Join Us for a Symphony of Knowledge and Music!
The Maryland Symphony Orchestra invites you to a dynamic lecture series designed for curious minds and lifelong learners. Each session opens the door to a new facet of music—from the lives and works of great composers to the rhythms of jazz, from the lifelong impact of music education to the powerful role of music in health and well-being. Led by expert musicians, guest scholars, and community leaders, the series offers fresh perspectives and engaging discussions that deepen your understanding of music’s place in our world. Whether you’re a devoted concertgoer or simply eager to learn, these lectures provide an inspiring opportunity to connect, discover, and explore.
Upcoming Lectures
Thursday, October 2, 2025 | 6:00 PM
Lied Me On: The Passion of German Song and Mahler’s Miniatures
Brooke Evers, MSO Director of Education
Hagerstown Community College
Lost when it comes to Lieder? Don’t sweat the small stuff! German Art Song—Lied—is one of classical music’s most cherished genres. Join us as we meander the cobblestone streets of Vienna, tracing this intimate blend of words and music. From Schubert to Schumann, Beethoven to Brahms—the gang’s all here. And among them, Gustav Mahler, the great symphonist and conductor, whose songs reveal the complexity of his inner world. Whether you’re a first-time listener or a long-time lover of song, this is your invitation to listen closely and let the music Lied you on.
This lecture discusses works being performed on the October 11 & 12 “Heroic Journeys” concert.
RSVP by CLICKING HERE
Thursday, November 20, 2025 | 6:00 PM
Music and Our Well-Being
Dr. Alicia Barksdale
Music Therapy Program Director, Washington Adventist University
Washington County Free Library, Hagerstown
Music profoundly influences our health and wellness, offering benefits that span emotional, cognitive, physical, and social domains. Incorporating music into daily life—whether through active participation or passive listening—can serve as a powerful tool for enhancing overall health. Its versatility and accessibility make music a valuable component in both personal self-care routines and professional therapeutic practices. Music therapist Dr. Alicia Barksdale will demonstrate how engaging with music can enhance well-being and discuss clinically proven benefits of music for our physical and mental health at every age.
RSVP by CLICKING HERE
Thursday, January 29, 2026 | 6:00 PM
Structure & Swing: The Unexpected Harmony of Classical and Jazz
Dr. Mark Andrew Cook
Director of Music Theory, Composition, and Jazz Studies (retired) at Shepherd University
Hub City Vinyl – 28 East Baltimore Street, Hagerstown
Is jazz really just a free-for-all of made-up notes? And is classical music always bound by the page? Enjoy the remarkable jazz pianistic talents of Dr. Mark Cook as he challenges these assumptions and reveals the surprising connections between formal classical traditions and the improvisational heart of jazz. Discover how these two styles, often seen as opposites, speak a shared musical language — and how their unexpected harmony just might change the way you listen.
RSVP CLICKING HERE
Thursday, March 26, 2026 | 6:00 PM
John Williams: A Chameleon in Plain Sight
Dr. Stefan Swanson
Professor of Music Theory, Composition, and Technology at Shepherd University
Morgan Hall – 28 S. Potomac Street, Hagerstown
John Williams is the genius behind some of the most recognizable music in history with his scores to Jaws, Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and E.T. the Extra Terrestrial, but his career does not end with just soaring, fantastical themes for blockbuster films. He has composed Oscar-nominated scores for films of all genres, and is even responsible for a variety of tracks few realize are his, despite their being so familiar to us all. Dr. Stefan Swanson will explore the unparalleled career of John Williams and discover some hidden gems, while also recognizing the familiar favorites.
This lecture discusses works being performed on the April 11 John Williams “Music from the Movies” concert.
RSVP by CLICKING HERE
Tuesday, April 21, 2026 | 6:00 PM
How (and Why) Playing the Recorder in 3rd Grade Affected Your Entire Life
Dr. Jennifer Green-Flint
Assistant Dean, Shenandoah University and Executive Director, Shenandoah Conservatory Arts Academy
Hub City Vinyl – 28 East Baltimore Street, Hagerstown
Dr. Jennifer Green-Flint will lead us through an exploration of how your piercing rendition of “Hot Cross Buns” on your plastic recorder helped to create neuroplasticity in your brain, and develop the skills of tolerating discordance and conscious listening. Using these dispositions as a base for increasing emotional intelligence and empathy, we will focus on how ‘everything you really needed to know’ as an adult came from your recorder choir and not just your Kindergarten experience.
RSVP by CLICKING HERE
