Playlists
Music does not have to end when the last note fades.
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We are launching a Symphony Playlist series to help you linger a little longer in the sounds you love. Our first playlist is a collection of favourite pieces chosen by SOTK musicians themselves, a window into the works that inspire, challenge, and delight them beyond the concert stage. It is part backstage pass, part shared mixtape.
Come back often and nibble away at over 10 hours of music!
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Next season, return to this page after each performance and you will find a curated playlist that echoes the music you just experienced in the hall, extending the journey into your car, your kitchen, your evening walk. Because great music is not confined to a single night. It travels with you.
We have made two playlist platforms available to you.
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IDAGIO is devoted entirely to classical music, offering a beautifully organized listening experience designed for orchestral works. Spotify is a popular option for those who enjoy moving easily between classical and other genres. For the best experience, we recommend creating an account on your preferred service if you do not already have one, as full works may not play without logging in. A free account provides access to the complete playlist, supported by advertisements. Many listeners find IDAGIO’s ads to be relatively unobtrusive.
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SPOTIFY is the world's most widely-used music streaming services. You should be able to listen to the playlist without a paid account but will be interrupted by occasional advertisements.
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Alternatively, browse the list below for works that might be among your favourites or maybe intrigue or challenge you. It might come recommended by a musician you know well. Perhaps you have this music at home on CD or even (gasp!) an LP.
Listen to it on your preferred platform or medium, knowing how it touches others as well.
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Cvetozar Vutev, Concertmaster, Principal 1st violin
Dmitri Shostakovich
Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 77 (also published as Op. 99)
My favourite symphonic piece is Violin concerto # 1, Op. 99 by Dmitri Shostakovich. This is actually a 4-movement symphony for a large orchestra with a solo violin as lead instrument. I think this is one of the best instrumental concertos ever written. I chose to learn this concerto during my master's degree education. I performed it at my graduation recital at the National Academy of Music in Sofia, Bulgaria in 1990. 36 years later I am still convinced that this was one of the best pieces of music I have ever played. The music is either very tender and lyrical, or dramatic and even tragic sounding at times, but always extremely expressive and powerful. I wish SOTK does this masterwork one day in the future.
James Watson, violin
Henryk Gorecki
Symphony No. 3, Op. 36: II. Lento e Largo - Tranquillissimo
Maria Elliott, violin
Samuel Barber
Adagio for strings, Op. 11
Shirley Wright, cello
Sergei Rachmaninoff
Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini op. 43: Var. XVIII. Andante cantabile
I love the orchestration, the pull of the heart strings, interplay between piano and orchestra is fantastic. It is super romantic.
Tim Bullen, Principal trumpet
Antonín DvoÅ™ák
Symphony No. 9, From the New World
John Williams
Olympic Theme
Dmitri Shostakovich
Piano Concerto #1
Sven Heyde, Principal percussion
Paul Dukas
Sorcerer's Apprentice
It's a beautiful, wild piece, and contains 30 seconds of sheer terror for the mallet player, which is fun!
Spring Burke, violin
Johannes Brahms
Symphony No 2 in D major
The Brahms Symphonies were a staple in our Youth Orchestra Repertoire and listening to them bring me back to those years of learning big, exciting repertoire and falling in love with symphonic playing.
Morag Mottram, oboe
J.S. Bach
Brandenburg Concerto #3
Bach's Brandenburg Concerto #3 is the shortest of the 6 Brandenburg Concertos. Written in 1721, these pieces are widely regarded as some of the greatest orchestral compositions of the Baroque era. #3 doesn't have any oboes, but I still love it... it is written just for strings and is a rhythmic, joyful piece which makes me feel good every time I hear it!
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Nick Sullivan, trombone
Gustav Mahler
Symphony No. 2 - ‘Resurrection’ (Leonard Bernstein/New York Philharmonic 1987 Recording)
As a trombonist, I’ve always been fascinated by the wide range of characters the instrument can create, from calm and reverent tones to powerful, awe-inspiring outbursts, as Hector Berlioz described it in his Treatise on Instrumentation and Orchestration. This idea of “always making a beautiful sound” has guided my teaching philosophy and approach to playing. Moments like the 7-minute mark of Mahler’s 2nd Symphony, 5th movement, perfectly showcase both the trombone’s expressive range and the richness of tone I strive to cultivate.
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John Williams
Scherzo for Motorcycle and Orchestra, from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Music filled our home growing up in a brass-playing family, and some of my fondest memories are watching movies with my father, connecting over John Williams’ brilliant scores. His music seemed to bring every scene to life, creating moments that felt both playful and thrilling. While I’m a big Star Wars fan, it’s the humour and infectious energy of the Indiana Jones scores that always leap out at me.
Jamie Park, violin
J.S. Bach
Concerto for Two Violins (BWV 1043)
The reason I chose this work is that every movement is beautiful, and almost everyone who has studied the violin probably has memories of learning this piece. However, many people may not have had the opportunity — or have had very few chances — to hear it performed live by professional musicians on stage.
Aura Pon, Principal oboe
Maurice Ravel
Daphnis et Chloe Suite No. 2
It is so hard to pick a favourite, but my choice of the month is Maurice Ravel's Daphnis et Chloe Suite No. 2. I recently fell in love with this piece again while performing it with the Calgary Philharmonic. So many intricate layers and challenging parts for the musicians that combine exquisitely to build magical soundscapes of sheer awe, power, and energy. The first movement is particularly inspiring and transcendent. Listen with good headphones!
Catherine MacKinnon, Principal flute
J.S. Bach
Goldberg Variations "Aria" (Glenn Gould)
My playlist choice is Aria from Bach's Goldberg Variations, as recorded by Glenn Gould in 1981. No matter how often I hear it, it never fails to move me; very slow (Gould's choice) and deceptively simple but bypasses the brain and goes straight to the soul.
Sophia Smith, cello
Karl Jenkins
Stella Natalis, # 10, Dona nobis pacem
I like Karl Jenkins’ Stella Natalis. The 10th mov’t Dona nobis pacem. Can’t remember if we actually played that mov’t. But I thought all of it was a very cool composition.
Karri Quan, violin
Benjamin Britten
Simple Symphony for String Orchestra, Op. 4.
The combination of playful, lighthearted melodies, driving rhythms, pensive, steady heartbeats and tender beauty have captivated me since I first played this as a very young violinist. It has remained one of my favourites, ever since.
Martine denBok, Principal viola
Ralph Vaughn Williams
Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
Being asked a favourite piece of music is like being asked your favourite food, or colour - there are too many amazing possibilities to choose from and can change based on my mood or time of year, even! This said, one piece that holds significant meaning for me is "Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis" by Ralph Vaughn Williams. I love the textures and soundscapes he achieves with his choice of two mini string orchestras AND string quartet, to be spaced as far apart as possible, weaving an incredible web of sound and emotion using just strings. There are also a couple juicy viola moments and who doesn't love that?!
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Ruth Sawatsky, bassoon
Bernard Herrmann
North by Northwest Soundtrack
I struggle to choose a favourite piece of symphony music or composer, of course, but I’m currently listening to the composer Bernard Herrmann and I’m hooked. He was a composer from the middle of the twentieth century and well known for writing the soundtracks for some Alfred Hitchcock movies. I think this music for North by Northwest makes the movie. It’s suspenseful, dramatic, and full of amazing woodwind bits. Overall, I love how this more modern symphonic music makes me feel - intrigued, adventurous, and hopeful. Check it out -with or without the movie!
Robin Clegg, Principal timpani, stage manager and tuba master
Claude Debussy
La Mer
It was so difficult to pick because I have so many favourites, as I imagine everyone has. I would like La Mer from Debussy. I have always felt an affinity with the ocean and its different moods. It can be calming or fierce.
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Keith Todd, Principal trombone
Aaron Copland
Appalachian Spring
I choose this one because of its youthful optimism and the way it incorporates the famous Shaker anthem, Simple Gifts.
Osmond Chiu, viola
W.A. Mozart
Sinfonia Concertante (K. 364), 3rd movement
For many including myself, Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante represents the pinnacle of his concerto writing, and it combines the virtuosity seen in concertos with the grandeur of symphonies together into a cornerstone of violin and viola repertoire. The third movement is overwhelmingly triumphant and joyous!
Bedrich Smetana
The Moldau (Vltava) from Ma Vlast
For many people, The Moldau (Vltava) was their gateway introduction into the classical music world. For myself, this was one of the pieces performed in my first concert with SOTK (also Jeff Faragher's first concert as conductor!) Fun fact: most of this work was written after Smetana had completely lost his hearing.
J.S. Bach
Brandenburg Concerto No. 6
Brandenburg #6 is unique as it notably omits violins and highlights the richness and beauty of lower string instruments. The third movement finale is a festive and elegant dance in the style of a gigue, full of energy and an overall mood of optimism.
Anne Scott, Principal cello
Hector Villa-Lobos
Bachianas Brasilieras No. 5, 2nd movement.
Villa-Lobos’ Bachianas Brasilieras No. 5. has exciting rhythms, beautiful soprano melodies and a cello choir! So much fun to perform
Morten Lauridsen
O Magnum Mysterium
Listen to O Magnum Mysterium and tell me that it isn't immediately also your favourite.
Sergei Rachmaninoff
Piano Concerto No 2 in c minor Op. 18. 2nd movement: Adagio
The second movement of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No2 is absolutely dreamy.
Dmitri Shostakovich
Waltz 2 from Jazz suite
Shostakovich Waltz 2 from Jazz is a quirky waltz. I remember playing this for the first time at a SOTK outdoor concert
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Ulrich Roever and Michael Korb
Highland Cathedral (not available on IDAGIO)
Rover & Korn’s Highland Cathedral is another SOTK summer concert discovery for me. How glorious to have a piece for Bagpipe choir and Orchestra and get to experience it in the open air in the Mountains!
Gian Carlo Menotti
Amahl and the Night Visitors
As a child I spent many hours with the Amahl and the Night Visitors LP listening and singing along with all the different characters.
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Tim Plait, Principal keyboard
Arvo Pärt
Litany
Over 20 minutes, this work explores extremely delicate pianissimo to thunderous fortes, blending choral and solo vocalists with orchestral colour and nuance. Meditative and intense.
Eileen Kosasih, Principal 2nd violin
Béla Bartók
Concerto for Orchestra
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