You find a Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra concert you'd love to attend. Then you notice another performance featuring a favorite artist, followed by a film concert you've always wanted to experience.
Do you buy tickets to one show, or start planning several?
At the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra (HSO), our season brings together different kinds of live music, from classical repertoire to performances featuring local artists and familiar film scores.
If you're thinking about attending more than once, planning your concert season can help you choose performances that offer different experiences while fitting your schedule.
Here's how to build an HSO concert lineup around the music you enjoy.
Start With What You Want From Your Concert Season
Before choosing dates, think about why you want to attend.
Are you interested in discovering classical music? Do you follow particular guest artists? Would you like to hear music connected to Hawaiʻi's cultural traditions?
Your answers can help you decide which performances belong on your calendar.
For example, you might want to:
Hear a full orchestral work you've never experienced live.
Attend a concert featuring a musician whose work you admire.
Experience a film accompanied by a live orchestra.
Discover music and collaborations connected to Hawaiʻi.
You don't have to commit to every type of performance.
Start with one or two that genuinely interest you, then explore other programs when you're ready.
Our concerts and events calendar is the best place to see which performances are currently scheduled.
Explore Different HSO Concert Experiences
One advantage of planning more than a single concert is the opportunity to hear how versatile an orchestra can be.
Our programming includes different musical styles and concert formats.
Halekulani Masterworks: Explore Orchestral Repertoire
Our Halekulani Masterworks series features orchestral works and performances with guest artists.
Depending on the program, you might hear a concerto featuring a solo instrument, a large symphony, or music by a contemporary composer.
This series is worth exploring if you enjoy instrumental music or want to experience the full range of orchestral sound.
You can review our Halekulani Masterworks season to see the featured performers and concerts.
If you're planning several classical performances, consider selecting programs with different composers or featured instruments.
A concert centered on a piano soloist can offer a different listening experience from one featuring a violin concerto or a major symphony.
Spotlight and HapaSymphony: Explore Musical Collaborations
Our orchestral programming also connects with Hawaiʻi's artists and musical traditions.
Through HapaSymphony, we've brought local performers together with the orchestra to create concerts reflecting the music and cultural identity of the islands.
Our Spotlight programming features artists and performances that cross musical genres.
If you enjoy hearing musicians collaborate in unexpected ways, these performances can add variety to your concert season.
Check each concert description to see which artists and musical styles are featured. Series names and specific programming can change between seasons.
Films in Concert: Experience a Familiar Story Differently
If you love movies, consider including a film concert in your season.
During our Films in Concert performances, the orchestra plays the film's score live while the movie appears on screen.
You can follow the story while hearing how instrumental music contributes to the action and emotion.
This is a different experience from attending a traditional orchestral concert, even though many of the same instruments are involved.
Explore our Films in Concert programming and check the current event listings for available titles.
How to Build a Concert Season With Variety
If you're planning multiple performances, you don't necessarily need to choose several concerts of the same kind.
Instead, think about creating a mix of musical experiences.
Here's an example of how you might approach your choices.
| Your interest | Concert to consider | What it adds to your season |
|---|---|---|
| Exploring classical music | Halekulani Masterworks | Large-scale orchestral repertoire |
| Hearing featured performers | Spotlight programming | Collaborations and different musical styles |
| Experiencing music connected to Hawaiʻi | A performance featuring local artists | A connection to the islands' musical traditions |
| Enjoying a familiar movie | Films in Concert | Live orchestral music accompanying a story |
Choose Performances That Offer Something Different
Suppose you already have tickets to a Masterworks performance featuring a symphony.
For your next concert, you might consider a featured-artist collaboration or a film score performed live.
That gives you a chance to hear the orchestra in another setting.
Alternatively, if classical repertoire is your primary interest, you could attend multiple Masterworks concerts featuring different composers.
There's no single correct combination. Your season should reflect what you're most excited to hear.
Should You Buy Single Tickets or a Concert Package?
Once you've chosen several performances, it makes sense to compare purchasing options.
Buying individual tickets offers flexibility when you're interested in only one concert or aren't sure which dates you'll be available.
A concert package may be useful when you already know you'd like to attend several eligible performances.
HSO publishes both season subscriptions and flexible package options. Specific eligibility and availability depend on the offer.
Masterworks Subscriptions
For listeners primarily interested in classical orchestral programs, a Masterworks subscription may be worth considering.
Our published 2026–27 offerings include options for attending the full Masterworks series or a selection of concerts.
Explore the current Masterworks subscription information to review the packages and their terms.
Pick Four Flex
If you want to explore more than one musical style, our Pick Four Flex package is another option to compare.
The advertised 2026–27 package allows patrons to select four eligible concerts from specified series, with exclusions for special events.
Check the current package terms, eligible concerts, exchange provisions, and pricing before purchasing.
A flexible package can be useful when your interests extend beyond one concert series, but it may not cover every performance you want to attend.
When Single Tickets Make More Sense
Individual tickets may be more appropriate when:
You only want to attend one or two concerts.
Your schedule is uncertain.
The events you're interested in aren't included in a package.
You're trying the orchestra for the first time before committing to additional performances.
For a detailed explanation of our purchasing options and policies, visit the HSO ticketing FAQ.
Plan Around Your Calendar, Not Just the Concert Titles
Finding a performance you like is only part of planning a season.
Before selecting several concerts, make sure the dates and locations work for you.
Start by noting the performances that interest you most.
Then check:
The date and start time of each concert
The listed performance venue
Your travel and parking arrangements
Any age guidance or other attendance requirements
The ticket terms for your selected events
If you're attending with family or friends, consider their interests and availability too.
Some patrons may prefer to spread concerts across several months. Others may have time for only a few performances during a particular part of the season.
There's no need to select every concert immediately unless the purchasing option you're considering requires it.
Don't Overlook Community and Special Performances
Our work extends beyond traditional ticketed concert presentations.
Music education and community engagement are important parts of our mission, and we've presented community performances that offer additional ways to experience live orchestral music.
Some events have offered free admission, but that doesn't mean every community concert is free or that a particular outdoor venue has a standing schedule of no-cost performances.
If you're interested in community programming, check our current concert listings for announced events and admission requirements.
Special events may also have different ticket terms or may be excluded from subscription packages.
Review each event before adding it to your season plan.
What If Your Concert Plans Change?
When you're purchasing tickets for performances several months apart, it's worth understanding the policies before checkout.
Our ticketing FAQ explains the conditions for individual ticket purchases and available alternatives if you cannot attend.
Some subscription packages advertise exchange benefits, but terms and eligibility vary.
Before committing to multiple dates, review the current ticket policies and the specific package conditions.
You can also contact our Box Office & Patron Services team for assistance with your choices.
Make Room for More Live Music
Attending the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra doesn't have to mean choosing only one type of concert.
You might begin with a familiar film score, discover a composer through Masterworks, or attend a collaboration that connects orchestral music with Hawaiʻi's musical traditions.
Each performance can introduce you to something different.
Whether you choose a single concert or plan several across the season, the most useful starting point is the music you're interested in hearing.
Explore our upcoming concerts to compare programs and dates.
If you've found several performances you'd like to attend, review our concert packages or purchase individual tickets through our official Box Office.