Penobscot Bay Orchestra

06/01/2026

Looking for a rewarding summer music experience for your child? The PBO Youth Chamber Music Program, running July 13–31, is open to students with one to four years of playing experience. Through nine one-hour sessions over three weeks, participants will build ensemble skills, strengthen technique and musicianship, make new friends, and discover the joy of making music together. Register by July 6. For more info and to register visit https://www.penobscotbayorchestra.org/youth-education

05/30/2026

Earlier this week, the PBO String Quartet performed for 80 fourth-grade students at Camden-Rockport Elementary School. The audience was enthusiastic and full of thoughtful questions as they listened to a program featuring a tango, a waltz, folk tunes, and a Canzonetta from Mendelssohn. We hope the students left inspired, and that they too will discover the joy in making music with others.

05/18/2026

We are still exhilarated by our concerts last week in Camden and Belfast. Thank you to all who attended. Stay tuned for info about our Summer Session, which starts on June 16. More info coming soon!

05/10/2026

The brass section got our concert off to a rousing start with Canzon II by Gabrieli. Our next concert is in Camden on Tues. May 12 at 7pm. Details at penobscotbayorchestra.com

05/10/2026

Thank you, Belfast, for joining us at our concert yesterday. I hope you enjoyed it as much as we did! We will do it all again in Camden on Tuesday.

05/07/2026

Getting ready for our concerts!

May 2026 concerts - promo video

05/04/2026

Hear the PBO String Quartet at our May concerts! Inspired by the Danish String Quartet, the PBO Quartet will play selections from the DSQ album, Keel Road --songs that explore the rich folk traditions of Scandinavia and the British Isles. "Once a Shoemaker” is rooted in a Danish folk song, recalling the life and work of a cobbler. “Pericondine” captures the energy of a rustic dance, transformed into a vivid chamber-music tapestry. Pictured below: Julia Tranner and Heidi Karod, violin; Kay Allen, cello, and David Cosgrove, viola. Info at penobscotbayorchestra.org.

05/01/2026

When was the last time you heard a saxophone playing with a string orchestra? Hear the hauntingly beautiful sax concerto by Alan Hovhaness performed by soloist Glen Sargent, along with works by Brahms, Sibelius, and more at our May concerts.

* Sat. May 9 in Belfast: 4pm at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 37 Miller St.
* Tues. May 12 in Camden: 7pm at the John Street United Methodist Church, 98 John St.

04/30/2026

Don't miss hearing this Brahms symphony! (Event info at bottom.) The final movement of Brahms' Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68 is a journey from darkness into radiant affirmation. After a mysterious, searching introduction—complete with hushed strings and a distant horn call—Brahms unveils one of the most noble and expansive themes in the symphonic repertoire. Often noted for its kinship to the spirit of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, this soaring melody unfolds with warmth and breadth, carried first by the strings and then embraced by the full orchestra. The symphony, which began in storm and struggle, ultimately resolves in a triumphant C-major conclusion. Pictured below, Brahms in 1897.
Event info here: https://www.penobscotbayorchestra.org/events-one

02/06/2026

Calling all young Maine mid-coast musicians! Apply now for the PBO Young Musician Scholarship. The Penobscot Bay Orchestra (PBO) is accepting applications from talented sophomore and junior high school musicians in Waldo and Knox counties in Maine. This exciting opportunity includes up to 30 private music lessons and the chance to perform with the Penobscot Bay Orchestra in concert. Applications are due by April 1, with live auditions to follow. The scholarship winner will be announced at the orchestra's May concerts. If you’re ready to take your music to the next level, we’d love to hear from you! More info and application at https://www.penobscotbayorchestra.org/youth-education