PEI Symphony Orchestra Closes Season with “Blue,” Featuring Island Pianist Magdalena von Eccher
CHARLOTTETOWN, PE — March 17, 2026 — The PEI Symphony Orchestra (PEISO) will close its 2025–2026 season on Sunday, April 12 at 2:30 PM at the Confederation Centre of the Arts with Blue, a vibrant finale featuring PEI pianist Magdalena von Eccher as soloist in Claude Debussy’s rarely performed Fantaisie for Piano and Orchestra.
The concert brings together orchestral music shaped by the cultural energy of the early twentieth century—from the hypnotic pulse of Ravel’s Bolero to the jazz-infused brilliance of Gershwin’s An American in Paris—culminating in Omar Thomas’ gospel-inspired Come Sunday, a work filled with rhythmic vitality and exuberant joy.
“ ‘Blue’ explores the moment when orchestral music opened its doors to new sounds and influences,” says PEISO Music Director Jaelem Bhate. “Jazz, popular music, and global cultural exchange began reshaping the orchestral world. It’s colourful, vibrant music—and a thrilling way to close the season.”
At the centre of the program is Debussy’s Fantaisie for Piano and Orchestra, a lyrical and virtuosic work seldom heard on concert stages. The soloist, Magdalena von Eccher, is widely regarded as one of Canada’s most respected pianists, known for her poetic musicianship and expressive artistry.
von Eccher performs regularly as a soloist, chamber musician, and collaborator across North America and Europe. Recent engagements have included appearances at the Festival of the Sound, McGill University’s Musical Chairs Chamber Music Festival, and performances with the Canadian Opera Company in Toronto. In addition to her performing career, von Eccher is a dedicated educator and currently serves as Assistant Professor of Piano at the University of Prince Edward Island.
“Debussy’s Fantaisie is a rare jewel—lyrical, colourful, and full of imagination,” says guest pianist Magdalena von Eccher. “It’s a joy to bring this music to life with the PEI Symphony Orchestra and share it with our Island community.”
“Blue” concludes the PEISO’s 2025–26 Island Series, themed Nouveau, which has explored ideas of renewal, growth, identity, and transformation throughout the season.
Tickets are available through the Confederation Centre Box Office. Visit www.confederationcentre.com or call 902-566-1267 / 1-800-565-0278. For more information about this concert visit www.peisymphony.com.
BACKGROUND
The Prince Edward Island Symphony Orchestra (PEISO) is one of PEI’s most respected performing arts organizations, providing Islanders with vibrant live orchestral experiences including classical, cross- genres, family and chamber-music concerts. Currently entering its 58th season, the PEISO is a proud member of the community and enriches the region through dynamic performances, comprehensive educational activities and impactful community relationships.
MEDIA CONTACT
Laura Ono
PEI Symphony Orchestra
admin@peisymphony.com
902-892-4333
