Draft:Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra

The Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra (MSO) is the sole professional symphony orchestra that serves southern Delaware and Maryland's Eastern Shore. The MSO's mission is "to inspire, enrich, educate and entertain a diverse audience of all ages through live musical performances and to engage students in the world of music through its outreach programs." With its full season of programs, the MSO is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council, the Talbot County Arts Council, and the Worcester County Arts council; in Delaware by the Sussex County Council; and the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, Inc.

The MSO's current music director is Grammy-award winner Michael Repper, since 2022.

History
The regional symphony orchestra was established in October, 1997. The MSO's purpose is to enrich "...the lives of audiences through the power of classical music."

Over its more than 25-year history, the MSO has become a major regional symphony orchestra with an Education and Outreach Department that brings classical music to young people in the mid-Atlantic area with classical music. The MSO achieves its mission through symphonic programs, choral activities, discovering and developing musical talents, and providing a cultural and educational presence in the region. In addition to performing concerts throughout the year, the orchestra gives separate ensemble performances for brass, string, and woodwind quintets.

Performance venues
The MSO's full season of performances include five concerts that are given three times at different venues -- in Eastern Shores' Easton, MD area, Maryland's Atlantic coastal areas of Ocean City and Ocean Pines, and Delaware's Atlantic coastal areas of Rehoboth Beach or Lewes. In addition to these "Masterworks" concerts is the Elizabeth Loker International Concerto Competition in Easton, MD, and "Ensemble" performances for brass, string, and woodwind quintets that are also given multiple times.

Notable premiere
The MSO presented the Maryland and Delaware premiere of Peter Boyer’s “Rhapsody in Red, White and Blue”, May 3rd, 4th, and 5th, 2024. The musical work was commissioned by and featured the internationally-acclaimed pianist Jeffrey Biegel. The work is in celebration of the 100th anniversary of George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue”. In honor of America's 250th anniversary, "Rhapsody in Red, White and Blue" will be premiered in each of the 50 states until 2026.

Music Directors

 * Donald Buxton (1997-2005)
 * Julien Benichou (2005-2022)
 * Michael Repper (2022-present)

Community outreach
Outreach to young people is a major part of MSO's mission, which is "to inspire, enrich, educate and entertain a diverse audience of all ages through live musical performances and to engage students in the world of music through its outreach programs."

School Programs
The A-B-C-Me Play Program supports local school music teachers with guest MSO musicians presenting during the regularly-scheduled music classes.

Elizabeth Loker International Concerto Competition
The annual Elizabeth Loker International Concerto Competition is designed to discover and develop musical talent on a global scale. Young musicians, aged 12 to 25, vie for 3 spots as solo finalists for the competition. The competition is part of the MSO's dedication to educational outreach for young musicians in the classical music community. The competition is unique because each musician performs with the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra; most other major international competitions are performed with no accompaniment or with piano. The most recent 2024 competition demonstrated a global reach to 155 young soloists representing 24 states and 12 countries. The competition's name honors Elizabeth Loker (1948-2015) for her years of dedication and generous support of the MSO.

Honors
On December 22, 2022, following the MSO's annual “Holiday Joy” concert held at the Todd Performing Arts Center at Chesapeake College, then Maryland State Senator Adelaide “Addie” Eckardt, honored the MSO with an 'Official Citation of the Senate of Maryland' for its 25 years of enriching the cultural life of the Mid-Atlantic Region.

The Yale School of Music recognized the orchestra’s efforts in introducing school-age children to instrumental music with the 2016 Distinguished Educator Award to JoFran Falcon, then MSO’s vice president of education and outreach.