Annapolis Symphony Orchestra

12/08/2024

🫶 Prior to COVID, the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra hosted holiday giving projects, like food drives. We're bringing this fine tradition back to Maryland Hall in time for the season of giving!

🎄Our intern Gemma founded and manages Whole Lotta Love, a charitable giving effort of "students helping students". Gemma has raised money for a tactile garden at Wellness House of Annapolis, helped found a food pantry during the pandemic, collected cold weather gear for students at Indian boarding schools, and managed for the last five years the Annapolis Angel Tree, which matched more than 250 students each year with generous Christmas giving sponsors.

This year, the principals and teachers from Annapolis cluster schools asked Whole Lotta Love to collect hoodies, sweatshirts and fleeces, personal care items, and laundry detergent for students in need.

⭐️ Here's where you can help! ⭐️ Bring any of the items on the list to Maryland Hall. The A*O is hosting two collection boxes, both located in the foyer on the 2nd floor near the entrance to the auditorium. Please bring your items no later than December 19 as Maryland Hall closes for Christmas break, and Whole Lotta Love needs to distribute the items to the schools at that time. You can also find the list on our website, at https://annapolissymphony.org/holidayhelp/

🎁 If you're headed to Holiday Pops at Severna Park High School or Holiday Pops at Maryland Hall, or to a performance with Live Arts Maryland, The Ballet Theatre of Maryland, or Annapolis Opera, please consider bringing *NEW* and *UNOPENED* donations! Want to join Gemma to share a whole lotta love? Please share information about this effort with your family, friends, neighbors, and fellow lovers of the arts!

12/06/2024

For decades, the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra has accompanied the United States Naval Academy Glee Club and world-class soloists for performances of Handel's Messiah, a beloved holiday tradition that's performed in the Naval Academy Brigade of Midshipmen Chapel. This year, 28 A*O musicians will join the USNA Glee Club under the baton of Dr. Aaron Smith, USNA Director of Musical Activities. What an honor and privilege, and what a special place to play such beautiful and timeless music! Learn more about the performances this weekend on the USNA website at https://bit.ly/41iv7NF.

12/05/2024

Thanks to a very special donor, the Annapolis Symphony Academy was able to acquire a new bass drum. Students are so excited to learn, and look forward to playing it at the upcoming Winter Concert. Music Matters. Our work is made possible because of the commitment and generosity of our supporters. We're grateful (and so are the ASA kids!)

The ASA will present a Winter Concert at Temple Beth Shalom on December 15th at 4 PM. The concert will feature classical and holiday music, and is free and open to the public. Learn more at annapolissymphony.org/asawinterconcert.

12/03/2024

Music Matters. Giving Tuesday is today. The time is now for you to make a difference in the vibrancy, health, and sound of our community. Our End-of-Year fundraising campaign is a call to help us continue our important work. One generous donor has offered a $50,000 matching gift—if we raise $50,000 by December 31, every dollar you give will be doubled! Donate now on our website: https://annapolissymphony.org/support/ or by emailing [email protected] now on our website: https://annapolissymphony.org/support/ or by emailing [email protected].

🎼 Music Matters. When you choose to give to the A*O today, Giving Tuesday, you directly support the work we do in the community.

Annapolis Symphony Academy - More than 50% of ASA students attend on need-based scholarships, and our ensembles are tuition-free. Your support helps provide need-based scholarships to Annapolis Symphony Academy students.

Adopt-a-School Program - We support local music teachers and offer a side-by-side music education program conducted by A*O musicians.

Community Service in Action - The A*O brings music to the community and performs for front-line workers, at behavioral health centers and at assisted living centers.

On and Off Stage - The A*O routinely performs in the community at political and memorial events, the downtown Annapolis Christmas Tree lighting, and at important museum exhibits.

Education - Last year, more than 2,600 Maryland students discovered the joy of music through our school visits and live concerts. A*O musicians provide coaching, mentoring, and support for school education programs.

Community Partnerships - The A*O collaborates with other local arts institutions, expanding our influence and economic impact, including United States Naval Academy Music Department, St. John's College, Bowie State University, and Ballet Theatre of Maryland, and Annapolis Opera. We also partner with non-profits such as Salvation Army, Marshall Hope Learning Center, and Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum.

12/02/2024

Bored with the dark winter nights? It's time for Friends of Annapolis Symphony Orchestra Quiz Night. Reserve your space now, and we'll see who wins the big prizes!

https://annapolissymphony.org/events/quiz/

11/28/2024

We’re full of thanks for you: our friends, patrons, and supporters. May your Thanksgiving Day be full of memories, blessings, and of course, good music.

11/27/2024

💥 Our once-a-year Black Friday sale drops tonight at midnight and lasts just 4 days. Make sure you're ready to POP30!

📉 Get 30% OFF tickets to Holiday Pops at Maryland Hall or Holiday Pops at Severna Park High School! Use code POP30 for up to 4 tickets per transaction. Rules apply, see ** below.

You don't want to miss Holiday Pops with the A*O, and now you can save big on tickets! ⏱ Set your clock to use code POP30 starting tomorrow through December 1.

🎅 Join the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra and our 70 professional musicians for performances of popular and classical holiday music sure to make you feel the magic of the season! We’re thrilled to welcome Katherine Sanford Schrock as our guest artist. With her stunning voice, Katherine will help make this holiday celebration one you won’t forget!🎤

The program includes traditional pieces such as music from Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker", Leontovich’s "Carol of the Bells", and Johann Strauss Jr.'s "Die Fledermaus", and as well as popular music like Irving Berlin's "White Christmas", Coots and Gillespie's "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town", and Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn's jazzy rendition of "The Nutcracker Suite Overture".

Learn more about the performance at https://annapolissymphony.org/events/hp24/

**RULES:
📌 Use code POP30 to receive 30% off tickets to Holiday Pops at the A*O at Maryland Hall or Severna Park High School.
📌 Sale dates are 11/28-12/1
📌 Up to 4 tickets per transaction
📌 Discount cannot be combined with any other offer, including subscription discounts or $10 student tickets
📌 Discount does not apply to Parterre or Orchestra AA seating at Maryland Hall, but does apply to any seat at Severna Park High School.
📌 If you are purchasing student tickets, you must do so through our Box Office. We're closed until December 2, so please leave a message with our Box Office at 410-263-0907, or email [email protected]. We'll give you a call back on Monday and honor the Pop30 code on your regularly priced tickets.
😬 Beware of third party ticket vendors! We ONLY sell our tickets on our own website, AnnapolisSymphony.org, or through our Box Office, which is located at Maryland Hall.

Again, that website to learn more and purchase tickets for your preferred location is: https://annapolissymphony.org/events/hp24/

11/25/2024

🌟 Join the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra for a stirring performance that includes the vibrant sounds of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, the elegant passion of Saint-Saëns, and the powerful imagery of Mussorgsky, all in a concert that celebrates the artistry of musical storytelling.

MASTERWORKS III - Pictures at an Exhibition
Saint-Saëns Violin Concerto No. 3 with Netanel Draiblate
January 31 & February 1 at Maryland Hall
February 2 at Music Center at Strathmore

Step into the world of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, a groundbreaking Black composer who brought fresh, dynamic sounds to the 19th-century orchestra. His "Overture to The Song of Hiawatha", inspired by the moving spiritual "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen," is a powerful testament to music’s evolving, inclusive spirit.

✈️ A*O Concertmaster Netanel Draiblate returns to the Maryland Hall and Strathmore stages to bring Saint-Saëns' Violin Concerto No. 3 to life! (That's his photo, taken while on a break from his other role as a commercial airline captain!)

🎻 This will be the first time the A*O performs this piece under the baton of our Maestro, José-Luis Novo. Dedicated to the legendary Pablo de Sarasate, Violin Concerto No. 3 gracefully blends Classical tradition with Romantic flair, capturing both elegance and drama in every note.

🎨 And finally, experience Modest Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, an evocative journey through a museum of sights, sounds, and emotions. From the playful to the profound, each movement tells a vivid story, culminating in the iconic "The Great Gate of Kyiv." Don't miss a very special art exhibit from Anne Arundel County art students who worked with FA*O and Art Farm to bring Mussorgsky's music to life on their canvas.

Get your tickets now, at AnnapolisSymphony.org. Tickets to the Strathmore performance are only available on the Strathmore website, strathmore.org/community-education/our-partners/annapolis-symphony-orchestra/aso-serenade/

11/20/2024

The Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, under Artistic Director & Conductor, José-Luis Novo, announces the audition for Principal Harp to be held on Monday, February 10, 2025 at Maryland Hall in Annapolis, MD.

Qualified candidates must apply by visiting annapolissymphony.org/about-us/jobs-auditions/harp-audition/. The deadline to apply is Friday, January 3, 2025. Applications must include:

▪️ A resume, submitted through the website form or emailed.
▪️ A $50 refundable deposit check made out to “Annapolis Symphony Orchestra.” Candidates will receive their audition deposit back on the day of the audition. Candidates will also receive their deposit back if they cancel by 5 pm on Friday, February 7, 2025. Checks will be deposited if a candidate cancels after this date or does not appear for the audition.
Checks are to be made out to “Annapolis Symphony Orchestra,” and mailed to: Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, Attn: Auditions, 801 Chase Street, Suite 204, Annapolis MD 21401.

✅ More information, including specific audition times, will follow after January 3 and upon receipt of resume and audition deposit. Not including both of these items will delay processing of your application. A*O reserves the right to decline to invite applicants to the audition based on an anonymous resume screening round.

✅ For those applying from out of state, please know that the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra is a per service orchestra and does not offer travel reimbursement or lodging during concert weeks. Foreign candidates need to have the proper visa in place in order to work and be paid by the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, as A*O does not apply for visas for its musicians. The winner of the audition will be required to join the Musicians’ Association of Metropolitan Baltimore, Local 40-543 even if they are a member of another local.

✅ If you have any questions, please email [email protected] or call Miriam Fogel at 410-267-3632.

11/19/2024

🎻Music Matters!
Yesterday A*O Principal Viola Sarah Hart performed at Wellness House of Annapolis for a new pilot program that offers therapeutic music to individuals and families who have been touched by cancer. We're incredibly grateful for the work of our Director of Community Outreach, Julie Nolan, and Wellness House Program and Communications Director Terri Fevang to arrange this project. Thank you also to Sarah for sharing your incredible talent and passion with the audience 🌟.

📸 Photos courtesy Terri Fevang and Julie Nolan
1. Sarah Hart
2. Teri Fevang, Program and Communication Director; Janet Richardson, Philanthropist, Wellness House Sponsor; Mary Jermann, Wellness House Executive Director; Sarah Hart, A*O Principal Violist; Julie Nolan, A*O Director of Education and Community Outreach and Grants Manager
3. Wellness House of Annapolis

11/14/2024

The A*O FlexPass3 is your ticket to big savings! Don't miss the last three concerts of Season 63, all for the best price!

⭐ Masterworks III - Pictures at an Exhibition, with guest artist Netanel Draiblate (Airline Violinist) January 31 & February 1 at Maryland Hall

⭐ Masterworks IV - Serenade, with guest artist Noah Bendix-Balgley February 28 & March 1, at Maryland Hall

⭐ Masterworks V - Fiesta, with guests artists Dali String Quartet April 4 & 5 at Maryland Hall (includes the Annapolis debut and world premiere of Roydon Tse's new music, a co-commission with Gabriela Lena Frank Creative Academy of Music)

Subscriptions make the perfect gift. Purchase now from our website -
https://annapolissymphony.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/ #/events/a0SVs000001qkJ7MAI

The Season 63 Masterworks Series is made possible by the Brian and Patricia Giese Foundation.

11/13/2024

🎼 François Lazarevitch, Celebrated French Baroque Flutist, in Recital

Join A*O musician Gina Eichman, François Lazarevitch, and Patrick Merrill for an unforgettable afternoon! François Lazarevitch, traverso and recorder will perform in a recital with Patrick Merrill, harpsichord. Begin your holiday season with the artistry of Messrs. Lazarvitch and Merrill, as they perform music by CPE Bach, Couperin and recently discovered solos for flute by Marin Marais. This rare U.S. appearance of Lazarevitch, Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, will be at the Chapel at Bon Secours Retreat and Conference Center near Ellicott City. Reception following performance.

12/01/2024 | 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
1525 Marriottsville Road, Marriottsville, MD 21104

Tickets available at Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/francois-lazarevitch-in-recital-usa-tickets-1012854022647?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

11/05/2024

Holiday Pops with Katherine Sanford Schrock!

Get ready to experience one of the most beloved traditions in Annapolis and Anne Arundel County — the A*O's Annual Holiday Pops concert! This December, bring your friends and family to enjoy the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra and our 70 world-class musicians as we bring the joy, beauty, and warmth of the holidays to life with a dazzling mix of classical music, carols, and heartwarming holiday tunes.

🎤 Adding extra sparkle to this unforgettable concert is Katherine Sanford Schrock, our guest artist. Katherine's stunning voice will help make this holiday celebration one you won’t forget!

This year we’re offering two Holiday Pops concerts! No matter your busy holiday schedule, we’ve got you covered!

Evening performance – Holiday Pops at Maryland Hall Friday, December 13th at 7:30pm
Matinee performance – Holiday Pops at Severna Park High School Saturday, December 14th at 3:00pm

Ensure you don't get scammed by third party ticket vendors! Always purchase tickets only on the A*O website AnnapolisSymphony.org, or by calling our Box Office at 410-263-0907.

The mission of the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra is to inspire, educate and enrich lives near and far

11/05/2024

🤩 "Thank José-Luis Novo for introducing me to Oscar Navarro Music. I’m now an official 81 year old fan. After Friday's concert I went home and listened to all [Navarro's] his clarinet concertos. And Alex Kovling is a fabulous French Horn player. All kinds of beautiful sounds. What a treat to live in a small town with this type of quality. Woot! Woot!"

🤩 "Alex Kovling was awesome!"

🤩 "The Navarro was one of the most excellent performances by the A*O I have heard."

📯 We had a truly fabulous weekend performing Masterworks II: Connections at Maryland Hall on Friday and Saturday evening, with guest artist Principal Horn Alex Kovling. Did you attend one of the concerts? Let us know about your experience in the comments!

We're thankful to our sponsors Bay Radiology and What's Up? Media. The Season 63 Masterworks Series is made possible with the generous support of the Brian and Patricia Giese Foundation.

11/02/2024

🤩 Oh what a night! Artistic Director and Conductor José-Luis Nove led Guest Artist and A*O Principal Horn Alex Kovling and the entire orchestra in an incredible performance of Masterworks II: Connections. 📯📯

If you don’t have tickets for tonight’s performance, we still have limited seating available. Please purchase online, call our Box Office at 410-263-0907, or stop by our office at Maryland Hall. https://annapolissymphony.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/ #/events/a0SVs000000TeGbMAK

The Season 63 Masterworks Series is made possible by the Brian and Patricia Giese Foundation.

10/30/2024

And now, for your reading pleasure - the Digital Program Book for our Masterworks II - Connections performances this weekend. https://bit.ly/3AsdK1F

As always, should you prefer a printed program, we will have a limited number available at the concert.

Enjoy!