For audiences planning a November arts calendar, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra's schedule spans pay-what-you-wish programming, orchestral debuts, choral performances and chamber music. The month includes appearances by St. Louis native John Goodman, pianist Daniil Trifonov and 15-year-old violinist HIMARI at Powell Hall and other venues.
The month begins Nov. 1 with a pay-what-you-wish concert featuring local vocal music teachers alongside the orchestra and members of its two choruses, FOX 2 reported. The remaining programs move through orchestral, choral and chamber settings, with two internationally recognized soloists making their SLSO debuts later in November.
Trifonov Debuts With Rachmaninoff
Pianist Daniil Trifonov makes his SLSO debut Nov. 6-8, performing Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 1, according to FOX 2. The concerts provide the month's first major orchestral spotlight after the opening community-focused event.
The St. Louis Symphony Chorus begins the classical portion of its 50th anniversary season Nov. 14-15, FOX 2 reported. Those performances add a choral milestone to the November schedule before the concerts centered on American history and music.
The broader SLSO context
The November programming fits within a longer organizational plan. According to the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, its Board of Trustees approved a strategic plan in June 2025 to guide the organization toward its 150th anniversary in 2030. The SLSO's 2025–2030 plan calls for genre-defying programs, partnerships across artistic disciplines and broader learning and engagement opportunities. The Symphony Chorus also has a documented history that predates its anniversary season. The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra says the ensemble was founded in 1976 by Music Director Jerzy Semkow and serves as an equal partner in choral-orchestral performances. It is primarily a volunteer ensemble whose singers come from throughout the St. Louis region, according to the orchestra's chorus information.
Goodman Returns Home to Narrate
The Nov. 20-21 concerts are tied to the nation's 250th anniversary, according to the station's report. St. Louis native John Goodman is scheduled to narrate American Mosaic, with the U.S. Naval Academy Glee Club also performing.
The month concludes Nov. 28-29 with violinist HIMARI's SLSO debut. The orchestra's artist page lists an international performance schedule for the 15-year-old musician.
Chamber Music Beyond Powell Hall
The schedule also moves beyond Powell Hall, with chamber music concerts planned at the Pulitzer Arts Foundation and the Sheldon, according to FOX 2. These smaller-scale performances offer a contrasting setting to the month's full orchestral programs and continue the SLSO's use of intimate venues for chamber music.
