Under music director Michael Morgan, the Oakland Symphony has always prided itself on eclectic programming. The orchestra’s 2017-18 season continues the trend with a new “Playlist” series co-curated by W. Kamau Bell; musical tributes to Prince and Leonard Cohen; and appearances by tenor Jonathan Blalock, “The Real O’Neals” actor Noah Galvin and others.

The seven-concert season runs Oct. 20, 2017, to May 18, 2018, at the Paramount Theater.

Morgan will celebrate his 60th birthday with a season-opening program titled “Icons/Iconoclasts” (Oct. 20), which features Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 in C minor and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 15 in A Major.

“Love and Loss” (Nov. 17) introduces “Vocare,” a new work by Jonah Gallagher. Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 in G minor and Rossini’s “Stabat Mater,” featuring Lynne Morrow’s Oakland Symphony Chorus, are also on the program.

Oakland Symphony’s annual holiday concert returns on Dec. 10. “Let Us Break Bread Together: Hallelujah!” includes musical tributes to Prince and Leonard Cohen.

2018 programs include “W. Kamau Bell’s Playlist” (Jan. 19). Co-curated by Morgan, the concert introduces the new Playlist series, which will bring artists from the community to the Symphony to introduce works of their choice. Bell – comedian, social activist, and Emmy-nominated CNN host – joins Morgan for the program, with repertoire to be announced.

“Pride and Prejudice: Notes from LGBTQ” (Feb. 9), features appearances by Blalock, Galvin, instrumentalists Sara Davis Buechner and Meredith Brown, and MC Michelle Meow, with works by Barber, Britten, Saint-Saens and Jennifer Higdon on the program.

“Rooted in Oakland” (March 23) pairs a world premiere by Oakland-based Kev Choice with Schubert’s Symphony No. 5 and the Overture to “Rip van Winkle” by George Frederick Bristow.

The season closes with “The Artist’s Struggle” (May 18, 2018). Morgan and the orchestra mark the 100th birthday of Leonard Bernstein with the composer’s Serenade for Violin and Orchestra; Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6, “Pathetique,” completes the program.

Morgan, who in past years has welcomed guest artists including Isaac Hayes and Carlos Santana, said that inclusiveness is key to the season. “We want our season to be as bold and inclusive as our city,” said the conductor. “We want to gather and commune, then go away feeling better for having been in each other’s company.”

Subscription tickets for the Oakland Symphony season are $96-$354 and are on sale now. Single tickets, priced at $25-$90, go on sale August 19. www.oaklandsymphony.org.

Contact Georgia Rowe at growe@pacbell.net.