m just over the moon.”
At the end of the season, the musicians, board members and season-ticket holders will have the chance to vote on which guest conductor will take on the role of the BSO’s new artistic director and conductor.
“People can buy a ticket to one or all of the concerts separately, but if they buy season’s tickets, then at the end they can vote who they think would be the best fit,” said Alho. “Our personnel manager is also trying to book the same musicians as much as he can for all four concerts, so they can vote too, because you’ve got to have that symbiotic relationship between the musicians and their conductor if you want wonderful performances. I figure if the patrons, musicians, and the board all vote, then we should be guaranteed to find someone who fits Brantford.”
Those auditioning for the role include, Shawn Bennett (conducting “When All Other Lights Go Out”) , Francois Koh, Samuel Tam, and husband and wife duo Sharon Lee and Marcus Scholtes.
A Toronto-based conductor and educator, originally from Newfoundland and Labrador, Bennett has conducted a number of prestigious ensembles throughout his career such as Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra, l’Orchestre Métropolitain de Montréal, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, and Orchestra Toronto.
He was also named the inaugural Artistic Director of Wilfrid Laurier University’s new “NextGen” Youth Orchestra program in 2024 and holds a masters degree in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Toronto.
“He’s conducted some pretty awesome orchestras and studied with some amazing conductors so he has wonderful credentials,” said Alho. “He’s also just so warm and personable too.”
As far as what to expect during the upcoming concert, attendees will be treated to an evening of music featuring Howard Shore’s Symphonic Suite from “The Lord of the Rings,” and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 2.”
“I am just so excited because he’s starting with “Finlandia,” which is one my favourite pieces, but he’s doing pieces from Florence Price, and Howard Shore’s Symphonic Suite from ‘The Fellowship of the Ring’ and ‘The Two Towers,’ and then, after intermission he’s doing Beethoven’s entire Symphony No.2,” said Alho. “We’ve really let the conductors choose whatever they wanted and so you can see the educator coming out in him in terms of what he’s chosen, and he’s really embraced Europe and North and South America, which is absolutely amazing.”
For those interested in attending the October 24 concert, tickets can be purchased through the Sanderson Centre website. Tickets are $45 for adults, $10 for college, university and high school students, and free for children in Grade 8 and under.
“We’ve reduced the prices for the students in university, college and high school this year, and if it’s for an elementary school student, they’re completely free,” said Alho. “The only thing parents need to remember is that, when they’re ordering tickets for themselves, they just need to add those complimentary tickets for the children so they have a guaranteed seat. But if anyone is interested in becoming season-ticket holders, it’s $153 for adults and $34 for students, but they have to subscribe before October 24.”
The concert is at 7:30 p.m., but attendees are invited to attend a pre-concert chat with Bennett from 7 to 7:15 p.m.
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
