Three of the finest composers from across the pond — and one special guest from right across Puget Sound — will take center stage at the first concert of the 2016-17 Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra season, “The British are Coming! Works by Walton, Vaughan Williams and Elgar.”

The program consists of three pieces.

First, William Walton’s “Crown Imperial: Coronation March,” which he originally wrote for the crowning of Edward VIII in May 1937. When Edward VIII abdicated, the work was instead performed for his younger brother, George VI.

Second, the much lesser known Vaughan Williams piece “Piano Concerto in C.” Performed with the BSO by guest soloist Cristina Valdés, this virtuosic concerto pays homage to Bach while also expressing a percussive and exuberant energy.

Finally, the show concludes with Edward Elgar’s “Enigma Variations,” in which each variation is inspired by and dedicated to Elgar’s friends and loved ones.

Compiling a program of works by British composers, a surprisingly lesser known demographic in the music world, has long been an intended project for the symphony, said conductor Wesley Schulz, and a perfect season opener.

“We hadn’t really dug in on some good orchestra core pieces, so it was just sort of like, ‘It’s time,’” he said. “There’s a lot of it but it’s not played with great frequency in the United States.

“At least in terms of [the Vaughan Williams] piano concerto, yes, it is not well-known at all,” he added. “A lot of conductors don’t even know it exists — and that was me included until I met Cristina, who knows the piece and wanted to do it again.”

Considered one of today’s foremost interpreters of contemporary music, pianist Valdés is currently an artist-in-residence at the University of Washington. This show marks her first performance with the BSO, though she has performed across four continents and in venues such as Lincoln Center, Le Poisson Rouge, Miller Theatre, Jordan Hall and the Kennedy Center.

An avid chamber musician and collaborator, she has toured extensively with the Bang On a Can All Stars, and has performed with the Seattle Chamber Players, the Mabou Mines Theater Company, the Parsons Dance Company and Antares. She has also been a featured performer in both the Seattle Symphony’s Chamber Series and [UNTITLED] concerts. Recently, Valdés performed the piano solo part of the Ives 4th Symphony with the Seattle Symphony, which was released on CD earlier this year to much critical acclaim.

“I really liked her personality and thought she’d be a great person to feature,” said Schulz, who first met the guest artist while they were co-judges on a competition panel.

Performances of the BSO’s opening concert of the season are 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12 and 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13. A special pre-concert chat is offered at 2:15 p.m. Sunday.

Tickets, $21 for adults and $18 for seniors, students, military and teachers, may be purchased online at www.bainbridgeperform ingarts.org, by phone at206-842-8569 or in person at BPA (200 Madison Ave. North).

Each youth attendee receives free admission when accompanied by a paying adult thanks to the BSO’s “Youth in Music Initiative” funded by Wicklund Dental. BPA Box Office hours are 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and one hour prior to each performance.

In his six years at the helm, Schulz said the island orchestra has grown in skill and confidence, with musicians tackling increasingly complicated pieces with gusto.

“We’ve done more and more challenging pieces,” he said. “They continually show lots of patience and they keep saying ‘yes’ so far to the music.

“This program is tough,” he added.

“This piano concerto, because it’s not well-known, it’s new to everyone. And then, in and of itself, it’s just a difficult piece with how the notes fall in the hands because of the key signatures and the notes he uses. But this group continually steps up.”