Tag Archives: music director Orlando Cela

Music Director of the Lowell Chamber Orchestra to Lead Historic U.S. Premiere of Joaquín Rodrigo’s ‘La azucena de Quito’

Orlando Cela connects two major Rodrigo works across Arlington and Lowell performances

LOWELL and ARLINGTON, Mass., April 21, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The Lowell Chamber Orchestra proudly announces that its Music Director, Orlando Cela, will conduct the United States premiere of “La azucena de Quito,” a rarely performed oratorio by Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo, with the Philharmonic Society of Arlington in May.

Image caption: Orlando Cela conducting, Music Director of the Lowell Chamber Orchestra. Photo: Noya Photo.

This landmark performance marks a significant moment not only for the Arlington Philharmonic community, but also for audiences across the Greater Boston area, who will have a rare opportunity to experience one of Rodrigo’s most expansive and spiritually rich works for chorus and orchestra.

Composed in 1967, “La azucena de Quito” tells the story of Saint Mariana de Jesús of Quito – known as the “Lily of Quito” – through Rodrigo’s distinctive musical voice, blending luminous orchestral color with reverent choral writing. Despite Rodrigo’s global fame for works such as the “Concierto de Aranjuez,” this oratorio has seldom been heard, making its U.S. premiere a major cultural event.

“This is a deeply moving and profoundly human work,” said Cela. “To bring ‘La azucena de Quito’ to American audiences for the first time is both an artistic responsibility and an extraordinary privilege. Rodrigo’s music speaks with a sincerity and spiritual depth that feels especially meaningful today.”

In a compelling artistic pairing, Cela is also leading the Lowell Chamber Orchestra in a performance of Rodrigo’s beloved “Fantasía para un gentilhombre” – one of the composer’s most celebrated works for guitar and orchestra – on April 26th. The piece, inspired by Spanish Baroque dances, showcases Rodrigo’s gift for lyricism and color, offering a vibrant counterpoint to the introspective grandeur of “La azucena de Quito.”

“Programming both of these works in close proximity allows audiences to experience the full spectrum of Rodrigo’s artistry,” Cela added. “From the intimate elegance of the ‘Fantasía’ to the monumental scope of ‘La azucena,’ it’s a journey through the soul of one of Spain’s most important composers.”

The Lowell Chamber Orchestra, known for its commitment to accessibility and community engagement, continues to present high-caliber performances with free admission, ensuring that transformative musical experiences remain open to all.

Together, these performances underscore Cela’s ongoing dedication to bringing both beloved masterworks and overlooked treasures to life—bridging communities in Lowell and Arlington through shared artistic vision.

EVENT DETAILS:
U.S. Premiere of “La azucena de Quito”
Philharmonic Society of Arlington
Sunday, May 3, 2026, at 4 p.m.

First Parish Unitarian Universalist, 630 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington, MA 02476

For more information, visit:
https://psarlington.org/

VIDEO (YouTube): https://youtu.be/gozbir3V-HM

The Lowell Chamber Orchestra: https://lowellchamberorchestra.org/

NEWS SOURCE: Lowell Chamber Orchestra

This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Lowell Chamber Orchestra), who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. Image, if any, was provided by the news source and not this website or the wire service. Information is believed accurate, as provided by the news source, but is not guaranteed.

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/music-director-of-the-lowell-chamber-orchestra-to-lead-historic-u-s-premiere-of-joaquin-rodrigos-la-azucena-de-quito/

Lowell Chamber Orchestra Presents ‘Heroism’: A Free Concert Featuring Beethoven’s ‘Eroica,’ and an obscure work by Marianna Martines

LOWELL, Mass., April 15, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The Lowell Chamber Orchestra (LCO) will close its seventh season with “Heroism,” a powerful and thought-provoking orchestral program on Sunday, April 26, 2026 at 3:00 PM at the Richard and Donahue Academic Arts Center in Middlesex Community College. True to LCO’s mission, the concert is free and open to the public.

Image Caption: Left: Guitarist Raley Beggs; Right: Composer Marianna Martines. Photo courtesy of LCO staff and Raley Beggs.

Centered around the theme of courage and resilience, “Heroism” brings together masterworks and contemporary voices in a program that culminates in Symphony No. 3 (Eroica) by Ludwig van Beethoven—a groundbreaking work that redefined the scope and emotional depth of the symphony.

A highlight of the program is the performance of Resiliens by Oliveira, the winner of LCO’s Call-for-Scores competition. The inclusion of this work reflects the orchestra’s ongoing commitment to supporting emerging composers and bringing new music to the stage alongside established repertoire.

Additional works on the program include music by Marianna Martines, and a guitar concerto by Joaquín Rodrigo – featuring guitarist and Middlesex Community College faculty Raley Beggs – offering audiences a rich and varied exploration of heroism across time, style, and perspective.

Under the direction of Music Director Orlando Cela, the Lowell Chamber Orchestra continues to build a unique model in the region: presenting ambitious, high-quality orchestral performances without ticket prices, ensuring that all members of the community have access to live classical music.

“Great music must belong to everyone,” said Cela. “This program stands at the intersection of past and present—where Beethoven’s vision meets the voices of minority and contemporary composers, and where community itself becomes an act of heroism.”

Founded by Cela with a mission to remove financial barriers to the arts, the Lowell Chamber Orchestra serves audiences throughout the Merrimack Valley and Greater Boston area. The ensemble is the resident orchestra at Middlesex Community College, regularly collaborates with local institutions, and has become a growing cultural presence in the region.

ABOUT THE LOWELL CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

The Lowell Chamber Orchestra is a nonprofit ensemble dedicated to presenting high-quality classical music performances that are free and accessible to all. Through innovative programming and community partnerships, LCO seeks to expand access to the arts while supporting both established and emerging artists.

Learn more: https://lowellchamberorchestra.org/

Concert: Heroism – Lowell Chamber Orchestra
Date: Sunday, April 26, 2026
Time: 3:00 PM
Location: Richard and Nancy Donahue Family Academic Arts Center’s Theatre, 240 Central Street, Lowell, MA 01851
Admission: Free and open to the public

MULTIMEDIA

VIDEO (YouTube): https://youtu.be/BDTkSHiBFJk

Image link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/26-0415-s2p-lcoreggs-300dpi.webp

Image caption: Left: Guitarist Raley Beggs; Right: Composer Marianna Martines. Photo courtesy of LCO staff and Raley Beggs

MEDIA ONLY CONTACT
Antonio Mak
Lowell Chamber Orchestra
EMAIL: admin@lowellchamberorchestra.org
PHONE: 617-319-5982

NEWS SOURCE: Lowell Chamber Orchestra

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/lowell-chamber-orchestra-presents-heroism-a-free-concert-featuring-beethovens-eroica-and-an-obscure-work-by-marianna-martines/

Orlando Cela Named Amplify Latinx ALX100 Honoree

BOSTON, Mass. /ScoopCloud/ -- Amplify Latinx has announced that the Lowell Chamber Orchestra's Music Director, Orlando Cela, has been named one of the ALX100 Honorees for 2024. This prestigious recognition celebrates Latinx leaders across Massachusetts who are making an outstanding impact in their respective fields and communities.

The ALX100 Honorees represent a diverse group of professionals excelling in the arts, education, business, politics, and community activism, all united by their commitment to advancing the Latinx community and creating opportunities for future generations. Orlando Cela stands out among them as a passionate advocate for inclusivity and cultural expression in the arts.

As a Venezuelan artist with an expansive international career, Cela is renowned for his unique interpretations of both classical and contemporary works, with a strong focus on the music of underrepresented composers, particularly those of Latin American and African descent. Through his work with the Lowell Chamber Orchestra, he has broken barriers in the classical music world, elevating marginalized voices and fostering cross-cultural dialogue through performance.

"I am deeply honored to be named an ALX100 Honoree by Amplify Latinx," said Cela. "This recognition highlights the power of music and culture to transcend boundaries, create understanding, and inspire future generations. I am grateful to be part of a community that champions the arts and the Latinx voice."

In addition to his career as a conductor, Orlando Cela is a dedicated educator, nurturing the next generation of musicians. He teaches at Middlesex Community College, and Berklee College of Music, and has appeared as guest artist and lecturer in other prestigious institutions, sharing his expertise and commitment to diversity in the arts with his students.

Amplify Latinx's ALX100 initiative recognizes individuals who embody leadership, innovation, and a dedication to uplifting the Latinx community. The honorees are selected based on their professional achievements and their work in promoting equity and inclusion across industries. The ALX100 Honorees will be celebrated at a special event this fall, where they will join a network of influential leaders across Massachusetts to continue their efforts in creating a more equitable future for all.

About Amplify Latinx

Amplify Latinx is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization dedicated to advancing Latinx economic and political power in Massachusetts. Through leadership development, advocacy, and community-building, Amplify Latinx works to ensure that the voices of Latinx communities are heard and represented at all levels of decision-making.

About the Lowell Chamber Orchestra

The Lowell Chamber Orchestra (LCO) is a dynamic and innovative ensemble based in Lowell, Massachusetts, dedicated to bringing high-quality, free classical music performances to the community. Founded in 2019 by artistic director and conductor Orlando Cela, the LCO is the city's first professional chamber orchestra, and it quickly became a cornerstone of Lowell's vibrant cultural scene.

The LCO's mission is to make classical music accessible to all, regardless of background or financial means. With free admission to most of its performances, the orchestra seeks to engage a diverse audience, from seasoned classical music lovers to those experiencing live orchestral music for the first time. The ensemble performs a wide range of repertoire, from well-known classical masterworks to contemporary pieces, and is particularly committed to showcasing the music of underrepresented composers, including women and composers of color. https://lowellchamberorchestra.org/

MULTIMEDIA:

VIDEO (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYjVrtT3v1Q

MEDIA CONTACT:
Antonio Mak
Lowell Chamber Orchestra
admin@lowellchamberorchestra.org
617-319-5982

Amplify Latinx has announced that the Lowell Chamber Orchestra's Music Director, Orlando Cela, has been named one of the ALX100 Honorees for 2024. This prestigious recognition celebrates Latinx leaders across Massachusetts who are making an outstanding impact in their respective fields and communities.

Related link: https://lowellchamberorchestra.org/

Lowell Chamber Orchestra to premiere new edition of Julia Perry’s symphony

LOWELL, Mass. /ScoopCloud/ -- On Sunday, February 18, 3 p.m., The Lowell Chamber Orchestra will present the first Massachusetts performance of Julia Perry's "Symphony for Violas and Basses," from a new edition by LCO's music director Orlando Cela.

The new edition looks to celebrate Perry's centenary of her birth, and provide a clear template from which other ensembles can perform this work from one of America's most influential and underappreciated composers.

"This work is a fabulous example of Perry's modernist style," says LCO music director Orlando Cela. "One can hear Perry as a mature composer, masterfully handling complex rhythms and harmonies, and presenting a piece that moves from the majestic to the introspective, and then to an electrifying ending."

The concert will also include a world premiere by Martin Max Schreiner - his score being one of the winners of the 2023 LCO Call-for-Scores - and conclude with a rendition of Béla Bartók's "Music for String Instruments, Percussion, and Celesta."

Two soloists, Yukiko Shimazaki on piano, and Nikki Huang on marimba - winner of the 2023 LCO Concerto Competition - will also be featured.

The concert is free to attend.

About The Lowell Chamber Orchestra:

The Lowell Chamber Orchestra is Lowell's first and only professional orchestra. We provide the area with an ensemble that presents music at a very high level, of all styles and time periods, entirely free to the general population. Now in its fifth season, the LCO has presented concerts that encompass established orchestral repertoire as well as multimedia works, stage works, lecture-presentations, and chamber music. As part of its mission of promoting, preserving and educating, the repertoire include works from the Baroque, to current commissions.

ABOUT EVENT:

Fantastic Landscapes

Sunday, February 18, 3 p.m.

Richard and Nancy Donahue Academic Arts Center

240 Central Street, Lowell, MA

Presented by Middlesex Community College's "A World of Music" Concert Series

INFORMATION:

For more information, please visit: https://lowellchamberorchestra.org/events

VIDEO (YouTube): https://youtu.be/9tD_jwXJcKY

On Sunday, February 18, 3 p.m., The Lowell Chamber Orchestra will present the first Massachusetts performance of Julia Perry's "Symphony for Violas and Basses," from a new edition by LCO's music director Orlando Cela. The concert will also include a world premiere by Martin Max Schreiner.

Related link: https://lowellchamberorchestra.org/

Lowell Chamber Orchestra announces fifth season, largest yet

LOWELL, Mass. /ScoopCloud/ -- The Lowell Chamber Orchestra has officially announced its fifth season, which will be comprised of seven concerts starting in September of this year, and running all the way until June of next year.

This season will be the most ambitious yet in LCO's history in many ways - not only there will be more concerts than ever in one season, but also will feature more living composers, more soloists, will perform in new venues, will encompass some of the most challenging chamber orchestra repertoire, and will collaborate with not one, but two other musical groups.

Three women composers will be the center of the living composers' feature. All of them commissioned by the LCO for different projects - Brittney Benton and Yoko Nakatani, who were previously commissioned for LCO's "Lowell Threads" initiative, and currently Betsy Schramm, whose piece will be premiered in December. The other two living composers are the winners of the LCO's annual international call-for-scores: this year, two composers tied and agreed to share the prize - Cory Brodack and Martin Schreiner. Both of them were selected after an anonymous process of selection from over 180 scores.

Three soloists will be featured with the ensemble this season, two of them members of the orchestra itself. Principal chair trumpet player Adam Gallant will perform Persichetti's "The Hollow Men," and concertmaster Katharina Radlberger will perform Mozart's Concerto No. 3 in G major. The third soloist is the winner of LCO's International Concerto Competition, Taiwanese marimbist Nikki Huang, based currently in Canada. She will be featured in Séjourné's Concerto for marimba.

Each concert of the season is centered around an iconic work of the classical tradition, chosen for its historical importance. In September, audiences will hear Schönberg's First Chamber Symphony, which changed how the symphony was defined as a genre; In December, Charles Ives' Third Symphony, a Pulitzer Prize winning score, depicting a very traditional American gathering in the inimitable style of Ives; In February, Bartók's mesmerizing "Music for String Instruments, Percussion and Celesta," made famous in Kubrik's film "The Shining." Finally, May culminates the season with the monumental Requiem by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, through a first time collaboration with Boston Cecilia, and its music director, Michael Barret, who will conduct one of its two performances.

"This is a celebratory year for us." says LCO's Music Director Orlando Cela. "We managed to remain active and relatively unscathed during the pandemic, and now in our fifth year, we are looking to share much more with our audiences."

As usual, the concerts are free to the public, although donations are requested from those who can afford them - LCO is committed to demolish the socio-economic barriers to classical music by providing the best professional grade classical music concerts without an onerous financial burden.

Visit http://lowellchamberorchestra.org/events to find out the details of the next season.

The Lowell Chamber Orchestra has officially announced its fifth season, which will be comprised of seven concerts starting in September of this year, and running all the way until June of next year. Three soloists will be featured with the ensemble this season, two of them members of the orchestra itself.

Related link: https://lowellchamberorchestra.org/

Arlington Philharmonic to premiere 242 year-old work in upcoming concert

ARLINGTON, Mass. /ScoopCloud/ -- The Arlington Philharmonic Orchestra will perform the United States premiere a composition written in 1781 by Marianna Martines, a student of Franz Joseph Haydn. Martines work is the overture to her oratorio "Isacco." This edition by the Philharmonic Orchestra's Music Director Orlando Cela aims to preserve as much as possible the intentions of the composer, and show the mastery of Martines.

Martines was born in Vienna in 1744, in a building where luminary artists resided - Nicola Porpora and Franz Joseph Haydn, for example - above the chambers of the Esterhazy dowager princess. The poet Metastasio lived with Martines' family since 1734, and he helped to connect Martines to these artists, and more. By age ten, Martines was performing for the Imperial court, either singing or playing her compositions, which showed amazing prowess in her writing and her singing, since these compositions were not easy. She was the first woman to be inducted into the Accademia Filarmonica di Bologna, and became a very popular musician in her day, being compared to CPE Bach on her harpsichord playing, and possibly having influenced the then 12 y.o. Mozart's Mass KV. 139.

The overture to be performed will open the Philharmonic Society of Arlington's Mid-Winter Concert entitled "It's All About Papa," since all the works are written by or influenced by "Papa" Franz Joseph Haydn. The rest of the program will include Johannes Brahms' "Variations on a Theme by Haydn," and Haydn's Cello Concerto No. 2 in D, featuring the 2022 Philharmonic Society of Arlington's Young Artist Competition Winner, cellist Elena Ariza.

Schedule:

The concert will take place on Saturday, February 11, 2023, 7:30 p.m. at the First Parish Unitarian Universalist, 630 Mass. Ave, Arlington, MA, led by Cela.

Tickets will be on sale at the door:

$20 General Admission, $15 Students/Seniors, $5 Children 17 & Under. Wheelchair Accessible. Masking required to attend.

About The Philharmonic Society of Arlington:

The Philharmonic Society of Arlington, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community organization incorporating The Arlington Philharmonic Orchestra, The Arlington-Belmont Chorale, and The Arlington-Belmont Chamber Chorus.

For more information, visit https://psarlington.org/.

The Arlington Philharmonic Orchestra will perform the United States premiere a composition written in 1781 by Marianna Martines, a student of Franz Joseph Haydn. Martines work is the overture to her oratorio "Isacco." This edition by the Philharmonic Orchestra's Music Director Orlando Cela aims to preserve as much as possible the intentions of the composer, and show the mastery of Martines.

Related link: https://psarlington.org/

The Lowell Chamber Orchestra releases ‘Miniature Symphonies,’ a pandemic-defeating album

LOWELL, Mass. /ScoopCloud/ -- he Lowell Chamber Orchestra announces the release of its second album, "Miniature Symphonies," a project started at the height of the pandemic, and designed to keep selected composers and musicians active at a time of insecurity in the performing arts.

The album is part of an initiative by the Lowell Chamber Orchestra's Music Director Orlando Cela called "Lowell Threads," a way to pay homage to the textile history of the city of Lowell. The orchestra commissions a new way to showcase new composers alongside a set of works by a well-known composer, a genre, a style, etc., and programs them next to each other, allowing for a multidimensional experience akin to a fabric of new works crisscrossing with established masterpieces. In the case of these album, four living composers - Brittney Benton, Yoko Nakatani, Quinn Mason, and Kevin L. Scott - were commissioned to write a piece matching the instrumentation of one of five chamber symphonies by Darius Milhaud.

"Orlando Cela's creative ideas always inspire me, and this project was no exception," says composer Yoko Nakatani. "I was honored to be a part of it, and wish the Lowell Chamber Orchestra great success in the future with Orlando's excellent leadership. I would also like to thank the recording engineer Will Holland, who is a true professional and made a difficult process easy."

Producing this album kept a number of musicians active during the pandemic. The reduced instrumentation - no more than 10 and as little as seven players at a time - eased the finding of venues; the shortness of the works, none longer than 7 minutes, allowed more recording time to commission more composers.

"We started recording 10 feet apart from each other, and behind plexiglass shields" says LCO's Music Director Orlando Cela, "but we kept going when concert halls were closed. We were very fortunate to be able to access the beautiful spaces at Middlesex Community College Lowell campus. Such great acoustics!"

The four commissioned works sometime compliment, sometimes opposed the nature of the matching work. Las Vegas composer Brittney Benton's "The Sentinel" was written with the same instrumentation as Milhaud's first chamber symphony: while Milhaud's work (subtitled "Spring") has a bright and pastoral quality to it, Benton's work offers a dramatic story filled with foreboding. On the other hand, Dallas-based composer Quinn Mason wrote a work orchestrated for the exact instrumentation, and is heavily inspired by the style of Milhaud's fourth chamber symphony, as the title suggests - Petite Symphonie de Chambre Contemporaine (après Milhaud).

Composer Brittney Benton says, "'The Sentinel' was a joy to write, and I'm excited to bring the story I've crafted through my music to CD and to the world."

"I thoroughly enjoyed writing for the Lowell Chamber Orchestra and to have a work recorded by them is an honor. The entire process had me involved in some way so it truly felt like a fruitful collaboration," says composer Quinn Mason.

The Lowell Chamber Orchestra is Lowell's first and only professional orchestra. We provide the area with an ensemble that presents music at a very high level, of all styles and time periods, entirely free to the general population. The performances take place at Middlesex Community College, the University of Massachusetts Lowell, and at other venues around the area, to provide students easy access to concerts without leaving their respective campuses, and allow the public in general to attend a concert at a proper performance space. The LCO is a member of Lowell City of Learning, working to make Lowell an UNESCO learning city.

The album will be released this Friday, August 26th, in the most popular digital platforms. For more information about the album, visit: https://www.navonarecords.com/catalog/nv6447/

Listen to the first track of the CD here: https://tinyurl.com/LCOMason

The Lowell Chamber Orchestra survives solely by donations, you can make a huge difference by donating here: https://tinyurl.com/LCOdonate

The Lowell Chamber Orchestra announces the release of its second album, "Miniature Symphonies," a project started at the height of the pandemic, and designed to keep selected composers and musicians active at a time of insecurity in the performing arts.

Related link: https://lowellchamberorchestra.org/

The Lowell Chamber Orchestra announces its fourth season

LOWELL, Mass. /ScoopCloud/ -- The Lowell Chamber Orchestra announces its fourth season, with five free concerts that look to entertain, educate, and enlighten Lowell audiences. "The season is designed to turn the western classical musical canon on its head," says Music Director Orlando Cela. "The programming elevates contemporary works above established masterpieces, demonstrating that music keeps evolving in the orchestral medium."

The season will feature works by very well-known composers such as Manuel de Falla, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Franz Joseph Haydn, but these will have very unusual features, such as flamenco style chanting, a vanishing orchestra, and unusual instruments. The newer works will have influences by grindcore punk, Latin-American rhythms, Cornish traditions, and more.

Most of the works have an important social message, such as Gabriele Vanoni's multimedia oratorio "Island of Peoples," about the immigrant experience, and Estefanía Pardo Perez's "Paikuna Saqinku," about displacement of ethnic communities due to environmental disasters - the latter piece being the winner of LCO's second call-for-scores.

"Even the last movement of Haydn's 45th symphony is a social commentary," continues Cela. "The ending is not so much about requesting to go back to Eisenstadt, as it is about demonstrating the importance of teamwork and working together (as told by Giaccomo Ferrari); and in a world where war and political tensions plague our everyday life, we program this piece as a call for global unity and peace."

The season features many guest artists: for the first time ever, the Lowell Chamber Orchestra will feature Canadian conductor Geneviève Leclair as the LCO's first ever guest conductor, and Roi Karni, the winner of LCO's first ever concerto competition. Vocalists Sophie Michaux and Rose Hegele, and cellist Leo Eguchi will also be featured, among others.

All of the concerts are completely free, consistent with the LCO's mission to provide extraordinarily high level classical music performances and take down socio-economic barriers to access these concerts. The LCO survives only through donations.

To see the entire upcoming season, click here: https://lowellchamberorchestra.org/events

To donate to the Lowell Chamber Orchestra, click here: https://tinyurl.com/LCOdonate

MULTIMEDIA:

VIDEO (YouTube): https://youtu.be/h_IHd23O9-s

The Lowell Chamber Orchestra announces its fourth season, with five free concerts that look to entertain, educate, and enlighten Lowell audiences. All of the concerts are completely free, consistent with the LCO's mission to provide extraordinarily high level classical music performances and take down socio-economic barriers to access these concerts.

Related link: https://lowellchamberorchestra.org/

The Lowell Chamber Orchestra is proud to present ‘LCO Pride: A Rainbow of Repertoire’

LOWELL, Mass. /ScoopCloud/ -- The Lowell Chamber Orchestra is proud to present "LCO Pride: A Rainbow of Repertoire" on Sunday, June 5, 2022 at Middlesex Community College in Lowell, Massachusetts. This chamber concert will celebrate Pride Month by showcasing LGBTQ+ composers from the Lowell area and around the world.

Creative director of LCO, Em Russell, states that putting on this concert has been a dream of the theirs since the orchestra's very first season! As well as works by Jean-Baptiste Lully, Benjamin Britten, this concert will showcase a World Premiere by composer Julia Moss, featuring soloist mezzo-soprano Julianna Smith, as well as exciting works by four other living composers.

Queer people have made many significant contributions to the classical music community, yet their identities are often concealed. This concert is meant to embrace and celebrate these identities, which we hope can one day become the norm in classical music culture.

Stylistically, this concert really has something for everyone, from poetry lovers to rock metal-heads. While Kevin Lubin's string quartet "The Flower Shop" includes a spoken narration with words by Virginia Woolf; Hannah Rice has written a Heavy Metal string quartet called "SQ666," which has been composed using techniques from heavy metal rock music.

This concert also features a variety of ensemble sizes, varying from string quartets all the way up to large ensemble works conducted by LCO's music director Orlando Cela. Steven Sérpa's "An Invocation," for solo oboe and strings, is a tone poem inspired by his long-time collaborator, queer poet Jeffery Beam, about the small beauties of nature. Sérpa has also written about more difficult topics, including an oratorio on HIV stigma with Inversion Ensemble and an opera responding to the Pulse nightclub shooting with companies in Chicago, Montréal, Hartford, and Austin.

Ethan Soledad's "Why Wait," for a 9-person ensemble, is about his own journey of self-discovery and defeating self-doubt. Ethan's music has been described as "bold, dramatic, and unapologetically expressive."

The largest work of the afternoon will be a World Premiere by composer Julia Moss: "The World is Too Much for Us". Written for mezzo-soprano soloist Julianna Smith and a 10-person chamber ensemble, the work is based on conversations between the composer-performer pair about the feeling of being overwhelmed by the ever-growing clutter of life. Inspired by these ideas, she chose to set the piece to a poem by William Wordsworth about how we have become so obsessed with possessing material items and controlling nature.

"By drowning out nature," Moss says, "we are really drowning out ourselves. The piece is meant to be an optimistic and empowering reminder of what we should really be paying attention to." In the fall of 2022, Moss will enroll at the University of Southern California's (USC) Thornton School of Music to earn a Masters in Music Composition.

"We also wanted to show through our programming that queer composers have stood the test of time. There are so many composers whose music we play all the time and whose names most anyone would recognize, but nobody knows they were queer. Tchaikovsky, for instance. He was queer. Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, Samuel Barber, Benjamin Britten, just to name a few more of the "classics." And of course this doesn't even start to scratch the surface of the loads of queer composers living today, nor accurately represent the diversity that exists among them. But this is why we wanted to program someone as old as Baroque composer Jean-Baptiste Lully, who was born in 1632, to show that we really have been here all along, only now can we start to proudly assert our identities."

TICKETING / DONATION INFO:

The Lowell Chamber Orchestra is Lowell's first and only professional orchestra, demolishing the socio-economic barriers to classical music by always providing the area with music at a very high level, of all styles and eras. Consequently, this event is free of charge, but donations are kindly requested.

If you believe this concert to be a worthy cause and are able to contribute to the event funds, please donate at the link below. Thank you! https://glcf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create?funit_id=2326

"LCO: Pride: A Rainbow of Repertoire"

Sunday, June 5, 3 p.m.

Richard and Nancy Donahue Academic Arts Center

Recital Hall

240 Central Street, Lowell, MA

Free to attend, no tickets, just show up - Mask required

For more information, visit: https://lowellchamberorchestra.org/events

VIDEO (YouTube): https://youtu.be/Mua2UoBBld0

The Lowell Chamber Orchestra is proud to present "LCO Pride: A Rainbow of Repertoire" on Sunday, June 5, 2022 at Middlesex Community College in Lowell, Massachusetts. This chamber concert will celebrate Pride Month by showcasing LGBTQ+ composers from the Lowell area and around the world.

Related link: https://lowellchamberorchestra.org/

Lowell Chamber Orchestra makes landmark agreement with Universal Edition

LOWELL, Mass. /ScoopCloud/ -- The Lowell Chamber Orchestra and Universal Edition have partnered to give composers an unusual opportunity to promote their works in print. The orchestra recently announced its second call-for-scores in order to stimulate the creation of new works for chamber orchestra. Just like in the first, very successful call-for-scores, the Lowell Chamber Orchestra will select a work to be performed during its fourth season.

However, this time, in conjunction with Universal Edition, the winning composer will also win a way to publish their work with Universal Edition through their web tool scodo for one year - a value of about €600. Six finalists will win a voucher with which to publish a limited amount of works through Universal. Scores submitted through scodo can be obtained immediately via the Universal Edition website. Composers retain the large majority of rental fees.

"We are very happy with this new cooperation between the LCO and Universal Edition," says LCO's music director, Orlando Cela. "The orchestra provides a performance and professional grade audio and video for the composer to promote their work, so it's a perfect companion to have Universal Edition also promote the score in print."

The Lowell Chamber Orchestra is Lowell's first and only professional orchestra. LCO provides the Merrimack valley area with an ensemble that presents music at a very high level, of all styles and time periods, entirely free to the general population.

Now in its third season, the LCO has presented concerts that encompass established orchestral repertoire as well as multimedia works, stage works, lecture-presentations, and chamber music. As part of its mission of promoting, preserving and educating, the repertoire include works from the Baroque, to current commissions. The LCO has presented over a dozen local and world premieres by Anna Clyne, Dana Kaufman, Brian Raphael Nabors, José Luis Elizondo, Anthony R. Green, Bongani Ndodana-Breen, Jeremy Gill, and many others.

The deadline for submission to the call-for-scores is Sunday, May 1, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. EST.

Learn more at: https://lowellchamberorchestra.org/

https://lowellchamberorchestra.org/2022-call-for-scores

MULTIMEDIA:

VIDEO (YouTube): https://youtu.be/QXzrMgRyUng

The Lowell Chamber Orchestra and Universal Edition have partnered to give composers an unusual opportunity to promote their works in print. The orchestra recently announced its second call-for-scores in order to stimulate the creation of new works for chamber orchestra.

Related link: https://lowellchamberorchestra.org/

Lowell Chamber Orchestra presents ‘As One,’ the most produced contemporary opera in North America, on the Transgender Day of Remembrance

LOWELL, Mass. /ScoopCloud/ -- Lowell Chamber Orchestra is proud to present "As One" on Saturday, November 20, 2021, 7:30 p.m., at Middlesex Community College. The critically acclaimed, 75-minute chamber opera created by composer Laura Kaminsky and librettists Kimberly Reed and Mark Campbell with film by Ms. Reed, has had nearly 50 productions around the world and, according to OPERA America, is the most produced contemporary opera in North America.

In "As One," two voices-Hannah after and Hannah before-share the part of a sole transgender protagonist. Fifteen songs comprise the three-part narrative; with empathy and humor, they trace Hannah's experiences from her youth in a small town to her college years-and finally traveling alone to a different country, where she realizes some truths about herself.

For the first time in the opera's history, "As One" will be performed by an entirely gender-expansive cast: mezzo-soprano Tona Brown and baritone Rahzé Cheatham will play "Hannah after" and "Hannah before," respectively. Further, the work will be performed on the Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day that commemorates violence against the transgender community.

Says Ms. Brown: "Hannah's story is a story of struggle, self discovery and triumph...and anyone can relate to that even if they don't know much about transgender people. For the first time in history transgender people can see themselves represented on the stage of an opera! This performance will go down in history!"

Orlando Cela, music director for Lowell Chamber Orchestra, will conduct with stage direction by Em Russell.

Like all Lowell Chamber Orchestra concerts, the concert is free of charge, but donations are kindly requested. Audiences must show proof of vaccination upon entry and remain masked during the entirety of the opera.

Learn more: https://lowellchamberorchestra.org/events/as-one

SUMMARY:

"As One"

Saturday, November 20, 7:30 p.m.

Richard and Nancy Donahue Family Academic Arts Center

Middlesex Community College

240 Central Street, Lowell, MA

Presented by Middlesex Community College "A World of Music" Concert Series

Sponsored by the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, and Parma Recordings

REVIEWS:

"As One forces you to think, simultaneously challenging preconceptions and inspiring empathy." - The New York Times

"Its universality is key to As One's becoming the hottest new American opera of recent years. It challenges us to ponder questions of authenticity, identity, compassion and self-love. And it does so without preachiness." - The Chicago Tribune

Lowell Chamber Orchestra is proud to present "As One" on Saturday, November 20, 2021, 7:30 p.m., at Middlesex Community College. The critically acclaimed, 75-minute chamber opera created by composer Laura Kaminsky and librettists Kimberly Reed and Mark Campbell with film by Ms. Reed, has had nearly 50 productions around the world and, according to OPERA America, is the most produced contemporary opera in North America.

Related link: https://lowellchamberorchestra.org/

The Lowell Chamber Orchestra earns recognition in national competition

LOWELL, Mass. /ScoopCloud/ -- The Lowell Chamber Orchestra has been awarded third place in The American Prize Competition for the Performing Arts. The orchestra was recognized for their performances in its inaugural season, in a division that appraises professional orchestras around the United States.

The American Prize National Nonprofit Competitions in the Performing Arts is the nation's most comprehensive series of contests in the classical arts. The American Prize is nonprofit, unique in scope and structure, and is designed to evaluate, recognize and reward the best performers, ensembles, composers, directors and administrators in the United States, based on submitted recordings.

Upon hearing about the award, LCO music director Orlando Cela said: "The orchestra is honored and grateful to have been awarded this prize. Congratulations to the other winners, and best wishes for their continuing musical endeavors."

The Lowell Chamber Orchestra provides the city of Lowell and surrounding areas with an ensemble that presents music at a very high level, of all styles and time periods, entirely free to the general population.

Upcoming offerings include performances of established masterpieces and brand new compositions by living composers, as well as lecture presentations in collaboration with Middlesex Community College, Lowell City of Learning, and other local organizations.

Visit https://lowellchamberorchestra.org/ for more information about the ongoing season.

VIDEO (YouTube): https://youtu.be/qOCHXV7QqUM

The Lowell Chamber Orchestra has been awarded third place in The American Prize Competition for the Performing Arts. The orchestra was recognized for their performances in its inaugural season, in a division that appraises professional orchestras around the United States.

Related link: https://lowellchamberorchestra.org/