Concerts
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III: March 2026
Ambition and Destiny
Jinwook Park, Guest Conductor
Program:
Carl Maria von Weber: "Oberon" Overture
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4-- featuring Morgan Lee, piano soloist
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4
Read about the music
Performances:
Saturday, March 21, 2026 - 7:00 p.m. - Franco Center in Lewiston
Sunday, March 22, 2026 - 2:30 p.m. - Orion Performing Arts Center in Topsham -
IV: May 2026
"Resurrection"
Rohan Smith, Conductor
Program:Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 2, "Resurrection"
-- featuring Roselin Osser, mezzo-soprano, and Jessica Kenlan, soprano
Read about the music
Performances:
Saturday, May 16, 2026 - 7:00 p.m. - Donald M. Gay Performing Arts Center in Auburn
Sunday, May 17, 2026 - 2:30 p.m. - Orion Performing Arts Center in Topsham -
MSO Children's Concert
Fun for the whole family!
Rohan Smith, Conductor
When and where:
Saturday, June 20, 2026 - Donald M. Gay Performing Arts Center in Auburn
Sunday, June 21, 2026 - Orion Performing Arts Center in TopshamMeet the Instruments, 1:30 p.m.
Free interactive event, part of the "More with Midcoast" series
MSO musicians will be on hand to give people of all ages a chance to play and learn about the instruments in the orchestra.
Orchestra Concert, 2:30 p.m.
Music to be performed:
Johann Strauss Jr (1825-1899): 2 Waltzes
Bela Bartok (1881-1945): Selections from Rumanian Dances
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897): Hungarian Dance No. 6
Arturo Marquez (1950- ): Danzon no. 2
Concert duration: about 45 minutes
These concerts are not part of MSO's subscription series.
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Recap I: October 2025
Heroes: Common and Uncommon
Rohan Smith, Conductor
Program:
Aaron Copland: Fanfare for the Common Man
Giuseppe Verdi: Overture to Vespri Siciliani
Lee Hoiby: I have a Dream-- featuring Philip Lima, baritone soloist
Spirituals: Deep River, Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho, ‘Roun' About de Mountain, Plenty Good Room, Swing Low
-- featuring Philip Lima, baritone soloist
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 3, "Eroica"
Performances:
Saturday, October 25, 2025 - 7:00 p.m. - Franco Center in Lewistonintermission entertainment: members of the Kennebec Valley Youth Symphony Orchestra will provide musical entertainment, in Heritage Hall downstairs from the main concert hall
Sunday, October 26, 2025 - 2:30 p.m. - Orion Performing Arts Center in Topsham
1:30pm: Mary Hunter, Professor of Music Emerita, Bowdoin College, will give a brief presentation about how spirituals became concert hall staples, with audio illustrations from 1916 to the present day.
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Recap II: January 2026
Myths and Magic
Rohan Smith, Conductor
Program:Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Magic Flute Overture
Jean Sibelius: Swan of Tuonela
Tan Dun: Passacaglia: Secret of Wind and Birds
Engelbert Humperdinck: Hansel and Gretel Overture
Paul Dukas: Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Howard Shore: Selections from "Lord of the Rings"
Performances:
Saturday, January 17, 2026 - 7:00 p.m. - Franco Center in Lewiston
Sunday, January 18, 2026- 2:30 p.m. - Orion Performing Arts Center in Topsham1:15pm: audience members are invited to sit on stage as Music Director Rohan Smith leads orchestra members in a rehearsal of a short section of one of the pieces in the concert. Seating at this free event is first come, first serve, and no latecomers will be admitted.
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Recap III: March 2025
Passionate and Fiery Compositions
Hiroya Miura, Guest Conductor
Program:
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor: Ballade, Op. 33
Robert Schumann: Symphony No. 2, Op. 61
Franz Liszt: Prometheus
Igor Stravinsky: Firebird Suite (1919 Version)
Concert length with intermission: approximately 2 hours
Performance Dates:
Saturday, March 22, 2025 - 7:00 p.m. - Franco Center in Lewiston.Intermission entertainment: Jazz band from Edward Little High School, in the Heritage Hall downstairs from the main concert hall
Sunday, March 23, 2025 - 2:30 p.m. - Orion Performing Arts Center in TopshamOne hour before each March concert: Get to know guest conductor Hiroya Miura as he chats with Caroline Cornish, former television news anchor and reporter, about his career and the pieces he chose for our March concert. Admission to the pre-concert interviews is included in the ticket price.
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Recap IV: May 2025
Ethereal Weaves of Air
Rohan Smith, Conductor
Program:
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 7, second movement (note program change*)
Joseph Haydn: Symphony No. 83 “La Poule”
Sergei Prokofiev: Symphony No. 5 in B flat, Op. 100
Concert length with intermission: approximately 2 hours
Read about the music
* This piece will be played to honor the memory of John Teller, MSO's first Executive Director
Performance Dates:
Saturday, May 17, 2025 - 7:00 p.m. - Franco Center in LewistonPre-concert event at 6:15 in the Franco’s Heritage Hall, Mt. Ararat High School student Ryan Sweet performs several of his original solo piano compositions
Intermission entertainment in Heritage Hall: prize-winning high school musicians, cellist Ronan Sands and violinist Linnea Turesson, will perform music by Handel and Piazzolla
Sunday, May 18, 2025 - 2:30 p.m. - Orion Performing Arts Center in Topsham
Pre-concert event at 1:30: Maestro Smith and a section of the orchestra will demonstrate some of their rehearsal strategies in preparing for this concert
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Recap V, FREE Concert: July 2025
FREE Concert: Pops on the Mall*
Rohan Smith, Conductor
when: Friday, July 25, 2025, 6:00 p.m.
where: downtown Brunswick Mallduration: about one hour
WEATHER UPDATE:
Thanks to the earlier-than-predicted thunderstorm, we're able to go forward with tonight's concert. Hope to see you there!
Program (order will be announced at the concert):Sousa: Stars and Stripes Forever
Johann Strauss: Blue Danube Waltz
Johann Strauss: Radetzky March
Sondheim: Send in the Clowns
Copland: Hoedown from Rodeo
Elgar: Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1
Haydn: Finale from Symphony No. 88
Mascagni: Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana
Brahms: Hungarian Dances 5 & 6
Verdi: Triumphal March from AidaClick for more information
* Produced in partnership with the Brunswick Downtown Association, and with support from the Nathaniel Davis Fund
