Penobscot Bay Orchestra

08/22/2026

We had so much fun with our Summer at the Movies concerts. But there is no time to rest on our laurels -- our Fall session is just around the corner. Tchaikovsky is on the program! More info coming soon.

08/14/2026

PBO string players rehearsing "Maria" from West Side Story for our concert in Belfast tomorrow! Free admission.

SATURDAY, Aug. 15 at 4:00 pm at Belfast Unitarian Universalist Church, 37 Miller Street, Belfast, Maine, 04915

08/13/2026

Erich Korngold wrote the title theme for the 1942 movie Kings Row before seeing the script, so knew nothing about the movie but its name. "Kings Row" suggested something heroic, rather than the story that the movie was actually about: young people growing up in a small American town at the turn of the century. The movie stars Ann Sheridan, Robert Cummings, Ronald Reagan and Betty Field. Hear the grand theme, which clearly influenced film music, at our upcoming concert.

CONCERT 1: SATURDAY, Aug. 15 at 4:00 pm at Belfast Unitarian Universalist Church, 37 Miller Street, Belfast, Maine, 04915

CONCERT 2: TUESDAY, Aug. 18, 7:00 pm at John Street United Methodist Church, 98 John Street, Camden, Maine 04843

08/12/2026

Summer winds are blowing (pun intended!) as we prepare for our upcoming concerts:

CONCERT 1: SATURDAY, Aug. 15 at 4:00 pm at Belfast Unitarian Universalist Church, 37 Miller Street, Belfast, Maine, 04915

CONCERT 2: TUESDAY, Aug. 18, 7:00 pm at John Street United Methodist Church, 98 John Street, Camden, Maine 04843

08/08/2026

John Williams has had a profound influence on the sound of modern cinema. From Star Wars and Jaws to E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Indiana Jones, and Harry Potter, Williams’s music does more than accompany the action—it creates atmosphere, shapes emotion, and gives characters and stories a distinctive musical identity. His work has inspired generations of composers and continues to define the sound of the modern movie. Hear selections from some of John Williams' movie soundtracks at our upcoming concerts:

SATURDAY, Aug. 15 at 4:00 pm at Belfast Unitarian Universalist Church, 37 Miller Street, Belfast, Maine, 04915

TUESDAY, Aug. 18, 7:00 pm at John Street United Methodist Church, 98 John Street, Camden, Maine 04843

08/08/2026

Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story, premiered in 1957, transformed musical theater by bringing together classical music, jazz, Latin rhythms, and the energy of American popular culture. With a groundbreaking score, vivid choreography by Jerome Robbins, and a story inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the musical addressed themes of love, prejudice, and cultural conflict with unusual dramatic depth. Bernstein’s music—from the lyrical “Somewhere” to the driving “America” and “Tonight”—helped redefine what a Broadway musical could achieve, bridging the worlds of musical theater and the concert hall. Hear selections from West Side Story at our upcoming concerts:

SATURDAY, Aug. 15 at 4:00 pm at Belfast Unitarian Universalist Church, 37 Miller Street, Belfast, Maine, 04915

TUESDAY, Aug. 18, 7:00 pm at John Street United Methodist Church, 98 John Street, Camden, Maine 04843

08/05/2026

The music of "Pirates of the Caribbean" is among the most recognizable film scores of the 21st century. Klaus Badelt composed the original score, working with producer Hans Zimmer, whose music shaped the sound of the later films in the series. The concert suite brings to life the swashbuckling adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow and his crew, helping to make the Pirates of the Caribbean a favorite with audiences around the world.

CONCERT 1: SATURDAY, Aug. 15 at 4:00 pm at Belfast Unitarian Universalist Church, 37 Miller Street, Belfast, Maine, 04915

CONCERT 2: TUESDAY, Aug. 18, 7:00 pm at John Street United Methodist Church, 98 John Street, Camden, Maine 04843

*This is an updated and expanded version of a video I posted on Oct...

08/03/2026

Carlos Gardel (1890–1935), often called the "King of Tango," helped bring Argentine tango to audiences around the world. Composed in 1935, "Por Una Cabeza" is one of Gardel's best-known tangos. The title, meaning "By a Head," refers to a horse race won by the narrowest of margins. Its melody has become instantly recognizable through its use in films such as Scent of a Woman, making it one of the most enduring pieces in the tango repertoire.

CONCERT 1: SATURDAY, Aug. 15 at 4:00 pm at Belfast Unitarian Universalist Church, 37 Miller Street, Belfast, Maine, 04915

CONCERT 2: TUESDAY, Aug. 18, 7:00 pm at John Street United Methodist Church, 98 John Street, Camden, Maine 04843

Scent of a Woman movie clips: http://j.mp/1JblmA3BUY THE MOVIE: ht...

08/03/2026

Although they share a surname, Elmer Bernstein (1922–2004) and Leonard Bernstein (1918–1990) were not related. Both were among America's most influential composers of the mid-20th century, but they made their mark in different musical worlds. Leonard Bernstein was celebrated as a composer, conductor, and educator, best known for works such as West Side Story, Candide, and his tenure as music director of the New York Philharmonic. Elmer Bernstein became one of Hollywood's greatest film composers, writing memorable scores for more than 150 films, including The Magnificent Seven, To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Great Escape. Together, their music helped define the sound of American concert halls, Broadway, and the silver screen.

Hear the music of both Bernsteins at our August concert, "Summer at the Movies," a family-friendly summer concert featuring unforgettable music from the silver screen.

CONCERT 1: SATURDAY, Aug. 15 at 4:00 pm at Belfast Unitarian Universalist Church, 37 Miller Street, Belfast, Maine

CONCERT 2: TUESDAY, Aug. 18, 7:00 pm at John Street United Methodist Church, 98 John Street, Camden, Maine 04843

08/01/2026

Echoes of John Williams? Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897–1957) was one of the 20th century's musical prodigies, earning praise from Gustav Mahler and Richard Strauss before turning to film composition after emigrating from Austria to Hollywood. His richly romantic scores helped define the sound of the classic adventure film and earned him two Academy Awards. Korngold's music for the 1942 film Kings Row is among his most celebrated. The film's main theme, with its sweeping style, became a model for generations of film composers, and many listeners hear echoes of it in the heroic film scores of John Williams and others.

CONCERT 1: SATURDAY, Aug. 15 at 4:00 pm at Belfast Unitarian Universalist Church, 37 Miller Street, Belfast, Maine, 04915

CONCERT 2: TUESDAY, Aug. 18, 7:00 pm at John Street United Methodist Church, 98 John Street, Camden, Maine 04843

Main Title - The Children (Parris and Cassie) - Parris and Grandmot...