Maryland Symphony Orchestra Signs Long-Term Lease as Part of Maryland Theatre Expansion Project, Announces Stunning 2018-19 Season of Concerts
New office lease in expanded Maryland Theatre offers opportunity for more expansive patron experiences and programs, while 2018-19 season, on theme of “Beginnings,” features local and internationally renowned artists and innovative programs with the acclaimed Maryland Symphony Orchestra (MSO), as Music Director and Conductor Elizabeth Schulze enters her 19th season with the MSO.
HAGERSTOWN, Md. – February 10, 2018 – The Maryland Symphony Orchestra (MSO) announced today the signing of a new long-term office lease as part of the expansion project of the historic Maryland Theatre in Hagerstown, Maryland’s Arts and Entertainment District, as well as the orchestra’s vibrant 2018-19 season of concerts and events at the Theatre and across the regional community – the orchestra’s 37th consecutive season.
“There’s never been a better time to be bold and think big in Hagerstown, and across the tri-state region,” says MSO Executive Director, Stephen Marc Beaudoin. “Our programming choices for our 2018-19 season – the collaborators, guest artists, composers, songwriters, themes, and stories – reflect our vision of a big, inclusive world with music as the common bond. And our decision to sign a long-term lease in the newly expanded historic Maryland Theatre, our performance home since 1982, showcases our belief that this project is a game-changer for Hagerstown, for Washington County, and for the entire region. Audiences won’t want to miss a minute of what’s ahead this season at the MSO!”
The 2018-19 MSO season includes many highlights, among them:
- Due to the forthcoming groundbreaking and construction of the Maryland Theatre expansion, the MSO season kicks off this year October 13-14, 2018, not in September as usual, with an innovative visual concert experience called “Visions of America.” This concert includes the mid-Atlantic premiere of a new work the MSO is commissioning in collaboration with the Virginia Symphony by American composer Michael Daugherty, titled “Night Owl,” which is inspired by locomotive sounds and the region’s rich rail history, and will be accompanied by gorgeous locomotive photos by seminal American photographer O. Winston Link. Additional works on this program include photos by Dr. Ira Lourie and students of Barbara Ingram School for the Arts to accompany Aaron Copland’s “Appalachian Spring.”
- Tickets to the Saturday, October 13 opening night concert also includes access to the debut of “Savor Hagerstown,” a vibrant new food and drink opening night party experience, featuring light bites, appetizers, drinks, sips, and snacks from over a dozen local restaurants, wineries, and breweries. “Savor Hagerstown” replaces the previous MSO event “Classics and Crabs,” which has been discontinued.
- There are more than 40 composers and songwriters represented on the MSO 2018-19 season, from American composers including William Grant Still, Aaron Copland, John Corigliano, and Michael Daugherty to songwriters like George Gerswhin, Prince, Richard Rodgers, Jacques Brel, Cole Porter, and Louis Armstrong, to classical masters like Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Faure, Rachmaninoff, and Prokofiev.
- Club MSO, the young professionals live music + social + pop-up dance party experience piloted this February, returns with three installments in 2018-19: Saturday, November 10, 2018; Saturday, March 2, 2019; and Saturday, April 27, 2019.
- One concert on the 2018-19 season, the March 2, 2019 “Storm Large: Love, Lust, and Rock ‘n Roll,” will be a non-subscription special event concert, with all tickets general admission at $25.
The MSO’s signing of a new long-term office lease at the Maryland Theatre at 27 S. Potomac Street in downtown Hagerstown, Maryland – which commences once the project is completed and ready for tenancy, anticipated to be in late 2019 or early 2020 – comes at an important moment both for the orchestra and for the Theatre, which this spring will break ground on a new expansion project to provide significant increased space for patron experiences, programs, and partnerships. The lease, which the MSO board of directors unanimously voted in favor of signing, ensures that the MSO will have a long-term home in the newly expanded Maryland Theatre, right as Hagerstown’s downtown district takes off with vibrant new arts and culture offerings, shops, and restaurants.
“To have the Maryland Symphony Orchestra office located in the Maryland Theatre is a natural fit,” says MSO board chair, Dr. Hugh Talton. “This will also give us access to an event space, adjacent to our offices. We want to continue to be a vital part of the expansion of the arts in the downtown area, and are excited about the move. Having signed an agreement for our office to be part of the new theater space is just another way in which we have solidified our commitment to Hagerstown, and the Maryland Symphony is proud to play a part in the city’s renaissance.”
At the same time that the MSO announces the signing of this lease, the organization is proudly announcing its 2018-19 season – its 37th consecutive – of concerts, programs, and special events, which is among the most ambitious and vibrant it has ever offered. The eight mainstage concerts of MSO’s 2018-19 season feature music by over 40 composers and songwriters – including the premiere of a co-commission with Virginia Symphony of a brand new work by American composer Michael Daugherty called “Night Owl,” inspired by the region’s historic connection to railways and locomotives – with 14 guest artists and collaborators joining the Maryland Symphony Orchestra in a total of thirteen concerts at the historic Maryland Theatre in downtown Hagerstown, one concert at – and in collaboration with – Frostburg State University, and one major outdoor event with the return of the MSO’s “Salute to Independence” event on the historic Antietam National Battlefield on July 7, 2018. MSO Music Director and Conductor Elizabeth Schulze will conduct all concerts on the 2018-19 season.
“We’re moving into an exciting new era at the MSO,” says Music Director and Conductor Elizabeth Schulze, entering her 19th season at the orchestra’s helm with the 2018-19 season. “Our 2018-19 season, which we’re so proud to share with the community in this announcement, is filled with extraordinary artists, composers, collaborators, and songwriters - with friends old and new. There’s so much to explore as we begin again together this season.”
“We kick off the season with the extraordinary creativity of our October 13-14 ‘Season Opener: Visions of America’ concert, including the debut of a new opening night party with food and drink called ‘Savor Hagerstown’ – you won’t want to miss this,” Schulze continues. “We’re also presenting a fresh take on our popular family and friends ‘Home for the Holidays’ shows (December 15-16, 2018), and you can’t miss the beauty and thunder of our ‘Symphony + Rhapsody + Variations’ concert (March 16-17, 2019) with incredible works by Rachmaninoff, Brahms, and Prokofiev to the MSO debut of sensual vocalist and Pink Martini front-woman Storm Large (March 2, 2019) and the return of trumpet player and vocalist Byron Stripling with singer Carmen Bradford in a concert dedicated to Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong (May 11, 2019). Our MSO 2018-19 season is one you don’t want to miss.”
The full line-up of MSO 2018-19 season concerts and special events is below, including at-a-glance, guest artist, and composers/songwriters listings.
MSO 2018-19 Season at a glance:
MSO’S SALUTE TO INDEPENDENCE 2018
A community celebration of Independence Day, with performances, fireworks, and activities for the entire family
Saturday, July 7, 2018 – 5 pm onward
This FREE performance is at Antietam National Battlefield, 302 E. Main Street, Sharpsburg, MD
CONCERT 1 – SEASON OPENER: VISIONS OF AMERICA
A visual concert experience featuring American works by Aaron Copland, Michael Daugherty (mid-Atlantic premiere), John Corigliano, and William Grant Still
*Saturday, October 13, 2018 - 7:30 pm – opening night ticket includes access to new Savor Hagerstown food and drink opening night party experience, featuring light bites, appetizers, drinks, sips, and snacks from over a dozen local restaurants, wineries, and breweries
Sunday, October 14, 2018 - 3 pm
Both performances at the historic Maryland Theatre, 27 S. Potomac Street, downtown Hagerstown, MD
SPECIAL FUNDRAISING EVENT: MSO SYMPHONY BALL 2018
A fabulous night out to support the MSO’s concerts, education, and community engagement programs
Saturday, November 3, 2018 – 6 pm onward
Fountain Head Country Club, 13316 Fountain Head Road, Hagerstown, MD
CONCERT 2 – IMMORTAL MOZART + SCHUBERT’S FIFTH SYMPHONY
Luminous concerto, choral, and orchestral works by classical masters Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Franz Schubert
Saturday, November 10, 2018 – 7:30 pm (includes Club MSO young professionals event after)
Sunday, November 11, 2018 – 3pm (performance at Frostburg State University; Frostburg, MD)
Saturday performance only at the historic Maryland Theatre, 27 S. Potomac Street, downtown Hagerstown, MD
CONCERT 3 – HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Festive holiday fun for families and friends, featuring gospel singer Alonzo Chadwick
Saturday, December 15, 2018 – 7 pm
Sunday, December 16, 2018 – 3 pm
Both performances at the historic Maryland Theatre, 27 S. Potomac Street, downtown Hagerstown, MD
CONCERT 4 – LOVE NOTES
An unmissable Valentine’s Day show featuring jazz vocalist Kerensa Gray and much more
Saturday, February 9, 2019 – 7:30 pm
Sunday, February 10, 2019 – 3 pm
Both performances at the historic Maryland Theatre, 27 S. Potomac Street, downtown Hagerstown, MD
CONCERT 5 – STORM LARGE: LOVE, LUST, and ROCK ‘N ROLL
From “RockStar: Supernova” to Pink Martini, the incomparable Storm Large tears through rock, pop, jazz, and light classical songs with a style and swagger like nobody else
*SPECIAL EVENT: non-subscription special event concert – all tickets are $25, general admission
Saturday, March 2, 2019 – 7:30 pm (includes Club MSO young professionals event after)
Performance is at the historic Maryland Theatre, 27 S. Potomac Street, downtown Hagerstown, MD
CONCERT 6 – “SYMPHONY + RHAPSODY + VARIATIONS”
Beauty and thunder collide in life-changing works by Rachmaninoff, Brahms, and Prokofiev, featuring acclaimed pianist Vanessa Perez
Saturday, March 16, 2019 – 7:30 pm
Sunday, March 17, 2019 – 3 pm
Both performances at the historic Maryland Theatre, 27 S. Potomac Street, downtown Hagerstown, MD
CONCERT 7 – “BEETHOVEN: HEROINES AND HEROES”
Soaring works from Beethoven celebrating heroes and heroines, featuring violinist Elena Urioste
Saturday, April 27, 2019 – 7:30 pm (includes Club MSO young professionals event after)
Sunday, April 28, 2019 – 3 pm
Both performances at the historic Maryland Theatre, 27 S. Potomac Street, downtown Hagerstown, MD
CONCERT 8 – “ELLA & LOUIS”
A roaring concert of great tunes by the legendary Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, performed by the incomparable vocalist/trumpet player Byron Stripling, with guest singer Carmen Bradford
Saturday, May 11, 2019 – 7:30 pm
Performance is at the historic Maryland Theatre, 27 S. Potomac Street, downtown Hagerstown, MD
MSO 2018-19 season guest artists:
*Additional guest artists will be announced at later dates
Dr. Ira Lourie, photographer (October 13-14 “Season Opener: Visions of America”)
Student photographers from the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts (October 13-14 “Season Opener: Visions of America”)
Erich Heckscher, bassoon (November 10-11 “Immortal Mozart + Schubert’s Fifth Symphony”)
Frostburg State University Chorale: Dr. James Redden, conductor (November 10-11 “Immortal Mozart + Schubert’s Fifth Symphony”)
Alonzo Chadwick, gospel singer (December 15-16 “Home for the Holidays”)
City Ballet School of Hagerstown, classical ballet (February 9-10 “Love Notes”)
Kerensa Gray, jazz vocalist (February 9-10 “Love Notes”)
Storm Large, vocalist (March 2 “Storm Large: Love, Lust, and Rock ‘n Roll”)
Vanessa Perez, pianist (March 16-17 “Symphony + Rhapsody + Variations”)
Elena Urioste, violinist (April 27-28 “Beethoven: Heroines and Heroes”)
Byron Stripling, trumpeter and vocalist (May 11 “Ella & Louis”)
Carmen Bradford, vocalist (May 11 “Ella & Louis”)
MSO 2018-19 composers and songwriters include:
Louis Armstrong, Ludwig van Beethoven, Johannes Brahms, Jacques Brel, Aaron Copland, John Corigliano, Michael Daugherty, Gabriel Faure, George Gershwin, Elton John, Storm Large, Pietro Mascagni, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Cole Porter, Sergei Prokofiev, Prince, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Richard Rodgers, Franz Schubert, William Grant Still, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Tommy Wolf
CONCERT 1 – SEASON OPENER: VISIONS OF AMERICA
A visual concert experience
*Saturday, October 13, 2018 - 7:30 pm
Sunday, October 14, 2018 - 3 pm
JOHN CORIGLIANO, Gazebo Dances
MICHAEL DAUGHERTY, Night Owl + MID-ATLANTIC PREMIERE featuring photographs by O. Winston Link
WILLIAM GRANT STILL, Festive Overture
AARON COPLAND, Appalachian Spring featuring photographs by Dr. Ira Lourie and student photographers from the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts
PRESENTED BY Jim and Georgie Pierne
*Opening night ticket includes access to a fantastic new in-theatre food and drink party before and after the show: Savor Hagerstown!
+Night Owl is a co-commission with the Virginia Symphony
CONCERT 2 – IMMORTAL MOZART + SCHUBERT’S FIFTH SYMPHONY
Luminous concerto, choral, and orchestral works
Saturday, November 10, 2018 – 7:30 pm (includes Club MSO after-party for young professionals)
Sunday, November 11, 2018 – 3pm (performance at Frostburg State University)
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART, Coronation Mass featuring the Frostburg State University Chorale, Dr. James Reddan – conductor
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART, Bassoon Concerto in B-flat major, K. 191 featuring MSO principal bassoon Erich Heckscher
FRANZ SCHUBERT, Symphony no. 5
November 11 performance to take place at Frostburg State University Pealer Performing Arts Center, Frostburg, Maryland; as part of the Frostburg State University Cultural Event Series
CONCERT 3 – HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Festive holiday fun for families and friends
Saturday, December 15, 2018 – 7 pm
Sunday, December 16, 2018 – 3 pm
You’ve never experienced a holiday concert quite like this!
This year’s MSO Home for the Holidays is an inspired, fresh take on a family classic, featuring acclaimed gospel vocalist Alonzo Chadwick, and much more.
PRESENTED BY Middletown Valley Bank
CONCERT 4 – LOVE NOTES
Songs, scenes, and dances for those who love love
Saturday, February 9, 2019 – 7:30 pm
Sunday, February 10, 2019 – 3 pm
PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY, Romeo and Juliet Fantasy-Overture
PIETRO MASCAGNI, Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana, featuring a new pas de deux from City Ballet of Hagerstown created by Danielle Horochowski
GABRIEL FAURE, Pelleas et Melisande
Jazz and American songbook tunes featuring vocalist Kerensa Gray
CONCERT 5 – STORM LARGE: LOVE, LUST, and ROCK ‘N ROLL
*SPECIAL EVENT: non-subscription special event concert, $25 general admission all seats
Saturday, March 2, 2019 – 7:30 pm (includes Club MSO after-party for young professionals)
From the CBS show “Rock Star: Supernova” to fronting the globe-trotting world pop band Pink Martini, Storm Large is truly a force of nature. Storm spent the 90s singing in clubs throughout San Francisco. Tired of the club scene, she moved to Portland to pursue a new career as a chef, but a last-minute cancellation in 2002 at the Portland club "Dante's" turned into a standing Wednesday night engagement for Storm and her new band. It wasn't long before Storm had a cult-like following in Portland, and a renewed singing career that was soon to be launched onto the international stage. This show features rock, pop, jazz, standards, and light classical songs by Prince, Elton John, Queen, Cole Porter, Jacques Brel, and more.
CONCERT 6 – “SYMPHONY + RHAPSODY + VARIATIONS”
Beauty and thunder collide in stunning masterworks by Rachmaninoff, Brahms, and Prokofiev
Saturday, March 16, 2019 – 7:30 pm
Sunday, March 17, 2019 – 3 pm
SERGEI RACHMANINOFF, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini featuring piano soloist Vanessa Perez
JOHANNES BRAHMS, Variations on a Theme of Josef Haydn
SERGEI PROKOFIEV, Symphony no. 5
CONCERT 7 – “BEETHOVEN: HEROINES AND HEROES”
Soaring works from Beethoven celebrating heroes and heroines.
Saturday, April 27, 2019 – 7:30 pm (includes Club MSO after-party for young professionals)
Sunday, April 28, 2019 – 3 pm
LUDWIG VON BEETHOVEN
Leonore 3, Overture
Violin Concerto, featuring violin soloist Elena Urioste
Symphony No. 3, Eroica
CONCERT 8 – “ELLA & LOUIS”
A celebration of the extraordinary music, life, and legacies of inimitable performers and songwriters Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong
Saturday, May 11, 2019 – 7:30 pm
Featuring Byron Stripling and Carmen Bradford, vocalists, in a program of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong standards
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