The Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra ushers in the holiday season with a trio of festive performances
Conducted by Grammy-winning music director Michael Repper, the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra will present four masterworks concerts and two ensemble concerts in December for its growing audiences in Easton, Lewes, Rehoboth Beach and Ocean City.
Now in its 27th year, the orchestra’s special trio of holiday performances will begin with “Holiday Joy,” featuring the full orchestra on December 5 in Easton, December 7 in Lewes, and December 8 in Ocean City. This will be followed by the MSO’s Holiday Brass Quintet concerts, performed by members of the orchestra’s brass section and percussion, on December 21 in Rehoboth Beach and December 22 in Easton. The month’s celebration of the holidays will conclude with a celebratory New Year’s Eve concert by the full orchestra on December 31 in Easton.
“The three holiday concerts each provide a special way to connect with family and the local community. The audience always leaves the concerts with a standing ovation and a huge smile on their faces,” says Michael, who captured a Grammy in 2023 for Best Orchestral Performance. “My favorite experiences as conductor are seeing the bright energy of our young audience members, even those younger than 10, who can’t wait to meet the musicians (or even me!) after a concert because they had such a great time.”
“Holiday Joy” will feature seasonal favorites, gospel songs and hits from Broadway classics. Tenor soloist Jonathan Pierce Rhodes, a recent graduate of the Washington National Opera’s Cafritz Young Artists Program, has received vocal competition awards from the Metropolitan Opera’s Laffont Competition, Civic Morning Musicals Competition and Eastman’s William Warfield Award.
CONDUCTING PROWESS
Grammy award winner Michael Repper leads the talented Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra.
The Holiday Brass Quintet concerts, a perennial sellout, will feature 21 selections, ranging from holiday favorites like “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies” and “Jingle Bells” to Lady Gaga’s “Always Remember Us This Way” and “Sleigh Ride.”
Soprano Kresley Figueroa will be featured at the New Year’s Eve concert, ringing in 2025 at Easton’s Christ Church. Kresley is in her second year as a Cafritz Young Artist with the Washington National Opera and has received First Prize and the Audience Favorite Award in The James Toland Vocal Arts Competition, as well as awards in the Florida Grand Opera’s National Voice Competition, Duncan Williams Voice Competition and The Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition.
“Whether it is singing along to your favorite holiday, operatic and musical theater classics, experiencing the dulcet tones of our brass ensemble or counting down to the start of 2025, each of our concerts presents a unique opportunity to enjoy great music and endless joy,” says Michael.