Reinforcing its status as one of the nation’s leading professional regional orchestras, the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra and the Musicians’ Association of Metropolitan Baltimore have agreed to a new three-year contract.

“Musicians aspire to play with a union orchestra because of the high quality of performances and the opportunity to share the stage with other first-rate musicians,” said Mid-Atlantic Symphony Board President Jeffrey Parker. “This contract, the first in the MSO’s 24-year history, reflects the efforts of Music Director Julien Benichou to elevate the quality of our musicians and validates our status as the only professional orchestra serving southern Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore.”

“The committee is extremely pleased that management believed that a collective bargaining agreement would further the artistic growth of the orchestra and that musicians unanimously supported the ratification,” said Luis Engelke, who serves as Vice President of the Musicians’ Association of Metropolitan Baltimore, Local 40-543, American Federation of Musicians and was instrumental in organizing the musicians and negotiating the contract. “This was a collegial and collaborative venture.”

The contract agreement came just days before the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra opens its 2021-2022 season, with performances on September 23 at 7:30 PM at Easton High School in Easton, MD; on Saturday, September 25 at 7:30 PM at Cape Henlopen High School in Lewes, DE; and on Sunday, September 26 at 3 PM at the Performing Arts Center in Ocean City, MD.

The 2021-2022 opener includes Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major (“Eroica”), as well as works by Ravel and Mussorgsky. The season’s concerts include works by Brahms, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, and Vivaldi, among others; the premiere of a composition by Maestro Benichou; and critically-acclaimed guest soloists.

Subscriptions for the five regular season concerts are $195, with patrons free to choose from any of the three locations for each program. Individual tickets are$45 or $50, depending upon the program and venue. Tickets for the non-subscription New Year’s Eve program are $60 for general admission $85 for premium seating.

Subscriptions and individual concert tickets are available online at www.midatlanticsymphony.org or by calling 888-846-8600.

To ensure the safety of its audience members and musicians, the Orchestra will require proof of COVID-19 vaccination for everyone entering venues.

The Musicians’ Association of Metropolitan Baltimore was established over 100 years ago and represents musicians who work in Central Maryland, the state’s Upper Chesapeake counties, and its Eastern Shore. In addition to the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, the Association’s musicians perform with orchestras in Baltimore and Annapolis, among others.

The Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council; the Talbot County Arts Council; the Worcester County Arts Council; the Sussex County, DE Council; and the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, Inc.

The Mid-Atlantic Symphony is forming a youth orchestra to give talented young musicians on Maryland’s Eastern Shore and in southern Delaware the opportunity to learn, perform and create memories that will last for a lifetime.

Weekly rehearsals will take place at the centrally located Performing Arts Center in Ocean City, MD on Tuesday evenings from September 21, 2021, through May 31, 2022, culminating in a public performance at the Center.

The Youth Orchestra is open to students in grades 6 through 12. Auditions for strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, and harp will be conducted virtually and will commence this month.

“The Mid-Atlantic Symphony Youth Orchestra will provide a stimulating environment that will empower and encourage students to develop a passion for experiencing and performing classical music,” said Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra Music Director Julien Benichou. “Participation in a youth orchestra not only provides challenging and rewarding development opportunities for young performers, but also cultivates the next generation of musicians, teachers, and supporters of fine music.”

“Formation of the Youth Orchestra demonstrates the Mid-Atlantic Symphony’s commitment to engage students in classical music through a variety of outreach programs,” said Board Chair Jeffrey Parker. “We are pleased to be able to provide this exciting new opportunity to young people in southern Delaware and on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.”

Consistent with the Mid-Atlantic Symphony’s goal to serve a diverse audience of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds, scholarships will be available to students who otherwise would be unable to participate in the Youth Orchestra.

Youth Orchestra audition requirements and applications are available at midatlanticsymphony.org under the Youth Orchestra tab. Tuition for the full season is $650; payments can be arranged upon acceptance into the Orchestra

For additional information about the Youth Orchestra, contact Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra General Manager Dane Krich at 410-917-7587, or by email at [email protected].

The only professional symphony orchestra serving Maryland’s Eastern Shore and southern Delaware, the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council; the Talbot County Arts Council; the Worcester County Arts Council; the Sussex County, DE Council; and the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, Inc.

James Lee III

The Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra concludes its 2020-2021 season on April 22 with a program highlighted by the world premiere of Restored Images, a work by internationally acclaimed American composer James Lee III.

The concert, which begins at 7:30 PM at the Church of God in Easton, MD, also includes Astor Piazzolla’s Aconcagua Concerto for Bandoneon, Percussion and String Orchestra, with the virtuoso bandoneonist Rodolfo Zanetti, and Arnold Schoenberg’s romantic Verklarte Nacht.

Tickets to attend the performance as a member of the live, socially-distanced audience of up to 150 individuals are $45, while supplies last. Tickets to view the concert livestream are $15. Both in-person and virtual tickets include a special pre-concert event hosted by Mid-Atlantic Symphony Music Director Julien Benichou, as well as on-demand replays of the concert through May 2.

“We are delighted that the Mid-Atlantic Symphony commissioned and will premiere James Lee’s important new work, which is inspired by the difficult challenges of 2020,” said Maestro Benichou. “Our latest collaboration with this extraordinarily gifted composer is a most fitting way to celebrate the conclusion of a successful season, in which the Mid-Atlantic Symphony’s musicians, board and patrons adapted to the challenges of live performance amid a global pandemic.”

In 2016, Maestro Benichou and the Mid-Atlantic Symphony premiered Dr. Lee’s Mother’s Lament: So Many Names Unknown, based on a poem by Vincent Dion Stringer, with soprano Marquita Lister and the Morgan State University Choir.

Dr. Lee, a Maryland resident, has received commissions from the National Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, New World Symphony Orchestra, and the Philadelphia Orchestra, among many others. Hailed by The Washington Post for his “bright, pure music,” his works also have been premiered and performed internationally in Brazil, Argentina, Russia and Cuba.

Rodolfo Zanetti

Born in St. Joseph, Michigan in 1975, Dr. Lee earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in composition from the University of Michigan in 2005. As a composition fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center in 2002, he added Osvaldo Golijov, Michael Gandolfi, Steven Mackey and Kaija Saariaho to his roster of teachers, and studied conducting with Stefan Asbury.

Among his numerous awards and honors, Dr. Lee was named the winner of the Sphinx Commissioning Consortium for the 2011-2012 season. He is a professor of music at Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD.

Guest soloist Rodolfo Zanetti is a native of Argentina, where the bandoneon is particularly popular and an essential instrument in most tango ensembles. Dedicated to playing tango from an early age, he joined the Mancifesta Orchestra and Tango & Punto before co-founding the Quintet Bandó, with which he made well received tours to Washington, Chicago and New York.

Mr. Zanetti studied bandoneon with Jorge Puebla Hilario and Alberto Iribarne, continuing his studies in piano with masters Monica Rizzo and Roberto Urbay at the National University of Cuyo in Mendoza, Argentina.

He played bandoneon on the 2018 album “Vigor Tanguero” by Pedro Giraudo, which received the Latin Grammy Award for best tango album.

In-person or livestream tickets for the April 22 concert may be purchased online at www.midatlanticsymphony.org.For additional information, call 888-846-8600 or email [email protected]

The only professional symphony orchestra serving Maryland’s Eastern Shore and southern Delaware, the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council; the Talbot County Arts Council; the Worcester County Arts Council; the Sussex County, DE Council; and the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, Inc.

Joseph Boulogne

The Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra will celebrate Black History Month with a performance of Violin Concerto Opus 7 No. 2 by Joseph Boulogne, the first classical music composer of African ancestry.

The concerto, featuring New York City Ballet Concertmaster Kurt Nikkanen as guest soloist, will be performed for live and virtual audiences on March 4 at 7:30 PM at the Church of God in Easton, MD. The program also includes Dmitri Shostakovich’s Chamber Symphony, and Joseph Haydn’s Cello Concerto No. 1 in C Major, with the Orchestra’s principal cellist, Jacques-Pierre Malan, as soloist.

Boulogne, the son of a French landowner and his wife’s African slave, was born on the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe in 1745. Though little is known about his musical training, by the 1770s he was recognized as an accomplished violinist, conductor, composer and teacher, with Marie Antoinette among his students.

His compositions include eight symphonies concertantes – a popular 18^th Century French genre in which two or more solo instruments contrast with the full orchestra – as well as operas, several violin concertos and a large volume of chamber music.

Boulogne, who died in 1799, also was an accomplished dancer, equestrian and fencer.

“Few composers have led lives as varied and as interesting as Joseph Boulogne,” said Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra Music Director Julien Benichou. “Though largely ignored for two centuries, his music is now receiving the attention it merits. We are delighted to present the second violin concerto, which captures the composer’s flair for melody and whimsy.”

Tickets to attend the performance as a member of the live, socially-distanced audience of up to 150 individuals are $45, while supplies last. Tickets to view the concert livestream are $15. Both in-person and virtual tickets include special pre- and post-concert events hosted by Maestro Benichou, as well as on-demand replays of the concert through March 11.

In-person or livestream tickets may be purchased online at www.midatlanticsymphony.org.

For additional information about the March 4 concert, email [email protected] or call 888-846-8600.

The only professional symphony orchestra serving Maryland’s Eastern Shore and southern Delaware, the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council; the Talbot County Arts Council; the Worcester County Arts Council; the Sussex County, DE Council; and the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, Inc.

The Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra resumes its “Season Reimagined” on March 4 with a performance of Joseph Boulogne’s Violin Concerto, a work that brought critical acclaim to the talented son of an African slave.

The program, which begins at 7:30 PM at the Church of God in Easton, MD, also includes Dmitri Shostakovich’s Chamber Symphony, and features the Orchestra’s principal cellist, Jacques-Pierre Malan, in Joseph Haydn’s riveting Cello Concerto No. 1 in C Major. New York City Ballet Concertmaster Kurt Nikkanen will be guest soloist for Boulogne’s Violin Concerto Op. 7 No. 2.

Tickets to attend the performance as a member of the live, socially-distanced audience of up to 150 individuals are $45, while supplies last. Tickets to view the concert livestream are $15. Both in-person and virtual tickets include special pre- and post-concert events hosted by Maestro Benichou, as well as on-demand replays of the concert through March 14.

In-person or livestream tickets may be purchased online at www.midatlanticsymphony.org.

“Our reimagined season’s focus on string works gives us the opportunity to showcase wonderful compositions that are seldom heard” said Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra Music Director Julien Benichou. “We are fortunate to have inspired soloists such as Jacques-Pierre Malan and Kurt Nikkanen help us bring some of these works to life to inspire and enrich our valued audience members.”

Jacques-Pierre Malan

Born in 1745 to a wealthy French colonial planter and his wife’s African slave, Boulogne studied music and fencing as a child. He first gained prominence for the latter, with King Louis XV naming him Chevalier de Saint-Georges, after his father’s noble title, though French law prohibited Boulogne from officially inheriting the title because of his African ancestry.

Boulogne, considered the first Black classical composer, earned public and critical acclaim with his two violin concertos, which premiered in 1772. He also composed symphonies and operas, and gained prominence as a virtuoso violinist and conductor.

Composed in the early 1760s, Haydn’s Cello Concerto score was lost until 1961, when it was discovered in a collection at the Prague National Museum. This early work, predating his D major cello concerto by around 20 years, shows the young Haydn as a master of instrumental writing.

Shostakovich’s Chamber Symphony is based on the String Quartet No. 8 in C minor, Op. 110, which he composed in 1960 while working on music for a Soviet-East German film about the Allied bombing of Dresden during World War II. The score was later arranged for string orchestra by Rudolf Barshai as the Chamber Symphony, Op. 110a.

Jacques-Pierre Malan, a native of South Africa, is taking the classical music world by storm with his unparalleled performances, innovative projects, and uncompromising dedication to energizing and uplifting both audiences and musicians. After earning his master’s degree at the Peabody Conservatory in 2016, Mr. Malan was invited to remain in the United States under a special visa for extraordinary artists, sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Symphony and several other organizations.

Mr. Malan has performed around the world, serves as an advocate for South African classical musicians in the United States, and returns to South Africa each year. On his most recent visit, he performed the Haydn C Major cello concerto in his home town Bloemfontein with the Free State Symphony Orchestra.

Mr. Nikkanen made his Carnegie Hall debut at age 12 and later was invited by Zubin Mehta to perform with the New York Philharmonic for a Young People’s Concert. A graduate of the Juilliard School, he has performed in Europe, Japan, the Far East, and in the United States with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Cleveland Orchestra, among others.

For additional information about the March 4 concert, email [email protected] or call 888-846-8600.

The only professional symphony orchestra serving Maryland’s Eastern Shore and southern Delaware, the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council; the Talbot County Arts Council; the Worcester County Arts Council; the Sussex County, DE Council; and the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, Inc.

The Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra will welcome the New Year with a festive program featuring acclaimed mezzo-soprano Lisa Chavez and discounted livestream gift tickets to allow patrons to share the concert with family members and friends.

Lisa Chavez

The December 31 non-subscription concert begins at 7 PM at the Church of God in Easton, MD, with both virtual and live, socially-distanced audiences.

“It will be very exciting for our audience to hear Liza Chavez, one of the great American mezzos of today,” said Mid-Atlantic Symphony Music Director Julien Benichou.“Everyone who hears her sing agrees that there is no one else like her.”

Hailed by the Opera News for “her buttery, richly colored mezzo,” Ms. Chavez is widely known for the role of Carmen, which she has performed with companies including the New York City Opera. Other roles with the New York City Opera have included Paula in Florencia en el Amazonas, which Opera Today hailed as a“most compelling performance,” observing that “with a rich, healthy mezzo voice, she brings the most three-dimensionality to her character.”

Ms. Chavez earned her master’s degree from the Manhattan School of Music after studying at California State University-Hayward. She has been a member of opera companies in San Jose, CA and Sarasota, FL, and made her Carnegie Hall debut in Dan Forrest’s Jubilate Deo. Ms. Chavez is a founding member of Opera Collective, an independent opera company making operatic repertoire accessible throughout New York City.

Tickets to attend the New Year’s Eve performance as a member of the live, socially-distanced audience of up to 150 individuals are $85, while supplies last. Individual tickets to view the concert livestream are $25. Gift tickets for the livestream are available at five for $100, a $25 savings from the individual ticket price.

All tickets include access to pre- and post-concert discussions led by Maestro Benichou.

Tickets may be purchased online at the Orchestra’s website,midatlanticsymphony.org. For additional information, call 888-846-8600 or email [email protected].

In addition to the December 31 program, the Mid-Atlantic Symphony’s season includes concerts on March 4 and April 22, 2021.

The only professional symphony orchestra serving Maryland’s Eastern Shore and southern Delaware, the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council; the Talbot County Arts Council; the Worcester County Arts Council; the Sussex County, DE Council; and the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, Inc.

The Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra continues its tradition of sharing seasonal cheer when it presents its popular Holiday Joy program on December 3.

The 7 PM performance, at the Church of God in Easton, MD, features a selection of festive holiday music performed by the Orchestra’s strings and guest soloists including internationally celebrated violinist Virgil Boutelis-Taft, critically acclaimed soprano Alexandra Raszkazoff and up-and-coming tenor Michael Butler.

“With the ongoing pandemic changing holiday plans for so many of us, the Mid-Atlantic Symphony is pleased to continue its long-standing practice of celebrating the season with a program of traditional and contemporary holiday music,” said Music Director Julien Benichou. “Our musicians and guest artists look forward to sharing the joy of seasonal favorites and, perhaps, a few surprises.”

Tickets to attend the performance as a member of the live, socially-distanced audience of up to 150 individuals are $45, while supplies last. Individual tickets to view the concert livestream are $15.

To enable patrons to share the popular Holiday Joy program with family and friends, gift tickets to view the livestream are available at five for $50, a savings of $25 from the individual livestream ticket price. Both in-person and virtual tickets, as well as gift tickets, include special pre- and post-concert events hosted by Maestro Benichou, as well as on-demand replays of the concert through December 10.

In-person, livestream or gift tickets may be purchased online at the Orchestra’s website, www.midatlanticsymphony.org. For additional information, call 888-846-8600 or email [email protected].

Virgil Boutellis-Taft, hailed by The STRAD magazine for the “jeweled sonority” of his playing, has performed as soloist and chamber musician at major international venues including the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall and London’s Wigmore Hall. After receiving the First Prize of the Conservatoire de Paris at age 16, he continued his studies at the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest, the Royal College of Music in London and Tel Aviv University.

Acclaimed by The New York Times as a “richly faceted, slinky soprano,” Alexandra Raszkazoffhas performed with opera companies and chorales around the world. She received her bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from the Peabody Conservatory and earned her master’s degree at The Juilliard School, where she was the recipient of Toulmin Foundation Scholarship and the Novick Career Advancement Grant.

Although still a student at the University of Maryland, Michael Butler already is a sought-after artist. He won the National Young Arts Foundation Vocal Competition in 2018 and, in 2019, was selected for an Encouragement Award in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. He has performed with companies including the Washington Opera Society and the Washington Lyric Opera.

In addition to the December 3 program, the Mid-Atlantic Symphony’s season includes concerts on March 4 and April 22, 2021. A special non-subscription New Year’s Eve program featuring acclaimed mezzo-soprano Lisa Chavez is planned for December 31.

The only professional symphony orchestra serving Maryland’s Eastern Shore and southern Delaware, the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council; the Talbot County Arts Council; the Worcester County Arts Council; the Sussex County, DE Council; and the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, Inc.