The Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra’s Brass Quintet will perform a selection of classical brass repertoire and seasonal favorites during a special program in Easton on Sunday, December 19.

The program, at Christ Church, 111 South Harrison Street, begins at 4 PM. Tickets are $35 and may be purchased in advance, online at www.midatlanticsymphony.org or by calling 888-846-8600. Tickets also will be available at the door.

“This special program affords the opportunity to present several exceptional but seldom heard classical compositions for brass, as well as holiday standards from the 17^th Century to the present,” said MSO General Manager, Dane Krich. “Showcasing the talent of several of the Mid-Atlantic Symphony’s professional musicians, the Holiday Brass concert is certain to please audience members of all ages and musical tastes.”

The program includes Jean-Joseph Mouret’s Rondeau, which is used as the theme song for the Masterpiece Series on PBS. The classical portion of the program also includes “Rose Without A Thorn,” a suite composed by King Henry VIII, and works by Bach and Joseph Bologne.

Popular seasonal tunes include Joy to the World, Silent Night, Little Drummer Boy, Sleigh Ride, and more.

The program will be performed by Luke Engelke and Guy McIntosh, trumpet; Michael Hall, French horn; Nick Mazziott, trombone; Zach Bridges, tuba; and Dane Krich, percussion.

To ensure the safety of its audience members and musicians, the Orchestra requires proof of COVID-19 vaccination for everyone entering venues. In addition, Christ Church requires that masks be worn.

The only professional symphony orchestra serving southern Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore, 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 2021-2022 season in mid-November with a program featuring two oboe concertos performed by guest soloist Joshua Lauretig, Tchaikovsky’s String Serenade and the premier of Maestro Julien Benichou’s Romance for Strings.

“Our November program highlights music composed to showcase strings and double reeds,” Benichou said. “We are fortunate to have award-winning oboist Joshua Lauretig perform these works with the Mid-Atlantic Symphony’s outstanding violin, viola, cello and double bass players.”

In addition to the String Serenade and Romance for Strings, the concert includes Antonio Vivaldi’s Oboe Concerto in C Major and Alessandro Marcello’s Concerto for Oboe and Strings in D Minor.

The program will be performed on Thursday, November 11 at the Easton Church of God in Easton, MD at 7:30 PM; on Saturday, November 13 at Epworth United Methodist Church in Rehoboth Beach at 7:30 PM; and on Sunday, November 14 at Community Church in Ocean Pines, MD at 3 PM.

Individual tickets for the November concert are $45. For additional information or to order tickets, visit www.midatlanticsymphony.org. Tickets also may be ordered by telephone at 888-846-8600, or purchased at the door.

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

A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, where he received the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Fellowship, Joshua Lauretig was awarded first prize in the International Double Reed Society’s 2014 Young Artist Competition and earned Honorable Mention in the 2019 Gillet-Fox Oboe Competition. He has performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, among others, and is the second oboist of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.

Acclaimed as both a composer and conductor, Julien Benichou is an avid supporter of new music. He has received numerous commissions for theater, film and concert music, most recently from the Siberian State Symphony Orchestra. He has guest-conducted orchestras in the United States and abroad, and is in his 16^th season as Mid-Atlantic Symphony music director. He also serves as principal conductor of the Washington Opera Society.

Benichou began his studies in his native France, received a graduate performance diploma from the Peabody Institute, earned a master’s degree from Northwestern University and also pursued graduate studies at Yale University.

Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for String Orchestra in C Major Opus 48 was written in 1880 and was the composer’s only major work for string orchestra. Sketches for both a symphony and a string quartet suggest the unusual origin of this work. Tchaikovsky noted in a letter that he wanted the Serenade to be his “…homage to Mozart….”

Although Alessandro Marcello, who lived from 1673 to 1747, did not write a lot of music, his Oboe Concerto in D Minor Opus 1 was well known in its time. Johann Sebastian Bach transcribed the work for harpsichord in 1715.

Antonio Vivaldi’s Oboe Concerto in C Major was most likely written for the students at La Pieta, a girls’ school at which he became music director in 1716. His contract required writing two concerti a month for the girls’ orchestra; over his lifetime, he would compose more than 500, in addition to dozens of sonatas and operas.

The only professional symphony orchestra serving southern Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore, 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 opens its 2021-2022 season in late September with a program featuring Beethoven’s monumental “Eroica” symphony and works by Mussorgsky and Ravel.

“We are delighted to open our 24^th season with the return of a full orchestra performing live for our audiences,” said Music Director Julien Benichou. “Beethoven’s Eroica will pay tribute to all the unsung heroes of the period we have just gone through. The second movement, the Funeral March, will pay homage to the victims of COVID-19.”

In addition to the “Eroica” symphony, the concert includes Mussorgsky’s Overture to Khovanshchina and Ravel’s La Tombeau de Couperin. The program will be performed on September 23 at Easton High School at 7:30 PM; at Cape Henlopen High School in Lewes, DE on September 25 at 7:30 PM; and at the Ocean City Performing Arts Center on September 26 at 3 PM.

Individual tickets for the September concert are $45. Subscriptions for all five regular-season concerts are $195, with patrons free to choose from any of the three locations for each program. Tickets for a special non-subscription New Year’s Eve concert at Christ Church in Easton, MD are $60 for general admission $85 for premium seating.

For additional information or to order tickets, visit www.midatlanticsymphony.org. Tickets also may be ordered by telephone at 888-846-8600.

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

Ludwig van Beethoven composed his Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major, Opus 55 (“Eroica”) between 1800 and 1804. One of Beethoven’s most celebrated works, the symphony set new boundaries in form, length, technical challenge, and emotional content. It is widely considered a landmark in the transition between the Classical and the Romantic eras.

Beethoven originally entitled the symphony Bonaparte, since he regarded Napoleon as the champion of the ideals of the French Revolution. After Napoleon declared himself emperor, Beethoven gave the piece its current name.

Modest Mussorgsky’s Overture to Khovanshchina, orchestrated by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, was composed between 1872 and 1875, and was incomplete when Mussorgsky died. The opera tells the story of the insurrection led by Prince Ivan Khovansky against the young Peter the Great and his unstable brother Ivan. The overture’s atmospheric beauty, with a folk-like theme repeated in multiple variations, stands in sharp contrast to the vicious political strife in Russia.

Maurice Ravel completed Le Tombeau de Couperin in 1917. A tombeau (tomb) in music is considered a musical monument, in this case to Francois Couperin, a celebrated French composer of harpsichord music. Originally a suite of six pieces written for piano, Ravel later orchestrated four of the sections for orchestra, and dedicated them to several friends and acquaintances who died in action during World War I.

The only professional symphony orchestra serving southern Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore, 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 make “A Heroic Return” to full orchestral performances in its 2021-2022 season, with all five subscription series concerts presented at venues in Delaware’s Cape Henlopen region as well as on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

The Orchestra’s 24^th season includes Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major (“Eroica”), as well as works by Brahms, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Vivaldi and more. It also marks the return of the Elizabeth Loker Concerto Competition, which was suspended last season as the Orchestra reimagined its season due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

“The monumental Third Symphony marked a turning point in musical history and in Beethoven’s career, with the music’s power and weight representing heroism,” said Maestro Julien Benichou. “The Mid-Atlantic Symphony and its musicians are honored to perform this masterpiece in memory of those we lost during the pandemic, and in tribute to the heroic medical professionals and first responders who supported us during a very difficult time.”

“We are indebted to Maestro Benichou and the MSO musicians for continuing to perform throughout the pandemic, even as other orchestras fell silent,” said Mid-Atlantic Symphony Board Chair Jeffrey Parker. “We look forward to again presenting full-orchestra programs and to making a full season of performance available at venues in Lewes and Rehoboth Beach.”

In addition to the “Eroica” symphony, the season-opening concert includes Mussorgsky’s Overture to Khovanshchina and Ravel’sLa Tombeau de Couperin. The program will be performed on September 23 at Easton High School at 7:30 PM; at Cape Henlopen High School on September 25 at 7:30 PM; and at the Ocean City Performing Arts Center on September 26 at 3 PM.

Vivaldi’s Oboe Concerto, with guest soloist Joshua Lauretig, and Tchaikovsky’s String Serenade highlight the season’s second concert, performed on November 11 at 7:30 PM at the Church of God in Easton, MD; on November 13 at 7:30 PM at Epworth United Methodist Church in Rehoboth Beach; and on November 14 at 3 PM at the Community Church in Ocean Pines, MD.

The popular Holiday Joy program features a selection of seasonal favorites with French soprano Norah Amsellem, who has performed at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Milan’s La Scala, London’s Royal Opera and Vienna State Opera, among others. The festive program will be presented on December 3 at 7 PM at the Avalon Theatre in Easton, MD; on December 4 at 7 PM at Cape Henlopen High School; and on December 5 at 3 PM at the Ocean City Performing Arts Center.

The MSO’s non-subscription “Toast to the New Year” program features soprano Leah Hawkins, a recent alumna of the Lindemann Young Artist Development Program at the Metropolitan Opera, who will perform operatic and popular favorites. The single performance will begin at 7 PM on December 31 at Christ Church in Easton, MD.

The winner of the second Loker Concerto Competition will perform at the MSO’s March concerts, which also include Saint-Saëns’ Concerto No. 2 for Cello, with guest soloist Dominique de Willencourt, and Schumann’s Symphony No. 2. The program will be presented on March 10, 2022 at the Church of God in Easton, MD at 7:30 PM; on March 12 at Epworth United Methodist Church in Rehoboth Beach at 3 PM; and on March 13 at the Community Church in Ocean Pines, MD at 3 PM.

Brahms’ uplifting Symphony No. 2 and Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto in A Major, with guest soloist Yao Guang Zhai, highlight the season finale, presented on April 22, 2022 at Chesapeake College’s Todd Performing Arts Center in Wye Mills, MD. The program will be repeated on April 23 at Cape Henlopen High School and on April 24 at the Ocean City Performing Arts Center. All three performances begin at 7 PM.

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 $30, $45 or $50, depending upon the program and venue. Tickets for the New Year’s Eve program are $60 for general admission $85 for premium seating.

Tickets to view the New Year’s Eve and April 24 season finale concerts via livestream also are available for $15 each. The livestream viewing option, with replays available for 10 days following the performance, is included with subscription and individual ticket purchases.

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

For additional information or to order tickets, visit www.midatlanticsymphony.org. Tickets also may be ordered by telephone at 888-846-8600.

The only professional symphony orchestra serving southern Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore, 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.

Whether you’re a lover of great music, the visual arts, excellent foods and wines or fun and unusual adventures, the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra’s “Fine Living 2021” online auction offers something for every taste.

Prominent items up for bid include in-home performances by bass-baritone Kevin Short, who has performed with The Metropolitan Opera, and by Mid-Atlantic Symphony musicians playing classics or jazz as quartets, trios or solo. Another bidder will have the opportunity to conduct the Orchestra during its annual Holiday Joy concert in December.

Other items range from paintings and prints by talented local artists to baskets of fine wines and foods. The auction also offers online master classes with New York City Ballet Concertmaster Kurt Nikkanen and with Mid-Atlantic Symphony musicians, and the opportunity to share a breakfast, lunch or dinner with Music Director Julien Benichou.

A complete list of auction items is available at www.midatlanticsymphony.org. Bidding opens on May 1 and will run through May 22.

“With restrictions on large public gatherings preventing us from enjoying our traditional Spring Gala, the online auction represents a safe way to raise funds for the Orchestra while also offering bidders a wide selection of quality items,” said Mid-Atlantic Symphony Board Chair Jeffrey Parker.

“Best of all, anyone, from anywhere, can bid on the unique items we’re offering, many of which have been donated by our musicians, local artists, businesses and our board members,” he added.

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.