Maryland Symphony Orchestra
Valentine's Day Celebration
Elizabeth Schulze, Conductor | Chaeyoung Park, Piano
Friday, February 14 | 7:30 PM
Pealer Recital Hall | Woodward D. Pealer Performing Arts Center
Maryland Symphony Orchestra / Photo credit: Mark Youngblood
A Romantic Evening of Symphonic Masterworks
Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel | Overture in C Major
Camille Saint-Saëns | Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor
Florence Price | Symphony No. 3 in C Minor
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with an exquisite concert of three classical masterworks, including Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel’s sparkling Overture in C; Florence Price’s soul-stirring Symphony No. 3, which honors the richness of African American musical heritage; and Camille Saint-Saens’ exuberant Piano Concerto No. 2, featuring Juilliard-educated soloist Chaeyoung Park.
Since its founding in 1982, the Maryland Symphony Orchestra’s influence and reputation have reached far beyond Western Maryland. Under the baton of Elizabeth Schulze, who was declared by The Washington Post to be “a superb conductor,” MSO has become a first-class orchestra of exceptional artistic quality.
Elizabeth Schulze, Music Director
With passion, verve and illuminating musicianship, Elizabeth Schulze has conducted orchestras and opera companies, advocated for music education and electrified audiences in the U.S. and abroad for more than two and a half decades. She is currently in her 25th season as MSO music director and was recently appointed music director and conductor of the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra in Alaska. Schulze made her European debut leading the Mainz Chamber Orchestra in the Atlantisches Festival in Kaiserslautern, Germany. She appeared in Paris as the assistant guest conductor for the Paris Opera and has also appeared in London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Vienna with the National Symphony during its 1997 European tour. Her most recent international work includes conducting in Hong Kong, Jerusalem and Taipei. In 2013, she received the prestigious Sorel Medallion in Conducting for her adventurous programming.
Chaeyoung Park, Guest Artist
Praised by New York Concert Review as a passionate pianist who “does not play a single note without thought or feeling,” Chaeyoung Park embraces a broad range of classical music literature. Her programs feature works ranging from early French Baroque, to Beethoven sonatas, to new music by living composers. While pursuing her bachelor’s degree at Juilliard, Park was awarded the Juilliard Gina Bachauer Scholarship; during her master’s studies, she was named a Kovner Fellow, a prestigious merit-based fellowship. She also received the Arthur Rubinstein Prize, which is awarded to one outstanding graduating pianist. Park appears courtesy of Young Concert Artists.
Optional VALENTINE’S DAY DINNER
Friday, February 14
FSU Gira Center Room 397
Enjoy a romantic three-course Valentine’s Day dinner before the performance of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra.
Two seatings are available.
A cash bar will open at 5 PM
The 5 PM seating will allow interested ticket holders time to attend the MSO Prélude with Elizabeth Schulze at 6:30 PM. The 6 PM seating is recommended for those who plan to attend the 7:30 PM performance only.
Patrons will be seated at tables of six.
Menu options
Mushroom ravioli with marinara with mixed seasonal vegetables ($27)
Pecan-crusted chicken with bourbon sauce, garlic mashed potatoes and mixed seasonal vegetables ($28)
Beef Bourguignon, garlic mashed potatoes and mixed seasonal vegetables ($30)
Blackened salmon with rice pilaf and mixed seasonal vegetables ($30)
All entrées include
Garden salad with tomatoes, cucumbers and red onions
Rolls and butter
Tableside beverage service: regular and decaf coffee, unsweetened iced tea and water
Dessert
Susie’s homemade éclairs
Three chocolate-covered strawberries
Menu options
Mushroom ravioli with marinara with mixed seasonal vegetables ($27)
Pecan-crusted chicken with bourbon sauce, garlic mashed potatoes and mixed seasonal vegetables ($28)
Beef Bourguignon, garlic mashed potatoes and mixed seasonal vegetables ($30)
Blackened salmon with rice pilaf and mixed seasonal vegetables ($30)
All entrées include
Garden salad with tomatoes, cucumbers and red onions
Rolls and butter
Tableside beverage service: regular and decaf coffee, unsweetened iced tea and water
Dessert
Susie’s homemade éclairs
Three chocolate-covered strawberries
ARTS BEYOND THE STAGE
ARTS FOR ENRICHMENT
Maryland Symphony Orchestra
Prélude with Elizabeth Schulze
Friday, February 14 | 6:30 PM
Pealer Recital Hall | Woodward D. Pealer Performing Arts Center
MSO Music Director Elizabeth Schulze discusses the works that will be performed during the evening’s concert. Gain insight on Romantic-era composers Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel and Camille Saint-Saëns and pioneering 20th-century composer Florence Price, who was the first African American woman to have been recognized as a symphonic composer and the first to compose for a major American orchestra.
Open to all ticket holders.
Open to all ticket holders.
Maryland Symphony Orchestra
Lecture and Discussion: Fundraising and Marketing in the Professional Music World
Wednesday, February 5 | 3 PM
Pealer Recital Hall | Woodward D. Pealer Performing Arts Center
Pealer Recital Hall | Woodward D. Pealer Performing Arts Center
Maryland Symphony Orchestra Director of Development Jennifer-Joy Sutton and Michael Harp, MSO Director of Marketing & Public Relations, lead an in-depth session to discuss fundraising and marketing in the professional arts world.
Jennifer-Joy Sutton is the Director of Development at the Maryland Symphony Orchestra where she devises income-generating initiatives, with a focus on planned gifts, to sustain and advance a multimillion-dollar annual budget. With two decades of experience in the nonprofit arena, she is a dynamic and innovative leader with a proven track record of implementing strategic vision in collaboration with professional and volunteer leadership. She has been a featured speaker at SXSW in Austin, Texas, and taught at the University of Houston in areas of nonprofit development, social media and cybersecurity.
Driving organizational growth and success, Jennifer builds institutional strength and drives the growth of the MSO and its endowment. She creates highly effective fundraising campaigns as well as planned-giving programs by cultivating donors and devising compelling cases for support that share MSO’s story across various platforms.
Jennifer holds a Juris Doctor in Law & Economics from Syracuse University College of Law and is a graduate of the University of Miami Herbert Business School.
Michael Harp serves as the director of Marketing & Public Relations for the Maryland Symphony Orchestra. With over a decade of experience at MSO, he has demonstrated leadership in marketing, patron services, box office operations and the implementation of innovative digital solutions. Michael is MSO’s resident digital and print publication designer, oversees front-of-house operations and experiences, and spearheads strategies to cultivate new audiences and enhance the orchestra’s community engagement footprint. He previously worked for Walt Disney Theatrical Productions at the New Amsterdam Theatre in New York and has served in various roles within local, regional and collegiate performing arts organizations.
Michael holds a master’s degree in Higher Education Administration and previously served as director of Admissions for Penn State University, where he recruited students nationwide and increased campus enrollments. His approach to customer service and audience development is shaped by his commitment to exceeding patron expectations and creating memorable experiences, honed through his unique experiences with Disney and his broad background in hospitality, finance, higher education, and the arts.
