Jan 28, 2026
The Canadian Chamber Orchestra at the AGO
The CCO and the AGO team up to present a new Friday night concert series
Image courtesy of the Canadian Chamber Orchestra
The AGO and chamber music have a long history together, dating back over 50 years. Since the mid-1970s, the AGO has welcomed some of Canada’s top chamber ensembles to Walker Court to perform compelling shows for audiences and provide a sonic experience for visitors perusing the Gallery. This beloved tradition will continue in 2026 when the AGO and the Canadian Chamber Orchestra team up for an exciting new Friday night music series.
On February 6, March 6 and April 10 from 6 pm to 9 pm, select CCO musicians will take the Walker Court stage in smaller ensembles, blending bold classical masterworks, contemporary music, original compositions, and new arrangements of popular favourites. These performances will transform Walker Court into a living soundscape where art, architecture, and live music collide for a unique concertgoing experience.
For February's show, a string quartet will perform selections of music from The Beatles’ catalogue. Violinists Kumiko Sakamoto of The Thalia String Quartet, Noa Sarid of the Dior Quartet, violist Laurence Schaufele and cellist Andrew Ascenzo will be playing varied arrangements and sharing stories with each song they perform.
In March, accomplished violist and UBC professor Ryan Davis will take the Walker Court stage. Appearing under the stage name Radia, Davis will put a contemporary spin on chamber music, performing a set of original music on the viola, along with a looping pedal.
Finally, in April cello duo VC2 – featuring Bryan Holt and Amahl Arulanandam – will be joined by violinist Amy Hillis. Together they will perform a set of original music, commissions from contemporary Canadian composers, as well as some popular covers that they have adapted for their ensemble.
Don’t miss the CCO X AGO Friday Night Series happening on February 6, March 6 and April 10 live from Walker Court on Level 1 of the AGO. This event is free with the price of admission. For more information, visit https://ago.ca/events/cco-x-ago-friday-night-series
