APNews.com reports that Amsterdam’s third-ever Mahler Festival is underway at the Concertgebouw, showcasing all 10 symphonies and major works over 11 days, with performances simulcast to a 1,500-seat amphitheater. Five orchestras from four countries—the Netherlands, Hungary, Japan, the U.S., and Germany—are involved, including the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Budapest Festival Orchestra, NHK Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and Berlin Philharmonic. Conducting duties are shared among six major maestros, with Klaus Mäkelä launching the festival and leading two symphonies.

Organist Anna Lapwood drew huge crowds from TikTok into the real world.

TheTimes.com highlights Anna Lapwood’s stunning leap from viral TikTok stardom—where she boasts 1.2 million followers—to selling out the Royal Albert Hall for a classical organ concert. Her digital-to-analog transition thrives not only on her charisma and pop-savvy programming but also on her ability to connect with audiences in person, blending casual charm with crowd-pleasing repertoire. With her new Sony Classical album Firedove and concerts packed with film scores and contemporary commissions, Lapwood has redefined what an organ recital can be for a modern audience.

TheViolinChannel.com reports that the Association of British Orchestras has launched An Orchestra in Every School, a bold new initiative to counteract the sharp decline in live music-making opportunities across UK schools. The campaign urges the government to legislate two hours of active music-making weekly for all students under 16 and envisions every school hosting its own version of an orchestra. Motivated by troubling education statistics and a £161.4 million budget shortfall, the project aims to reach one million children over three years, emphasizing the proven social and cognitive benefits of group music-making.

The Wake Forest Children’s String Orchestra hard at work.