Darwin Symphony Orchestra has announced its 2026 season, the first to be led by new Artistic Director and Chief Conductor Richard Mills. The acclaimed composer-conductor takes over the role from Jonathan Tooby, whose seven-year tenure will be honoured in the DSO’s Symphony of the Soul season closer in December.

“Our orchestra is a unique expression of community and artistic aspiration. We pride ourselves on our civic identity as the Darwin Symphony,” said Mills. “We embrace the special possibilities of the vibrant Northern Territory in a program which ranges from the great classics to new work which is grounded in and reflects our location in storied landscape and ancient traditions.”

Darwin Symphony Orchestra. Photo © Adnan Reza

One of those new works opens the season – From Common Ground. Netanela Mizrahi returns to the DSO for her third year as Composer in Residence and her From Common Ground sees its world premiere in a program rich with variation-style pieces from Shostakovich, Franck, Rachmaninov and Hindemith.

In Island Signal, Island Song, guest conductor Fabian Russell takes the...