Welcome to The Tomorrow's Classics Festival, a celebration inspired by the enduring legacy of Leopold Stokowski, a maestro who spent his 60-year conducting career championing the cause of contemporary composers and introducing groundbreaking music to the world.

Our mission is to continue Stokowski's exploration by identifying and showcasing new living composers whose work has the potential to become classical masterpieces in the next 20 or 50 years. We invite the Philadelphia audience to join us on this journey of discovery, sharing in the excitement of unearthing the next generation of classical music.

Leopold Stokowski's influence has forged strong musical ties between Philadelphia and Russian composers. Did you know that the Philadelphia Orchestra has performed more music by Russian composers than any other orchestra globally, even during the Soviet era?

Stokowski, a pioneer in the realm of classical music, introduced the concept of "pops concerts" and fervently supported the work of living composers. His concerts featured pieces by Rachmaninoff, and this year, on the 150th anniversary of Rachmaninoff's birth, our program pays homage through the piano works of Anton Batagov and Teodore Dore.

Philadelphia, known as the city of love, tolerance, and inclusion, has historically welcomed individuals seeking refuge from unsafe homelands. We believe that music has the power to unite people, fostering shared emotions, empathy, and compassion. In a world often marked by anxiety and division, the act of listening to music together serves as a powerful force for building a better and more inclusive world for everyone.