The Everett Philharmonic has a new music director. Bobby Collins, a Seattle-area conductor who has led ensembles across the U.S. and Europe, takes over on the podium for the orchestra's 2026-27 season.

Collins will conduct the season opener on Oct. 11 at 3 p.m. at the Everett Civic Auditorium, 2415 Colby Ave. Violinist Rachel Lee Priday headlines the concert as soloist for Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in D major.

The program also includes Sibelius's Symphony No. 2 in D major and Arturo Márquez's Danzón No. 2. A bonus closer caps the afternoon: auction winner Terry DeGrow will conduct the orchestra through Sousa's "Stars and Stripes Forever."

Collins succeeds Dr. Paul-Elliott Cobbs, now listed as music director and conductor emeritus on the Everett Philharmonic's website. Cobbs led orchestras in Everett dating back to 1981, according to the organization.

The new music director is no stranger to the Everett Philharmonic. Collins guest-conducted the orchestra's season finale on May 17, leading a program of Bernstein, Mendelssohn and Tchaikovsky, according to the Everett tourism calendar.

Beyond Everett, Collins co-founded The Sound Ensemble, a Seattle-based chamber orchestra, in 2015. He has served as music director of the Seattle Festival Orchestra since 2018 and as assistant conductor of the Yakima Symphony Orchestra, according to the YSO.

Priday, an associate professor of violin at the University of Washington, has appeared as soloist with the Chicago, Seattle and National Symphony Orchestras, among others, according to the UW School of Music. She performs on a 1760 Nicolo Gagliano violin she has named Alejandro.

Season tickets are on sale through Monday, Sept. 28, when early pricing ends. Platinum season passes cost $139.50 and Gold passes cost $85.50 until that deadline, after which prices increase, according to the Everett Philharmonic.

The orchestra's website marks the upcoming season as its 16th.

Tickets and information are available at EverettPhil.org or by calling (425) 585-8975.