‘It’s a delight’: Edmonton Symphony Orchestra excited for upcoming outdoor concerts

Edmonton Symphony Orchestra rehearses on Aug. 20, 2025, for Symphony Under the Sky at Snow Valley. (Galen McDougall / CTV News Edomonton)

Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (ESO) is putting the final touches on a series of outdoor concerts in Edmonton over the next two weeks.

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First, it will perform four nights this week for Symphony Under the Sky at Snow Valley: classical concerts featuring the works of Mozart, Haydn, Richard Strauss and Beethoven on Wednesday and Friday, then pop and jazz concerts consisting of numbers from Abba, Hairspray and Wicked on Thursday and Saturday.

“I have to remember that so I conduct the right concert this evening,” joked Bob Bernhardt, the festival’s conductor, on Wednesday in the middle of rehearsal at the ski hill.

This year is supposed to be the fourth and final year the event is held at Snow Valley, which has served as host while Hawrelak Park is under construction.

“Playing outdoors, playing in neighbourhoods, playing out where people are – not necessarily at the Winspear – this is part of the mission of the orchestra,” Bernhardt said.

“It’s a delight.”

Tickets to Symphony Under the Sky were still available as of early Wednesday afternoon.

Next week, ESO will perform Disney hits for free concerts on Friday and Saturday in Churchill Square.

“We have four fabulous singers (and) the entire Edmonton symphony on the stage, and this magical, glorious LED screen that you can see … at three in the afternoon as crystal clear as you can at night,” Bernhardt said.

“It’s music for the entire family.”

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Galen McDougall