The Maryland Symphony Orchestra's 2025/2026 season is a feast for the senses, offering a series of concerts that explore themes of heroism, innovation, cultural reflection, and cinematic nostalgia. From the vibrant energy of Torke's 'Bright Blue Music' to the timeless allure of John Williams' film scores, audiences are invited to embark on musical journeys that span centuries and continents. Join us as we delve into the details of each performance, showcasing the extraordinary talents of the artists and the profound impact of their creative works.

A Symphony of Stories: Maryland Symphony Orchestra's Captivating 2025/2026 Season

Beethoven’s revolutionary spirit reshaped classical music, leaving an enduring influence on generations of composers. This program explores that legacy, beginning with his Leonore Overture No. 3, a powerful work that embodies his mastery of drama and transformation. Timo Andres’ The Blind Banister, a finalist for the 2016 Pulitzer Prize in Music, draws inspiration from Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto, reimagining its gestures in a strikingly modern voice. The program concludes with Emilie Mayer’s Symphony No. 7 in F Minor, a testament to Beethoven’s influence, echoing his bold harmonies and structural innovations while showcasing Mayer’s own compelling musical vision.

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Forged by Beethoven

The Maryland Theatre

The Maryland Symphony Orchestra opens its 2025/2026 season with a celebration of the great orchestrators. Torke’s Bright Blue Music opens with vibrant, expansive sound, capturing the energy of life itself. Mahler’s Rückert Lieder, sung by bass-baritone Joseph Parrish, brings poetry and music together in a deeply emotional exploration of love and melancholy. The concert culminates with Strauss’s Ein Heldenleben, a dramatic and heroic orchestral journey that will captivate audiences with its sweeping narrative and bold sound. This program showcases the power of music, from vibrant and energetic to deeply reflective, through the works of three of the world’s most renowned composers.

Heroic Journeys: Torke, Mahler & Strauss

The Maryland Symphony Orchestra, known for its rich sound and precision, consistently delivers a high level of musicianship. The performances feature a balance of classical masterpieces and contemporary works, with each section of the orchestra—strings, brass, woodwinds, and percussion—showcasing their individual talents while contributing to a unified and cohesive whole.

Maryland Symphony Orchestra in Garrett County

Performing Arts Center at Garrett College

Join us for the grand finale of the 2024-2025 season. Featuring Quinn Mason’s A Joyous Trilogy, a contemporary masterpiece that ushers in a celebration of musical diversity and innovation, the evening continues with Ludwig van Beethoven’s monumental Symphony No. 9, Op. 125, a timeless work that transcends eras with its epic and powerful resonance.

Beethoven’s Ninth

Join lecturer Dr. Kyle Weary to explore how Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, often regarded as a triumph of the human spirit, parallels Taylor Swift’s musical journey by using music to communicate complex emotions, build narratives of struggle and resolution, and inspire their audiences to imagine new possibilities for themselves and the world.

MSO Lecture: The Art of the Possible

Hub City Brewery

Join the Maryland Symphony Orchestra String Quartet for an unforgettable afternoon of music at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hagerstown on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at 4:00 PM. This free concert brings together the music of Johann Sebastian Bach and The Beatles, along with a few surprises from Taylor Swift, Coldplay, Bruno Mars, and more!

MSO Strings: Bach to The Beatles

Trinity Lutheran Church Hagerstown

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How to Train Your Dragon In Concert

Have you ever wondered how the music of your favorite movie was made? What does a composer think about when creating a musical theme or what the collaborative process between filmmaker and composer looks like? What is in the creation of soundtracks that you recognize from just a few notes? Dive into the world of Hollywood music with the upcoming Music in Cinema Lecture to find those answers.

MSO Lecture Series: Music in Cinema

Hagerstown Community College

Join us for a unique musical event as the Maryland Symphony Orchestra presents its Side-by-Side concert on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at 7:00 PM. This one-of-a-kind concert features talented student musicians from across the region performing alongside our seasoned Maryland Symphony Orchestra musicians. This concert features those high school students who were selected to participate in the Side-by-Side program and those students who are participating in the Maryland Symphony Youth Strings (MSYS) program.

MSO Side-by-Side Concert 2025

Join us for a concert that seamlessly bridges the realms of classical and contemporary compositions. Jessie Montgomery’s Strum, a modern masterpiece resonating with vibrant energy, sets the stage for an exploration of diverse musical landscapes.

Bernstein & Mozart 40

Have you ever wondered how a symphony orchestra plans its season? How does an orchestra decide which pieces to perform, which guest artists to feature, and how to balance artistic vision with financial realities? Join us for the first lecture in the Maryland Symphony Orchestra’s Spring Lecture Series, featuring Kim Bowen, Executive Director of the MSO, as she takes you behind the scenes of season planning.

Lecture Series | The Art and Strategy Behind Concert Planning

Experience a concert filled with musical diversity as the orchestra spotlights a rich array of compositions. The program begins with the genius of Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel, featuring the Overture in C Major, and sets the stage for an exploration of groundbreaking works by female composers.

Florence Price’s Symphony No. 3

The Schurz Family “Inspirations” Pre-Concert Experience is back for the 2024-2025 season, hosted at various unique venues across downtown Hagerstown! This installment will be held at Prohibition Hub in downtown Hagerstown, providing attendees with warm hospitality, light refreshments, complimentary wine and beverages, and live entertainment to set the perfect tone for the evening.

MSO Inspirations | Florence Price’s Symphony No. 3

Join us in celebrating the holiday spirit at the Maryland Symphony Orchestra’s Home for the Holidays concerts, held at the historic Maryland Theatre in Hagerstown. These festive performances will fill you with the magic of the season, featuring musical highlights like Carol of the Bells, It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride, and selections from John Williams’ Home Alone, including Somewhere in My Memory, Star of Bethlehem, and Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas.

Home for the Holidays 2024

Join us for the Symphony Ball on Saturday, November 16, 2024, at 6:00 PM at Fountain Head Country Club in Hagerstown, MD. Chaired by Teresa & John Barr, this year’s event will honor Elizabeth Schulze’s 25th anniversary as Music Director & Conductor of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra.

Symphony Ball

Fountain Head Country Club

The classical series continues in November as the orchestra unveils the lush romantic landscapes of Johannes Brahms’ Symphony No. 3 in F Major, Op. 90, and Antonín Dvořák’s Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104. Elizabeth Schulze weaves the ensemble through Brahms’ masterful orchestration, where each note narrates a tale of passion and introspection, painting a vivid musical portrait.

Brahms & Dvořák

The Schurz Family “Inspirations” Pre-Concert Experience is back for the 2024-2025 season, hosted at various unique venues across downtown Hagerstown! This installment will be held at the University System of Maryland’s Hospitality Center, providing attendees with warm hospitality, light refreshments, complimentary wine and beverages, and live entertainment to set the perfect tone for the evening.

MSO Inspirations | Brahms & Dvořák

Join us on Friday, November 8th, at 11:00 AM at the Washington County Free Library in downtown Hagerstown for a fun storytime event. We’ll be reading “Grumpy Monkey” by Suzanne Lang. Our special musical guest for this event will be Fatma Daglar, oboist with the Maryland Symphony Orchestra, performing original music to accompany the story.

MSO Storytime | “Grumpy Monkey” by Suzanne Lang

Washington County Free Library

Join us on Friday, October 18th, at 11:00 AM at the Washington County Free Library in downtown Hagerstown for a fun storytime event. We’ll be reading “The Whatifs” by Emily Kilgore. Our special musical guest for this event will be Tony Nalker, pianist with the Maryland Symphony Orchestra, performing original music to accompany the story.

MSO Storytime | “The Whatifs” by Emily Kilgore

Carlos Simon’s contemporary masterpiece, Fate Now Conquers, sets the stage, weaving a tapestry of destiny and triumph through its intricate compositions. Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, illuminated by the talents of pianist Maxim Lando, adds brilliance with emotive passages that resonate with the essence of Rachmaninoff’s timeless composition. Lando’s artistry promises an unforgettable rendition. The evening concludes with Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64, a captivating exploration of passion and drama.

Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5

The Schurz Family “Inspirations” Pre-Concert Experience is back for the 2024-2025 season, hosted at various unique venues across downtown Hagerstown! Our first event will be held at Prohibition Hub, providing attendees with warm hospitality, light refreshments, complimentary wine and beverages, and live entertainment to set the perfect tone for the evening.

MSO Inspirations | Tchaikovsky No. 5

Prohibition Hub

Join our MSO string quartet for a lunchtime performance at the Washington County Free Library. This performance is FREE and open to the public. Stop in on your lunch break for a selection of relaxing, uplifting, and joyful music.

Lunchtime Concert @ the Library

Join the Maryland Symphony Orchestra at Hagerfest, a brand new music and art festival spanning the entire length of the Cultural Trail in downtown Hagerstown.

Hagerfest | MSO Strings at Hub City Vinyl

Live at Hub City Vinyl

This concert closes the 2023-24 season and features a diverse and versatile program that celebrates the beauty and power of orchestral music. The evening begins with Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson’s “Worship”, a piece that explores African-American musical traditions with its lively rhythms and bold melodies. The program then shifts to Mozart’s elegant Piano Concerto No. 14, a lyrical gem that will showcase the skill and artistry of pianist Ying Li. Finally, the concert ends with Bruckner’s Symphony No. 4, a grand and sweeping masterpiece that will take you on a sonic journey through its rich harmonic and melodic landscapes. With a mix of classic and contemporary works, this concert promises to be a stunning display of the orchestra’s versatility and artistry.

Mozart & Bruckner

The Maryland Symphony Orchestra Youth Concerts are held each spring at the Maryland Theatre. We utilize the LinkUp program through Carnegie Hall, which gives students grades 3-5 the opportunity to join the orchestra in a participatory program in which they learn to sing and/or play an instrument in the classroom and perform with the MSO from the audience.

MSO Youth Concerts | The Orchestra Sings

Under the guidance of Music Director Elizabeth Schulze and our skilled orchestra musicians, students will rehearse and perfect their craft, culminating in an unforgettable performance at the Maryland Theatre.

MSO Side-by-Side Concert 2024

Sons of Serendip is a unique Billboard-charting Classical crossover quartet consisting of a harpist, cellist, pianist and lead vocalist. The group was a finalist on Season 9 of America’s Got Talent, gaining popularity by offering fresh interpretations of Popular music. Since their television appearance, Sons of Serendip has toured nationally, sharing their creative and emotionally stirring arrangements and original compositions with audiences all around the country. During this ONE NIGHT ONLY concert event, Sons of Serendip will join the Maryland Symphony Orchestra in an evening of popular hits including Carry on Wayward Son, Bridge over Troubled Water, Fly Me to the Moon, Somewhere Only We Know, A Thousand Years, I Lived, and more!

MSO Premium Pops! | Sons of Serendip

Join us for an unforgettable evening of classical music as we present a program featuring some of the most celebrated works of the classical era. From the dynamic rhythms of Arriaga’s Overture in D and the dramatic intensity of Gluck’s Overture to Orpheus and Eurydice, to the lyrical beauty of Chevalier de Saint-Georges’ Violin Concerto in A and the thrilling percussion of Haydn’s Symphony No. 103 in E-flat, “The Drumroll,” this concert showcases the rich and varied tapestry of the classical symphonic tradition. Experience the energy, passion, and emotional depth of these timeless works as performed by the Maryland Symphony Orchestra, and discover the enduring power of classical music to move and inspire us.

Drum Roll, Please!

Experience the sheer beauty and diversity of orchestral music with this captivating concert featuring a stunning lineup of composers and pieces. The program opens with Carolyn Shaw’s Entr’acte, a contemporary work that explores a wide range of textures and timbres, leading seamlessly into the dynamic and energetic Bartok’s Divertimento for Strings. Next, Strauss’ Serenade for 13 Winds showcases the grace and charm of the wind section, while Brahms’ Serenade No. 2 brings the program to a romantic and lush close. From the intricate interplay of instrumental sections to the soaring melodies and powerful brass and percussion, this concert promises to be a rich and rewarding journey through the art of symphonic music.

Romantic Serenades

“Inspirations” is a NEW pre-concert experience, set in the vibrant Bulls & Bears restaurant, just steps away from the historic Maryland Theatre!

MSO Inspirations | Romantic Serenades

Celebrate the holiday season at the Maryland Theatre in Hagerstown with an evening of festive music and cheer. Home for the Holidays is a beloved tradition that brings families and friends together to enjoy classic holiday songs and the joy of the season.

Home for the Holidays 2025

This program reflects the profound connection between history, culture, and the human experience through music. Dvořák’s Wind Serenade opens the concert with lyrical beauty, capturing the timeless harmony between nature and the human spirit. Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson’s Sinfonietta No. 1 follows with bold, expressive themes that blend classical traditions with vibrant cultural influences. Ballard’s Incident at Wounded Knee offers a moving reflection on Native American culture, exploring themes of resistance, justice, and cultural resilience. The concert concludes with Haydn’s Symphony No. 64 in A Major, a jubilant and uplifting work that reminds us of the power of music to inspire hope and unity. Together, these pieces honor the voices and stories that shape our world, bringing their lessons forward into the present.

Voices of the Past: Dvořák, Perkinson, Ballard & Haydn

Step into the dawn of the 20th century, a time of innovation and artistic exploration. This program brings to life the dynamic sounds of a new era. Claude Debussy’s Fêtes captures the shimmering, inventive spirit of French Impressionism, while Amy Beach’s Piano Concerto, featuring pianist Ying Li, blends classical form with American originality. The concert concludes with Jean Sibelius’s Symphony No. 2, a powerful work filled with grandeur and emotional depth, reflecting the hopes and challenges of a rapidly changing world. This concert celebrates the creative revolution that defined the music of the time.

Dawn of the 20th Century: Debussy, Beach & Sibelius

The music of John Williams has taken us on thrilling adventures, from the vastness of space to the depths of the ocean, and through timeless stories that continue to inspire generations. Join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating the cinematic genius of John Williams, the maestro behind some of the most iconic film scores in history. This special concert features a selection of his most beloved compositions, including themes from Superman, Jurassic Park, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, and more. Experience the magic of these timeless melodies performed live by the Maryland Symphony Orchestra, bringing to life the sense of adventure and wonder that have made Williams’ music legendary.

John Williams: Music from the Movies

The 2025/2026 concert season draws to a close with an exhilarating musical voyage across continents, cultures, and soundscapes. Join us for a vibrant exploration of the world, beginning with Ibert’s Escales (Ports of Call), which captures the energy of bustling international harbors. Rimsky-Korsakov’s Capriccio Espagnol and Tchaikovsky’s Capriccio Italian transport us to Spain and Italy with vivid, lively rhythms. The concert concludes with Respighi’s Pines of Rome, a journey through the eternal city, where the music paints a landscape from tranquil parks to the bustling streets. Through rich orchestral color and diverse influences, this concert invites you to experience the sights and sounds of the world.

Maryland Symphony Orchestra

20 - 21 Dec, 2025

Home for the Holidays 2025

14 - 15 Feb, 2026

Voices of the Past: Dvořák, Perkinson, Ballard & Haydn

14 - 15 Mar, 2026

Dawn of the 20th Century: Debussy, Beach & Sibelius

Apr 11, 2026

John Williams: Music from the Movies

2 - 3 May, 2026

Pines of Rome: A Musical Voyage

Nov 8, 2025

Forged by Beethoven

11 - 12 Oct, 2025

Heroic Journeys: Torke, Mahler & Strauss

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