Essex Winter Series 2026 Season Begins in January

The 49th season of Essex Winter Series begins with its first concert on January 25, 2026 at

Valley Regional High School. Crafting a season that weaves together stellar performances with the celebration of the 250th anniversary of America’s independence, our new artistic director, flutist Tara Helen O’Connor begins by gathering friends for a program called Timeless Bonds &New Horizons.

Joining Tara for the inaugural Mihae Lee Legacy Concert are Ani Kavafian,violin; Peter Wiley, cello; and Shai Wosner, piano ... four leading chamber musicians in an unforgettable collaboration to perform works by J.S.Bach, Mel Bonis, and Valerie Coleman, culminating in Schubert’s ravishing Trio in B-flat Major, D. 898.

For the second concert on February 22, our Jazz Advisor Jeff Barnhart is thrilled to announce

the return of EWS favorite Vince Giordano, who will lead his incredible jazz orchestra – The

Nighthawks – for an afternoon of Hot and Sweet Music of the 1920s and ‘30s! Vince told Jeff

that our audiences are among the most rewarding he's performed in front of, averring “It's like returning to visit old friends!” Indeed, this concert marks the fifth time the group has graced our stage, making it the most requested jazz ensemble in the history of the series! Be sure you don’t miss this increasingly rare opportunity to experience the incredible jazz orchestra Vince Giordano & The Nighthawks outside of their NYC home! For this treat, you’ll just have to get to Valley Regional High School.

On March 22 the award-winning Trio Animoso will grace the stage at Congregation Beth ShalomRodfe Zedek in Chester, CT for our third concert. This phenomenal group of young artists – Sophia Jean, flute; Julian Seney, viola; and Subin Lee, harp – who formed at Yale and won First Prize at the Angel Padilla Crespo International Harp Competition, will delight with a program called French Impressions, American Echoes. Selections include Debussy’s Sonata for Flute, Viola, and Harp, as well as pieces by Rameau, Ravel, Bonis and others.

Having captivated audiences worldwide, Chanticleer – the Grammy® Award-winning choral

ensemble of 12 male voices – again appears on our stage with a soaring, spellbinding program called Without A Song. This “orchestra of voices” will close the season on April 12 at Valley Regional High School.

Concerts are on Sundays at 3 pm and are general admission. Adult - $45 / Student - $5.

Discounted subscriptions are available as well. For information or tickets visit

www.essexwinterseries.com or call 860-272-4572. For all our venues, parking, entry and seating accessibility is available.

2026 season sponsors include ASP Trust, BrandTech Scientific, Clark Group, Essex Bank &

Essex Financial Services, Essex Meadows, Jeffrey N. Mehler CFP LLC, Masonicare at Chester

Village, Tower Laboratories, and WSHU. We also gratefully acknowledge the support for our

mission of concerts and community outreach received in part through grant funding by ASP

Trust, Community Foundation of Middlesex County, Connecticut Office of the Arts/DECD/NEA, Essex Bank Community Investment Program, and The Kitchings Family Foundation.