The Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra (MSO) held its 2023 Elizabeth Loker Concerto Competition on Thursday, January 12th at the Avalon Theater in Easton, Maryland. This year’s annual competition included applicants from throughout the United States ranging from ages 12 to 25. The seven finalists competed in a final live round of the competition in front of a panel of three judges which included, Grammy-nominated MSO Music Director, Michael Repper, MSO Concertmaster, Kimberly McCollum, and MSO Principal Bassoonist, Terry Ewell.

The contestants in the final round were Ethan Nylander of Townsend, DE on flute, Philina Zhang of New York, NY on piano, Elizabeth Song of Haworth, NJ on the violin, James Kang of Newark, DE on the viola, Valerie Wellington of Kansas City, MO on the piano, Haozhou Wang of Philadelphia, PA, on the piano, and Emma Taggart of Brooklyn, NY on the piano. Each of the contestants performed a concerto of their choice in front of the panel of judges and a live audience at the theater. The judges convened and deliberated at the end of the performances before reaching their final decisions.

Prior to announcing the winners, Michael Repper expressed the panel’s delight at the high caliber of each of the contestants’ performances – noting that the judges had a very difficult time selecting the final winners. Ultimately, the panel came to a unanimous decision for the three award recipients.

Pictured: Front row left to right- 1st place winner, Elizabeth Song, honorable mention, Emma Taggart, 2nd Place winner, Ethan Nylander. Back row left to right- MSO Concertmaster, Kimberly McCollum, MSO Principal Bassoonist, Terry Ewell, MSO Music Director, Michael Repper.

The winners were announced as follows: 1st prize, Elizabeth Song performing Henri Vieuxtemps’ Violin Concerto No. 5 in A Minor, 2nd prize, Ethan Nylander performing Jacques Ibert’sConcerto for flute and orchestra, and honorable mention, Emma Taggart performing Florence Price’s Piano Concerto in one movement.

MSO Board President Jeffrey Parker noted that “The Board of Directors was thrilled with the 2023 competition results, as well as the audience’s obvious enthusiasm throughout the evening. This year’s competition drew 41 applicants from across the country. The success of the competition has encouraged the MSO Board to reach further to expand next year’s event, where they hope to have the final round of three contestants compete playing live with the MSO full orchestra.”

This year’s 1st prize winner, Elizabeth Song, along with a cash prize of $2,000, will perform with the MSO at their March concerts, while 2nd prize winner, Ethan Nylander, will perform at the MSO’s Ensemble Series concerts next season.

…CONCERT DETAILS FOLLOW…

WHEN and WHERE: This concert will be performed at three venues on three days on the Delmarva Peninsula.

Thursday, March 9th – 7:30 PM – Easton Church of God, Easton, Maryland

Friday, March 10th- 7:30 PM- Community Church, Ocean Pines, Maryland

Saturday, March 11th- 3 PM –Epworth United Methodist Church, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

TICKETS

Individual tickets for this concert are $50 per person at each venue and are available at midatlanticsymphony.org/tickets.

The Mid-Atlantic Symphony offers a group discount for the purchase of 10 or more tickets to a single concert. The Orchestra also makes a limited number of free tickets available for students 18 years and under; tickets for accompanying parents are $10 each. Reservations are required for the free tickets and may be made by calling 888-846-8600.

PODCASTS

Podcasts for the season preview, previews of each concert, and for special MSO events are available on the MSO Website at midatlanticsymphony.org. Podcasts are posted on the site approximately 7 to 10 days before a concert or event.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about the 2022-2023 season, or to order tickets, please visit www.midatlanticsymphony.org. Tickets may be ordered by telephone at 888-846-8600.

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 2022-2023 season’s Masterworks and Ensembles programs, venues, times, and other information is available at www.midatlanticsymphony.org

MSO Board President Jeffrey Parker recently announced that the Elizabeth Loker Concerto Competition, which was established during the MSO’s 2019-2020 season to give young classical musicians the opportunity to compete and potentially perform with a professional symphony orchestra. The competition naming honors Elizabeth Loker for her years of dedication and generous support of the MSO until her death in 2015. The competition will be held on Thursday, January 12, 7:00 PM at the Avalon Theatre in Easton, MD.

The winner of this year’s competition will receive a $2,000 cash prize and will perform at the MSO’s regular season concerts in March. The young artist who places second will receive a $500 cash prize and will perform at one of MSO’s Ensemble Series concerts next season.

The Competition was not held for the past two years because of COVID restrictions, however is now back in full force. This year the competition drew 41 entries from musicians aged 12 to 25 from across the United States. Two judges from the MSO Orchestra reviewed the electronic submissions of the competitors and reached a consensus on the seven finalists. Both judges were delighted on the high quality of the musicianship from this year’s applicants. The final live round of the competition will be judged by new Music Director and Grammy nominee, Michael Repper and MSO’s Concertmaster, Kim McCollum.

The finalists this year range in age from 13 to 25. They come from Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York City, Brooklyn, and Kansas City, Missouri. There are four pianists, a violinist, a violist, and a flutist who will be playing works by Jacques Ibert, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Sergei Prokofiev, Florence Price, Paul Hindemith, and Henri Vieuxtemps.

…CONCERT DETAILS AND INFORMATION ON THE FINALISTS FOLLOW…

LOKER CONCERTO COMPETITION FINALISTS

Ethan Nylander – Townsend, DE – Flute
Philina Zhang– New York, NY – Piano
Elizabeth Song– Haworth, NJ – Violin
James Kang– Newark, DE – Viola
Valerie Wellington– KansasCity, MO – Piano
Haozhou Wang– Philadelphia, PA – Piano
Emma Taggart– Brooklyn, NY — Piano

WHEN and WHERE

This concert will be performed only once on the Delmarva Peninsula.
Thursday, January 12 at 7:00 PM.
Avalon Theatre, 40 East Dover Street, Easton, Maryland.

TICKETS

Individual tickets for the competition are $15 per person. Tickets may be ordered online at MidAtlanticSymphony.org, and they will be available by cash or credit card at the door on the evening of the event.

PODCASTS

Podcasts for the season preview, for each concert, and for special MSO events are available on the MSO Web site at midatlanticsymphony.org. Podcasts are posted on the site approximately 7 to 10 days before a concert or event.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about the 2022-2023 season, or to order tickets, please visit www.midatlanticsymphony.org. Tickets may be ordered by telephone at 888-846-8600.

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, DE Council; and the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, Inc.

A complete schedule of the 2022-2023 season’s Masterworks and Ensemble programs, venues, times, and other information is available at www.midatlanticsymphony.org.

The Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra invites all music lovers to bid farewell to 2022 at the Orchestra’s annual Gala New Year’s Eve concert. The only performance of this program will be held on Saturday, December 31 at 7:00 PM at Christ Church, Easton, Maryland.

The program offers something for everyone including arias from operas by Gaetano Donizetti (Lucia di Lammermoor), Charles Gounod (Romeo et Juliette), George Bizet (Carmen), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Clemenza di Tito and Marriage of Figaro), Léo Delibes(Lakme), and Giacomo Puccini (La Bohème).

MSO Music Director-Conductor Michael Repper will begin the evening with the overture from the iconic New Year’s favorite Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss II. Waltzes and polkas by Strauss appear throughout the program. A special treat will be Over the Rainbow from The Wizard of Oz, and the entire audience will join the orchestra in the New Year anthem Auld Lang Syne.

Rachel Blaustein has been praised by Opera Today for her “crystalline soprano (voice) and her admirable control and voice”. She is a native of Olney, Maryland and is a graduate of Hofstra University (voice and drama) and the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University (Master of Music).

Mezzo-Soprano Anna Kelly is known for her rich, even, and beautifully emotional sound. She is a recent graduate of the Yale School of Music (Master of Music, Master of Music Arts). Ms. Kelly has participated in several Young Artists Programs and has been recognized for her work by multiple sources.

…CONCERT DETAILS FOLLOW…

WHEN and WHERE: This concert will be performed only once on the Delmarva Peninsula.

Saturday, December 31, doors open at 6:00 PM, and the concert begins at 7:00 PM.

The concert will be held at Christ Church, 111 South Harrison Street in Easton, Maryland.

TICKETS

Individual tickets for this concert are $65 per person for general seating and $90 per person for premium seating.

PODCASTS

Podcasts for the season preview, for each concert, and for special MSO events are available on the MSO Web site at midatlanticsymphony.org. Podcasts are posted on the site approximately 7 to 10 days before a concert or event.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about the 2022-2023 season, or to order tickets, please visit www.midatlanticsymphony.org. Tickets may be ordered by telephone at 888-846-8600.

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, DE Council; and the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, Inc.

A complete schedule of the 2022-2023 season’s Masterworks and Ensemble programs, venues, times, and other information is available at www.midatlanticsymphony.org.

The Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra Brass Quintet will perform “It’s All About the Toys” – a blissful rendering of music of the holiday season – at two venues on the Eastern Shore. The first performance of this program will be held on Saturday, December 17, at 3:00 PM, at Epworth United Methodist Church in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. On Sunday, December 18 the program will be repeated at 4:00 PM at Christ Church, Easton, Maryland.

Brass ensembles offer the perfect musical sounds for this time of year. The joyful noise of brass instruments rings in all the cheer and welcome spirit of the Holidays.

“The sound of our instruments really portrays the character of traditional carols,” said Nick Mazziott, Principal Trombonist of the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra. “This concert is pure fun – our audience will enjoy it”.

Mr. Mazziott will be joined for this concert by trumpeters Luis Engelke and Josh Clark, Michael Hall on horn, David Lopez on Tuba, and MSO General Manager Dane Krich on percussion.

The title of the program sets the theme for many of the works on the program: Victor Herbert’s “March of the Toys”; Franz Josef Haydn’s “Toy Symphony”; “You’ve Got a Friend in Me from Toy Story; and “Fancies, Toys, and Dreams”, by English composer Giles Farnaby (1563 – 1640).

The program also includes such perennial favorites as “Silent Night”, “Away in a Manger”, and a Hanukah song medley. These are joined by more contemporary works such as “All I Want For Christmas is You” and “Christmas Time Is Here” from A Charlie Brown Christmas.

…CONCERT DETAILS FOLLOW…

WHEN and WHERE: This concert will be performed at two venues on the Delmarva Peninsula:

Saturday, December 17, 3:00 PM – Epworth United Methodist Church, Rehoboth

Beach, Delaware.

Sunday, December 18, 2022 – 4:00 PM –Christ Church, Easton, Maryland

Note that these two concerts are afternoon concerts.

TICKETS

Individual tickets for this concert are $35 per person at each venue.

The Mid-Atlantic Symphony offers a group discount for the purchase of 10 or more tickets to a single concert.

The Orchestra also makes a limited number of free tickets available for students 18 years and under; tickets for accompanying parents are $10 each. Reservations are required for the free tickets and may be made by calling 888-846-8600.

PODCASTS

Podcasts for the season preview, for each concert, and for special MSO events are available on the MSO Web site at midatlanticsymphony.org. Podcasts are posted on the site approximately 7 to 10 days before a concert or event.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about the 2022-2023 season, or to order tickets, please visit www.midatlanticsymphony.org. Tickets may be ordered by telephone at 888-846-8600.

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, DE Council; and the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, Inc.

A complete schedule of the 2022-2023 season’s Masterworks and Ensembles programs, venues, times, and other information is available at www.midatlanticsymphony.org.

The Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra once again ushers in the Christmas and Holiday Season with its annual “Holiday Joy” concert. This year the much-anticipated event features Soprano Rochelle Bard in carols, arias, and other songs of the season.

“We are pleased to be able to showcase the wonderful soprano Rochelle Bard at this year’s Holiday Joy concerts,” said MSO General Manager Dane Krich. “This is always such a special and joyous occasion for both our audience and the MSO Board, staff, and musicians. This concert continues to be the most popular concert of the year, inspiring our audiences and filling them with the joy of the holiday season.”

Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride — a “Holiday Joy” tradition with its sleigh bells and horse whinnies – once again opens the program. The concert continues with selections from around the world through several centuries of music with traditional carols, music of more recent vintage, opera arias, and salutes to some of our many holiday traditions.

Concertgoers at the Chesapeake College and Ocean City events are invited to special events at those two locations. The Atrium at Chesapeake College will be the site for pre-concert cocktails and a post-concert dinner. The Ocean City event will be a post-concert event with heavy hors d’oeuvres and other surprises. Separate tickets are required for these events and are available on the MSO’s website (www.midatlanticsymphony.org).

A note on the guest artist: Soprano Rochelle Bard has been described by critics as an ‘exquisite’ and ‘poignant’ singing actress. Ms. Bard earned a Master’s degree from the New England Conservatory and was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Music from her alma mater, The College of the Holy Cross. With a focus on bel canto and Verdi roles, she has been a soloist with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Hartford Symphony, Tanglewood, and with Opera Orchestra of New York and the MidAtlantic Opera at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center.

…CONCERT DETAILS FOLLOW…

WHEN and WHERE: This concert will be performed at three venues on three days on the Delmarva Peninsula.

Thursday, December 1, 2022 – 7:00 PM – Chesapeake College’s Todd Performing Arts Center, Wye Mills, Maryland

Saturday, December 3, 7:00 PM – Cape Henlopen High School, Lewes, Delaware.

Sunday, December 4, 3:00 PM – Performing Arts Center, Ocean City, MD.

TICKETS

Individual tickets for this concert are $55 per person at each venue and are available at midatlanticsymphony.org/tickets. Tickets for the additional events at Chesapeake College and at Ocean City are also available at that Web site.

The Mid-Atlantic Symphony offers a group discount for the purchase of 10 or more tickets to a single concert. The Orchestra also makes a limited number of free tickets available for students 18 years and under; tickets for accompanying parents are $10 each. Reservations are required for the free tickets and may be made by calling 888-846-8600.

PODCASTS

Podcasts for the season preview, previews of each concert, and for special MSO events are available on the MSO Web site at midatlanticsymphony.org. Podcasts are posted on the site approximately 7 to 10 days before a concert or event.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about the 2022-2023 season, or to order tickets, please visit www.midatlanticsymphony.org. Tickets may be ordered by telephone at 888-846-8600.

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 2022-2023 season’s Masterworks and Ensembles programs, venues, times, and other information is available at www.midatlanticsymphony.org

Presenting Antonio Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and Astor Piazzolla’s The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires (a combined Eight Seasons) on the same program seems to be a very logical pairing – and that is precisely why the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra’s November program will feature violinist Igor Yuzefovich’s version of these two works. Although composed centuries apart – Vivaldi’s work from 1716 to 1725 and Piazzolla’s from 1965 to 1970 – the two works perfectly represent nature’s seasons in the composers’ respective times and hemispheres.

“We are so pleased to be able to bring these vibrant, joyous, and beautiful pieces to our audience,” said MSO Board President Jeffrey Parker. “Igor’s musicianship and understanding of these works will give our audience a perfect rendition of the two composers’ visions.”

There are, of course, differences and similarities in each of these two works, but each is a masterpiece in its own right that has been captivating and exciting audiences for centuries (in Vivaldi’s case) and for more than half a century (in Piazzolla’s case). It is a fortunate audience that enjoys them both on the same program.

A note on the guest artist: Russian-born Igor Yuzefovich currently is the Concertmaster of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra; he previously served as Assistant Concertmaster with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. As an active chamber musician, he co-founded the Monument Piano Trio that debuted to critical acclaim in Baltimore and has since captivated audiences across the United States. Mr. Yuzefovich leads numerous master classes and is in high demand as a guest concertmaster.  …CONCERT DETAILS FOLLOW…

WHEN and WHERE: This concert will be performed at three venues on three days on the Delmarva Peninsula.

Thursday, November 10, 2022 – 7:30 PM – Easton Church of God, Easton, MD

Saturday, November 12, 3:00 PM – Epworth United Methodist Church, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.  Note that this is an afternoon concert instead of the usual Saturday evening concert.

Sunday, November 13, 3:00 PM – Community Church of Ocean Pines, Ocean Pines, Maryland

TICKETS

Individual tickets for this concert are $50 per person at each venue.

Series subscriptions for the 2022-2023 season are available.

The Mid-Atlantic Symphony offers a group discount for the purchase of 10 or more tickets to a single concert.

The Orchestra also makes a limited number of free tickets available for students 18 years and under; tickets for accompanying parents are $10 each. Reservations are required for the free tickets and may be made by calling 888-846-8600.

PODCASTS

Podcasts for the season preview, for each concert, and for special MSO events are available on the MSO Website at midatlanticsymphony.org. Podcasts are posted on the site approximately 7 to 10 days before a concert or event.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about the 2022-2023 season, or to order tickets, please visit www.midatlanticsymphony.org. Tickets may be ordered by telephone at 888-846-8600.

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, DE Council; and the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, Inc.

A complete schedule of the 2022-2023 season’s Masterworks and Ensembles programs, venues, times, and other information is available at www.midatlanticsymphony.org.

The Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra (MSO) has announced the program for the first concert of its 25^th Anniversary season of 2022-2023. Under the baton of new Music Director and Conductor Michael Repper, the orchestra will present Ludwig von Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat Major, Opus 73, “Emperor” as its opening piece. The second half of the concert will be Robert Schumann’s “Rhenish” Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major, Opus 97.

Composed almost a half-century before the Schumann symphony, Beethoven’s “Emperor” concerto was written during the period when the composer was challenging the audience’s expectations of musical form. This was a time in Beethoven’s life when he had come through a dark period of depression and isolation, caused in part by his growing deafness.

The lilting “Rhenish” symphony, by contrast, was inspired by a trip along the Rhine that Schumann took with his wife, the renowned pianist Clara Schumann. It was not just the River itself but many sights along the way, including the imposing Cathedral at Cologne, that delighted Schumann. He described the flowing second movement as “a morning on the Rhine”.

“Beethoven’s fifth piano concerto is a tour-de-force for the pianist, for the orchestra, and for the enjoyment of the audience. It is an exciting way for us to begin our season at the MSO,” said Repper. “And the ‘Rhenish’ is a very fun piece; it is a great way to conclude the opening concert of MSO’s 25th season!”

The piano soloist for the “Emperor” is 39-year-old Irish pianist Michael McHale. The Belfast-born McHale is an international performing and recording artist who has performed with orchestras in the United States, England, Russia, Ireland, Japan, Germany, and Amsterdam.

CONCERT DETAILS FOLLOW…

WHEN and WHERE: This concert will be performed at three venues on three days on the Delmarva Peninsula.

Thursday, September 29, 2022 – 7:30 PM – Chesapeake College, Wye Mills, MD

Saturday, October 1, 7:30 PM – Cape Henlopen High School, Lewes, DE

Sunday, October 2, 3:00 PM – Performing Arts Center, Ocean City, MD

RETURNING TO CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE THIS SEASON

Chesapeake College in Wye Mills, Maryland, will be the venue for the September, December, and April Easton-area concerts. This venue is the only one in the area that can accommodate the size of the orchestra for the planned programs. It also is the only venue that offers a Steinway Grand Piano

TICKETS

Individual tickets for this concert are $50 per person at each venue.

Series subscriptions for the 2022-2023 season are available.

The Mid-Atlantic Symphony offers a group discount for the purchase of 10 or more tickets to a single concert.

The Orchestra also makes a limited number of free tickets available for students 18 years and under; tickets for accompanying parents are $10 each. Reservations are required for the free tickets and may be made by calling 888-846-8600.

PODCASTS

Podcasts for the season preview, for each concert, and for special MSO events are available on the MSO Web site at midatlanticsymphony.org. Podcasts are posted on the site approximately 7 to 10 days before a concert or event.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about the 2022-2023 season, or to order tickets, please visit www.midatlanticsymphony.org. Tickets may be ordered by telephone at 888-846-8600.

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, DE Council; and the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, Inc.

A complete schedule of the 2022-2023 season’s Masterworks and Ensembles programs, venues, times, and other information is available at www.midatlanticsymphony.org.

As it welcomes Music Director and Conductor Michael Repper to the podium, the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra will mark its 25^thanniversary season – a “Season of Celebration” – with the introduction of a new four-concert Ensembles Series to complement its traditional five-concert Masterworks Series and New Year’s Eve concert.

Both series will be presented at multiple venues on Maryland’s Eastern Shore and in Southern Delaware.

“With growing interest in live performances, we are adding a series of programs featuring brass, jazz, string, and woodwind ensembles comprised of Mid-Atlantic Symphony musicians to make the joy and diversity of music more widely available,” said Board President Jeffrey Parker.

“The new Ensembles Series will allow our audiences to become more familiar with individual players from the Orchestra as they perform together in these smaller groups,” Parker added. “The series will offer programs that appeal to a variety of musical tastes, as well as lower ticket prices to make the experience more affordable for families. Our established Masterworks Series will continue to feature new and familiar repertoire for full orchestra, with acclaimed guest performers from around the world.”

Masterworks Series programs include Florence Price’s rarely performed Symphony No. 1 as well as symphonies by Dvorak and Schumann; Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 (“Emperor”), with celebrated Irish pianist Michael McHale as guest soloist; Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1, with internationally acclaimed cellist Dominique de Willencourt as guest soloist; and Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, with BBC Symphony Orchestra Concertmaster Igor Yuzefovich as both guest soloist and conductor.

A complete schedule of 2022-2023 Masterworks and Ensembles programs, venues and times is available at www.midatlanticsymphony.org

The Mid-Atlantic Symphony also will celebrate its silver anniversary with its traditional non-subscription New Year’s Eve concert in Easton, MD, featuring acclaimed young singer Anna Kelly and Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition finalist Rachel Blaustein. Tickets are $65 for general admission or $90 for premium seating.

Subscriptions for the five-concert Masterworks Series, which includes the popular Holiday Joy program, are $210,a savings of $50 from individually purchased tickets. Single tickets for Masterworks programs are $50 for the September, November, and March concerts, and $55 for both the December and April programs.

Ensembles Series subscriptions, including a December performance of seasonal favorites by a six-person brass and percussion group of Mid-Atlantic Symphony musicians, are $125 for four concerts, a savings of $15 from individually purchased tickets, which are $35 each. The series also includes performances by a woodwind quintet, a string quartet, and a jazz ensemble.

In addition to single tickets and series subscriptions, the Mid-Atlantic Symphony offers a group discount for the purchase of 10 or more tickets to a single subscription concert.

The Orchestra also makes a limited number of free tickets available for students 18 years and under, with accompanying parents admitted for $10 each. Reservations are required for the free tickets, and may be made by calling 888-846-8600,

For additional information about the 2022-2023 season 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 with a full season of programs, 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 has commenced a comprehensive search for a new music director after Julien Benichou advised the board of his intention to step down from the position upon the conclusion of his existing contract on June 30.

“We are grateful for Maestro Benichou’s efforts over 16 seasons to significantly elevate the caliber of the Orchestra’s musicians and to create exciting programs that offered our audiences some of the best in the classical music repertoire,” said Board President Jeffrey Parker.

“Our audience members, musicians and board will always remember Julien’s contributions toward making the MSO an excellent regional orchestra, and one of the few that continued public performances throughout the pandemic,” Parker added. “We wish Maestro Benichou the best in his future endeavors.”

In a letter to the MSO board, Maestro Benichou said: “After 17 seasons at the helm of the Mid-Atlantic Symphony, I feel this is a good time for me to step down from my position. The Orchestra has made immense progress and is on a good track. My conducting engagements and my new position with the Washington Opera Society are making my schedule too busy to be able to fully devote myself to the MSO, as I was once able to.”

He added: “I will keep nothing but good memories from my time with all of you and I am so grateful and proud to have been part of such a wonderful team.I wish you and the musicians of the MSO all the best in your future endeavors and know that the future of the Orchestra is bright.”

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.