The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra's coming season will feature new artistic partners, a special spring festival and two tours, including one international. But the biggest news for family bargain hunters will be free tickets for children ages 6-17.

Each paid adult ticket to a regular SPCO concert will be eligible for up to four free children's tickets, including season packages.

Violinist Pekka Kuusisto and conductor, keyboardist and cellist Jonathan Cohen will formally begin their artistic partnerships next season after well-received recent collaborations with the SPCO. Cohen will direct a German Baroque program in September and Pergolesi's "Stabat Mater" next Easter. Kuusisto will lead performances in January and May.

Kuusisto's May 2017 appearance will be part of "Where Words End," a three-week festival (May 4-28) exploring cultural identity with a Nordic focus. Another recurring theme of the season will be music inspired during wartime, including Holocaust survivor Gideon Klein's "Partita for String Orchestra" (May 19-21).

On Feb. 1, Claire Chase will solo in "Cutting the Circle of Sounds," an unusual piece written for 104 flutists. Chase will join several guest artists who will be making their SPCO debuts. Returning guest artists include pianist Jonathan Biss; conductor Paul McCreesh; composer and musician Gabriel Kahane, and the James Sewell Ballet. Biss will play the world premiere of a new piano concerto by Sally Beamish (Jan. 20-22).

On Oct. 15, the SPCO will open the 92nd Street Y's season in New York with artistic partner Jeremy Denk as pianist.

Details of the tours will be announced later.

Many of the season's programs will be led by SPCO musicians, in keeping with the orchestra's transition to fewer conductor-led concerts. While its home base will remain the Ordway Concert Hall, the orchestra will continue its community concerts at 12 suburban and residential venues, from the Capri Theater in north Minneapolis to churches in Stillwater and Apple Valley.

For tickets and more information, see www.thespco.org or call 651-291-1144.

Kristin Tillotson • 612-673-7046

@StribKristin