Easton, MD – On Thursday, June 5, the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra (MSO) honored two major cultural leaders with its 2025 Legacy Awards at a sold-out Gala Dinner in Easton, Maryland. Now in its 27th year as the regional professional orchestra of the Delmarva Peninsula, the MSO presented its National Legacy Award to Deborah Rutter, immediate Past President of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and its annual Legacy Award to Maestro Julien Benichou, Past Music Director of the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra.

In presenting the awards, MSO Chairman Jeffrey Parker stated, “Deborah Rutter has inspired all of us in America’s arts community as the long-time leader of our national arts center, and Julien Benichou dramatically raised the professional quality of our orchestra, and expanded its season and its supporter base.”

Deborah Rutter, in her 11 years heading the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, has provided the Nation with leadership across the broadest range of the arts, including arts education, multi-disciplinary arts training, support and enrichment; and symphonic music, opera, theater, contemporary dance, ballet, vocal music, chamber music, hip hop, comedy, international music and jazz.

She oversaw the Kennedy Center’s first physical expansion with the REACH, which opened in September 2019, and transformed the Center’s mission into one inclusive of diverse art forms. In 2022, she conceived and opened the permanent exhibit Art and Ideals: President John F. Kennedy. Rutter previously served as President of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and held leadership roles at the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and Seattle Symphony Orchestra.

Julien Benichou served for 17 years as Music Director and Conductor of the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, transforming it from a community ensemble into a fully professional orchestra. Appointed in 2004—under the leadership of then Board President Andrea Barnes—Benichou was quickly embraced by the MSO community, including early patron Lucienne Wolf, who supported him like family.

Under his charismatic leadership, audiences across the region grew steadily—not only for the music, but to experience the energy and warmth Julien brought to the podium. He worked tirelessly alongside the MSO Board to expand performances across the Delmarva Peninsula, including outreach to Rehoboth Beach and the creation of the now-beloved Toast to the New Year concerts, which will celebrate their 11th season this December.

One of Julien’s long-held dreams became reality in 2019 with the founding of the Elizabeth Loker International Concerto Competition (ELICC). Despite a brief interruption due to COVID-19, the competition has become a central feature of the MSO’s season.

In 2020, while most orchestras suspended operations, Benichou—together with MSO leadership—rapidly developed the “Season of Strings,” safely performing at the Church of God in Easton and livestreaming every concert to continue serving audiences during the pandemic.

Julien also led the MSO in special performances at the Embassy of France in Washington, DC, and in collaboration with the Washington Opera Society. His 17-year tenure left a profound artistic and organizational legacy. It is not an overstatement to say that the MSO as we know it today owes its very existence to his leadership. In 2024, he was knighted by the Ambassador of France with the title Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.

Deborah Rutter, in her keynote remarks, emphasized the need to “continue to support the artist wherever they feel welcome, supported, empowered and unencumbered to share their art and express their creative talent.” She called on artists and leaders alike to embrace their roles as citizen artists, a concept she co-developed with Yo-Yo Ma during her time at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, advocating for artists to engage deeply with their communities and to consider the broader impact of their work.

The Legacy Awards Dinner featured a performance by the MSO’s principal string musicians, remarks from Music Director Michael Repper on the future of the Orchestra, and a lively auction that included a chance to conduct the MSO at its 2025 Holiday Joy concert, a private plane excursion over the Chesapeake Bay, an eight-day European Viking cruise, and a private dinner for eight with celebrity chef Jordan Lloyd.

ABOUT THE MID-ATLANTIC SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

The Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra (MSO) is the only professional symphony orchestra serving southern Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore with a full season of programs. The MSO is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council, the Talbot County Arts Council, the Worcester County Arts Council, the Sussex County (Delaware) Council, and the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, Inc.

A complete schedule of the 2025-2026 season’s Masterworks and Ensembles programs, including venues, times, and other details, is available at www.midatlanticsymphony.org.

The Talbot County Free Library and Bayside Quilters of the Eastern Shore are proud to present a special installation of quilts to celebrate TCFL’s 100th Anniversary. The installation will be displayed at the Easton Branch of the Talbot County Free Library from May 29 to October 3, 2025. 

The installation features 64 beautifully designed and constructed quilts created by Bayside Quilters guild members and hung throughout the library. The quilts display a range of styles – including traditional, contemporary, modern, appliqué, hand and machine quilting and art. 

From the exuberant swirls of a modern appliqué quilt to traditional quilts honoring the Eastern Shore and the natural world – visitors are sure to be dazzled by the array of colors, patterns and themes on display.

The collaboration is a part of the library’s year-long Centennial Celebrations – a brochure with information on the Bayside Quilters and the quilts displayed will be available at the Circulation Desk for the duration of the installation. 

The Bayside Quilters of the Eastern Shore is a guild committed to the creation, study, and sharing of quilts and quilt making, and have been proudly serving the community for over 30 years. 

“Outreach is core to our mission statement … We are honored to help celebrate the Talbot County Free Library’s 100th Anniversary. The art and craft of quilting goes hand in hand with reading” reports a Guild representative. “Whether it’s learning how to quilt through How-to books, getting inspired by reading fiction or nonfiction or just taking a break. Audible books can be checked out through Hoopla. Listening to a book while stitching is another way quilters use the library services.”

Bayside Quilters meet on the 2nd Wednesday of the month from 9a.m. to about noon at the Trappe Volunteer Fire Company, 4001 Powell Ave, Trappe, MD. Visitors are welcome, and everyone is invited to join. For more information visit, baysidequilters.com, or check out on Facebook at Bayside Quilters of the Eastern Shore.

For more information about the installation and the Talbot County Free Library, visit www.tcfl.org, or call (410) 822-1626. \

Once a year, something extraordinary happens in the forest at Adkins Arboretum. The sound of music weaves between tree trunks, rustles new leaves, and flows under bridges, beckoning curious ears closer. Forest Music is a unique live music experience featuring young musicians and their mentors who are participating in the two-week National Music Festival in Chestertown, MD. The musicians are situated at intervals on the Arboretum’s wooded trails and play for event attendees who meander the trails at their own pace. 

Over the years, Forest Music has featured the sounds of violins, clarinets, horns, bassoons, double basses, and even steel drums. The repertoire is equally diverse,

ranging from classical masterpieces by Bach to timeless hits by the Beatles and even original compositions explicitly crafted for the Arboretum’s forest. The event draws a vibrant mix of more than 300 visitors from the Festival, the local community, and beyond. 

While the National Music Festival provides numerous performance opportunities, Forest Music is its most unique. It offers the musicians an opportunity to participate in a performance art event, experience the acoustics beneath a woodland canopy, and interact one-on-one with the visitors who pause on the trails to hear them play. 

This year’s event sponsors include the Caroline County Council of Art, the Maryland State Arts Council, Unity Landscape, and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisor Catherine Joyce. 

Forest Music takes place on Thursday, June 12 from 2–4 pm. Light refreshments will be served, and wine will be available for purchase. Golf carts with drivers will be available for less mobile individuals. Advance registration is requested. Tickets are $10 per person. 

To register, visit adksinarboretum.org or call 410-634-2847. 

A 400-acre native garden and preserve, Adkins Arboretum provides exceptional experiences in nature to promote environmental stewardship. 

The Kent County chapter of the Delmarva Pride Center  is proud to announce that it will host the powerful photo exhibit Authentic Selves:  Celebrating Trans and Nonbinary People and Their Families at the Garfield Center for the  Arts in Chestertown throughout the month of June, in honor of Pride Month. 

Developed by Family Diversity Projects, Authentic Selves is a traveling exhibit that uses  photography and personal narratives to amplify the voices and lived experiences of  transgender and nonbinary people across the United States. Each portrait is paired with  heartfelt stories that explore the joys, challenges, and resilience of individuals and their  families. Photographs by Robin Rayne, Gigi Kaeser, Jill Meyers, and others. Interviews by  Peggy Gillespie. 

“The Authentic Selves exhibit offers an intimate and deeply moving look at trans and  nonbinary lives,” said Francoise Sullivan, Chair of the Kent County chapter. “At a time when  LGBTQIA+ communities, particularly trans individuals, are facing increasing scrutiny and  threats across the country, this exhibit offers both visibility and celebration.” 

The exhibit will be on display in the lobby at the Garfield Center for the Arts, located at 210  High Street, Chestertown, MD, from June 1 through June 30, 2025. Visitors can view the  exhibit in the lobby during Tuesday Pride Center drop-in hours (10am-1pm) or regular  Garfield Center box office hours (Wed-Fri 10am-3pm). To schedule a visit outside of normal  hours, please contact Francoise Sullivan at [email protected]. 

The Kent County chapter of the Delmarva Pride Center invites residents and visitors to  engage with Authentic Selves as part of a broader celebration of Pride Month, which  includes a variety of events aimed at fostering inclusion, education, and support for LGBTQIA+ individuals and their families. 

For more information about the exhibit and other chapter events in Kent County, please  visit www.dpckentcounty.org.

About Family Diversity Projects: 

Family Diversity Projects is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating people of all  ages about the full range of diversity. Through award-winning traveling photo-text exhibits,  the organization aims to eliminate prejudice, stereotyping, bullying, and harassment of  people who are discriminated against due to sexual orientation, gender identity, race,  national origin, religion, and disabilities.  

About the Delmarva Pride Center: 

The Delmarva Pride Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and  advocating for the LGBTQIA+ community throughout the Delmarva Peninsula. Through  educational programs, outreach initiatives, and social events, the Center strives to create a more inclusive and affirming society for all. 

For more information about the Delmarva Pride Center, please visit 

www.delmarvapridecenter.com or email [email protected].

Allegro Academy invites all singers to join the Summer Sing Choir Festival to take place July 26 at Easton’s Waterfowl Building.  Nearly 100 community musicians alongside professional soloists and instrumentalists come together to perform a major choral work for this annual event.  This year’s program will feature Dan Forrest’s Jubilate Deo, a global, celebratory setting of Psalm 100 in seven different languages. 

“Dan Forrest’s Jubilate Deo brings to life the global aspect of the traditional Psalm 100 text, “O be joyful in the Lord, all ye lands,” by setting it in seven different languages and drawing from a wide spectrum of musical influences. Each movement combines some characteristics of its language-group’s musical culture with the composer’s own musical language. Movements include liturgical Latin, intertwined Hebrew and Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, Zulu, Spanish, Song of the Earth (untexted), and a closing movement combining several of these languages with English. The result is a stunning global celebration of joy, as all the earth sings as one, “omnis terra, jubilate!””

Singers will begin rehearsals the week of July 7, and will find plenty of assistance along the way including recordings and rehearsal tracks.  There is no audition or participation fee required for singers, in keeping with the Allegro mission to make exceptional music performance and education opportunities available to all.  The Summer Sing Choir Festival was founded and is directed by Amy Morgan, a skilled conductor, educator, performer, and Artistic Director of Allegro Academy.

For more information please visit www.allegroacademyeaston.com or call 410-603-8361. Programs of Allegro Academy are funded by generous community members, Talbot Arts, the Mid-Shore Community Foundations, and the Maryland State Arts Council.

On Saturday, June 21, The Mainstay, in partnership with the Hedgelawn Foundation, welcomes a return visit from one of Kent County’s favorite bluegrass groups, The High and Wides.

The High and Wides were formed in 2015, and have roots both in Baltimore and the Eastern Shore. They draw on a shared background playing straight ahead bluegrass, but weave in influences from new wave to old time to make music that evokes the era before country, bluegrass, rockabilly, western swing, and rock’n’roll broke off into separate and strictly defined genres.

They have released two full-length albums of original music, 2018’s “Lifted” (Lifted” reached #10 on Billboard’s bluegrass chart and was hailed as “quietly revolutionary” by David Bromberg in No Depression magazine).   and 2019’s “Seven True Stories”. In March 2022 they released their first album of covers, “Blood”, which pays tribute to exemplars of the two-part “brother duet” singing style that first inspired the formation of the band.

Members are Marc Dykeman (guitar, vocals), Sam Guthridge (banjo, mandolin, vocals), Nate Grower (fiddle), and Mike Buccino (bass).

Showtime for the Mainstay concert event is 8 pm. Tickets are $20 in advance of the show and can be purchased online at mainstayrockhall.org. Phone reservations are accepted by calling (410) 639-9133 (tickets reserved by phone are $25 when paid at the door). The Mainstay is located at 5753 N Main Street in Rock Hall,

Its regular calendar of local, regional, and nationally touring artists features a live performance every week of the year (February through December) in a variety of music genres.

The programs of the Mainstay are also supported in part with funding from the Maryland State Arts Council and the Kent Cultural Alliance.

The Bookplate is continuing their 2025 season of author lectures on June 11th with author Chris Filstrup for a 6pm event at Sultana’s Lawrence Wetlands Preserve. He will be discussing his new book; The Turban: A History from East to West.

Unravel the fascinating history of the turban, from its origins to its religious uses and its appearance in contemporary fashion and culture.

A turban is a strip of cloth folded and wrapped around the head; however, this description includes multifarious forms of the garment across space and time. This book follows the turban as it moves from the Arabian Peninsula through the Ottoman Empire to Europe and the Americas. It directs the reader’s gaze from traditional and religious uses of the turban into the realms of international trade, Renaissance art, and contemporary fashions. Turbans, as this book shows, have moved in and out of Western culture, at times archaic and forgotten, then noticed and reinstated as major accessories. Today Sikh men are recognized by their distinctive headwraps, and the turban remains an important part of Black culture. This book explores the turban’s many adaptations worldwide. 

‘I’m impressed by the scope of this study, from the turban as a marker of religious affiliation to a prop for Rembrandt to a distinctive fashion for women. Headgear off to Filstrup and Merrill.’ – Gay Talese

‘The Turban is a lively romp through the history and geography of this now ubiquitous headgear. The book offers unexpected nuggets from ancient origins in Asia to the turban’s function in contemporary fashion.’ – Thomas DaCosta Kaufmann, Marquand Professor of Art and Archaeology, Princeton University

Chris Filstrup was chief of the Oriental Division at the New York Public Library and dean of libraries at Stony Brook University.  He lives in Alexandria, Virginia.

For more event details contact The Bookplate at 410-778-4167 or [email protected]. These events are free and open to the public, but reservations are strongly recommended. As a reminder; patrons may be dropped off at the gate to the preserve, but there is no parking on site. The Lawrence Wetlands Preserve is located at 301 S. Mill Street in Chestertown, Maryland.

Collaboration with The Talbot Spy lets film buffs enjoy sneak peaks and discussions with  Festival’s award-winning producers and directors 

The Chesapeake Film Festival (‘CFF”) is thrilled to announce a  dynamic new media partnership with The Talbot Spy! Together, CFF is launching an exclusive  monthly podcast series packed with the latest festival news, behind-the-scenes stories, and in-depth conversations with the creative minds behind this year’s films. Get insider access to  filmmakers, producers, and directors, and don’t miss special appearances by industry standouts  like, Rebekah Louisa Smith, The Pearl Comb, Spirit of Place and When Everything Was Blue, Kimberly Skyrme, Now What?, The Other You and Lives Beyond Motion, Harold Jackson, The  Novelist, Monda Raquel Webb, Mother Knows Best and Francisco Salazar, Colibri. Subscribe to  The Talbot Spy, follow Chesapeake Film Festival on social media, or visit our website  www.chesapeakefilmfestival.com and subscribe to receive news to catch every exciting  episode!  

Early Bird Tickets are now on sale 

Save your seat and save money by purchasing early-bird tickets to the Chesapeake Film  Festival, October 10-12, showcasing over 45 of the finest independent and student films in  historic downtown Easton. Enjoy 17% off the standard $150 ticket price and guarantee yourself  a seat at the Festival’s top screenings at the beautifully renovated Ebenezer Theater, the  Academy Art Museum, and the Talbot County Free Library. Tickets sold out online for the 2024  festival almost a month prior to opening night, so don’t hesitate to reserve your spot today. Click  here for online registration www.chesapeakefilmfestival.com. 

Free Monthly Film Series Continues at the Talbot County Free Library and Oxford  Community Center 

The Chesapeake Film Festival (CFF) and the Talbot County Free Library launched their  collaborative monthly film series in March, celebrating the Library’s 100th Anniversary and  CFF’s 18th Season.  

Coming up next: Wicked on June 21 at 2 PM, followed by Jaws on July 12 at 2 PM,  and Avatar: The Way of Water on Saturday, August 2 at 2 PM—all held at the Talbot County 

Free Library in historic downtown Easton. Part of the Our Bay, Our World, Our Festival series,  these screenings are perfect midweek and weekend cultural escapes, with selections for all ages. 

In addition, a special free screening of Hidden Figures will take place at the Oxford  Community Center on Wednesday, August 6 at 6 PM. This powerful film honors the  contributions of African American women mathematicians at NASA during the space race. 

The series wraps with a free, back-by-popular-demand screening of the American  Masters documentary WYETH on Saturday, September 13 at 2 PM, celebrating the life and  work of American realist painter Andrew Wyeth. 

Upcoming Film Highlights & Key Dates 

• June 21: Wicked —2PM – Talbot County Free Library 
• July 12: Jaws – 2PM — Talbot County Free Library, 2PM 
• August 2: Avatar the Way of Water – 2PM — Talbot County Free Library • August 6: Hidden Figures – 6PM — The Oxford Community Center with panel  discussion  
• September 13: WYETH – 2PM — Talbot County Free Library 
• October 10 to 12 – Chesapeake Film Festival – Ebenezer Theater, Academy Art  Museum and Talbot County Free Library – For Tickets and information visit  www.chesapeakefilmfestival.com 

All June, July, August and September screenings are free and open to the public. No  reservations required.  

CFF programming is brought to you by our generous sponsors the Maryland State Arts Council,  Talbot Arts, Maryland Humanities Council, The Artistic Insights Fund, Richard and Beverly  Tilghman, Talbot County Free Library, The William Lucks Professional Group powered by  Keller Williams Realty, Laser Letters and by generous patrons like you.  

For more information on how to become a sponsor or volunteer or to purchase tickets, please  visit www.chesapeakefilmfestival.com. 

A dynamic season of classical favorites, hidden gems, and intimate chamber performances across the Delmarva Peninsula

Delmarva Peninsula— The Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra (MSO) is proud to unveil its 2025–2026 season, Bold Voices, Eternal Resonance, led by Music Director Michael Repper. With performances spanning Maryland and Delaware, the MSO continues its commitment to delivering world-class orchestral music to the Delmarva region through masterworks concerts, holiday traditions, a celebrated concerto competition, and an expanding chamber ensemble series.

“This season celebrates bold musical voices—some long celebrated, others newly rediscovered—and the timeless resonance of their work,” said Michael Repper, Music Director. “Each program is designed to speak across eras and borders, and we’re excited to bring this music to our audiences with both passion and purpose.”

The season opens in September with Bartók’s Romanian Folk Dances, Emilie Mayer’s Symphony No. 1, and Beethoven’s exhilarating Symphony No. 7. In November, guest conductor George Jackson, Music Director of the Amarillo Symphony, leads a compelling program featuring Beethoven’s Coriolan Overture, Mozart’s Symphony No. 39, and Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 1.

The MSO’s cherished Holiday Joy concerts return in December with soloists Kresley Figueroa (soprano) and Jonathan Patton (baritone), bringing festive cheer to audiences in Wye Mills, Lewes, and Ocean City.

The New Year’s Eve Gala Concert on December 31 at Christ Church features soprano Viviana Goodwin and a joyful, celebratory program titled A Toast to the New Year.

In March, the MSO presents the three finalists of the Elizabeth Loker International Concerto Competition (ELICC) in performance with the whole orchestra at Todd Hall at Chesapeake College, continuing its tradition of elevating the next generation of world-class talent.

April’s program, Morning, Afternoon, Night, presents a musical journey through the day, with Haydn’s Symphonies Nos. 6, 7, and 8, paired with evocative modern works including Dobrinka Tabakova’s Dawn, Susan Day’s Afternoon Soliloquy, and Yukiko Nishimura’s Nightfall.

The season concludes in May with violinist Nora Chastain performing Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5 and Dvořák’s Romance, culminating in a performance of Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 9.

The MSO’s Ensemble Series continues to grow with four distinct programs performed in Easton, Rehoboth Beach, and—new this season—Ocean Pines. These concerts provide audiences a more personal, close-up musical experience, showcasing the artistry of MSO musicians in chamber music settings.

The series opens in October with a Piano Quartet featuring acclaimed pianist Michael McHale (October 10–12). Holiday Brass follows in December (December 19–21), filling intimate venues with the warmth and power of brass holiday favorites.

In February, the Woodwinds & Strings program (February 6–8) will feature Prokofiev’s Quintet in G Minor, highlighting unique tonal colors and textures.The series concludes in May with an inventive Flute, Violin & Jazz Trio program (May 15–17), anchored by Claude Bolling’s Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano Trio.

Season subscriptions and individual concert tickets are now on sale. To view the full schedule, explore concert programs, and purchase your tickets, visit www.midatlanticsymphony.org.

ABOUT THE MID-ATLANTIC SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

The Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra (MSO) is the only professional symphony orchestra serving southern Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore with a full season of programs. The MSO is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council, the Talbot County Arts Council, the Worcester County Arts Council, the Sussex County (Delaware) Council, and the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, Inc.

A complete schedule of the 2025-2026 season’s Masterworks and Ensembles programs, including venues, times, and other details, is available at www.midatlanticsymphony.org.