Dear Friends of the Mid-Atlantic Symphony,

This season marks the heroic return of one of the most precious things in all of our existences: live performances. Thankfully, the Mid-Atlantic Symphony never quite closed its doors. It is nevertheless with a sense of joy and enthusiasm that we return to performing with our full orchestra. The choice of an orchestra-focused program to open our season is to celebrate this return and 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 our November concert, the young American oboist Joshua Lauretig will delight us with Marcello and Vivaldi and the MSO strings will shine in Tchaikovsky’s lush Serenade. For Holiday Joy and New Year’s Eve we welcome two of the world’s foremost sopranos: Norah Amsellem, who has sung as prima donna in every major house in the world and up and coming star Leah Hawkins who is currently on the Metropolitan Opera roster and being featured in several upcoming productions.

 In March, stellar French cellist Dominique de Williencourt will join us for Saint-Saëns’ less played Cello Concerto #2, a marvel to be discovered. Opening the program will be the winner of our second Elizabeth Loker Concerto Competition and closing it will be Schumann’s haunting and glorious Symphony #2.

 And because we want to celebrate life’s beauty and happiness, the luminous Mozart Clarinet Concerto and Brahms Symphony No. 2 will close our Return of the Great Orchestral Works season. We are delighted to welcome YaoGuang Zhai, the amazing principal clarinetist of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.

 We can’t wait to celebrate this thrilling Return of the Great Orchestral Works and share the joy of music with you!

 Sincerely,

Julien Benichou,

Music Director