Howard County Concert Odyssey

06/23/2026

Counting down the days! ⏳🎺

This Sunday, June 28th, Ellicott City is hosting some of the finest brass musicians in the nation. If you haven't grabbed your tickets to see the Washington Symphonic Brass Quintet yet, now is the time!

This isn't just a concert—it’s a high-octane, wall-of-sound musical experience right in our backyard. From the opening notes to the final standing ovation, you’ll hear why these virtuosos are celebrated worldwide.

The Quick Details:
🗓️ Sunday, June 28, 2026
⏰ 4:00 PM
📍 St. John’s Episcopal Church (9120 Frederick Road, Ellicott City, MD)

Bring a friend, bring the family, and kick off your week with an incredible afternoon of music.

🎟️ Skip the line at the door and lock in your seats online: https://hococo.org/events-tickets/

06/21/2026

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06/18/2026

Looking for the perfect way to spend a summer Sunday afternoon? ☀️🎺

On June 28th at 4:00 PM, join us in Ellicott City for an extraordinary musical experience featuring the acclaimed Washington Symphonic Brass Quintet. Founded in 1993, this premier ensemble brings together top-tier virtuosos from the country’s finest orchestras and elite military bands for a high-energy performance right here in our community.

PRO TIP: Concert tickets would make a GREAT Father's Day gift!!

What’s in store:
• A spectacular journey through 500 years of music—from timeless classics to modern favorites.
• Unmatched precision, raw power, and stunning custom arrangements.
• A vibrant, family-friendly atmosphere perfect for all music lovers.

Treat yourself, your friends, and your family to an afternoon of spectacular music!

📌 Quick Details:
• Date/Time: Sunday, June 28, 2026 at 4:00 PM
• Location: St. John’s Episcopal Church, 9120 Frederick Road, Ellicott City, MD
• Tickets: Available at the door or skip the line by grabbing yours online: https://hococo.org/events-tickets/

06/11/2026

Experience the Power of Brass This Month! 🎺🌟

Get ready for an unforgettable musical experience right here in the DC Metro area! On Sunday, June 28th, the legendary Washington Symphonic Brass Quintet takes the stage in Ellicott City, Maryland, to deliver a thrilling, high-energy performance you won’t want to miss.

Founded in 1993, the WSB has become one of the most celebrated and recorded large brass ensembles in the world. Every member is a top-tier virtuoso, chosen from the nation’s finest orchestras and premier military ensembles to bring you absolute musical mastery.

Why you need to be there:
• 500 Years of Music: From timeless classical masterpieces to modern symphonic favorites, their repertoire appeals to all ages and tastes.
• Custom Arrangements: Experience the raw power and precision of elite brass and percussion performing breathtaking, exclusive arrangements.

🎟️ Treat yourself to an evening of spectacular music. Grab your seats today and start the summer with a performance that will leave you breathless!

📅 Event Details:
WHEN: Sunday, June 28, 2026
TIME: 4:00 PM
WHERE: St. John’s Episcopal Church, 9120 Frederick Road, Ellicott City, MD

Tickets available at the door or online at: https://hococo.org/events-tickets/

06/05/2026

Can music be impressionist?

“Impressionism” is customarily attributed to late 19th century painters such as Monet, Renoir, Cézanne and Degas. As these painters used visual brush strokes to paint effects rather than images, impressionist music conveys moods, scenes and emotions instead of detailed stories. Written around the same time (late 19th century), this musical form uses “color” or timbre through different textures, harmonics and orchestrations to convey feelings and atmosphere.

Impressionist composers* include:
• Claude Debussy • Frederick Delius • Ernest Fanelli • Maurice Ravel • Ottorino Respighi • Erik Satie • Jean Sibelius • Ralph Vaughan Williams

The titles of impressionist music can even evoke emotions and mental images. Debussy’s “Clair de lune” (or “Moonlight”) is possibly the most familiar and famous French impressionism compositions in music. Debussy’s “La Mer” and “Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun,” “The Swan of Tuonela” by Sibelius, and Ravel’s “Daphnis et Chloé” are among the preeminent examples of the impressionistic music mode.

*NOTE: Not all composers were comfortable with this association. Debussy rejected the label; Ravel felt that that the term should not be applied to music. (Source: ParkerSymphony.org)

05/29/2026

05/22/2026

Did you know? According to research from the British Academy of Sound Therapy (BAST), music takes 13 minutes to ‘release sadness’ and 9 minutes to make you happy.

Here are eight of the happiest tunes and most cheerful melodies that just may have you smiling, humming and skipping a step—even on a gloomy day!

• Mozart - Sonata No. 17 in C
• Prokofiev's 'Classical' Symphony
• William Grant Still: Symphony No. 1 ‘Afro-American’, third movement
• Tchaikovsky: ‘Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy’ (from ‘The Nutcracker’)
• Piazzolla: Libertango
• Mozart: Piano Sonata No. 17
• Copland: Hoe Down
• Gershwin: ‘Promenade’ (from the movie ‘Shall We Dance’)
(Source: Classic FM)

05/20/2026

Clara Josephine Schumann (September 13, 1819 – May 20, 1896) was a German virtuoso pianist, composer and piano teacher. Regarded as one of the most distinguished pianists of the Romantic era, she exerted her influence over the course of a 61-year concert career, changing the format and repertoire of the piano recital by lessening the importance of purely virtuosic works. She also composed solo piano pieces, a piano concerto, chamber music, choral pieces, and songs.

Both her father Friedrich Wieck and her mother Mariane were pianists. A child prodigy, Clara was trained by her father. She began touring at age 11, and was particularly successful in Paris and Vienna. She married the composer Robert Schumann in 1840; the couple had eight children. Together, they encouraged Johannes Brahms and maintained a close relationship with him.

She gave the public premieres of many works by her husband and by Brahms.
After Robert Schumann's early death, she continued her concert tours in Europe for decades, frequently with the violinist Joseph Joachim and other chamber musicians. Beginning in 1878, she was an influential piano educator at Dr. Hoch's Konservatorium in Frankfurt, where she attracted international students. She also edited the publication of her husband's work.

Schumann died in Frankfurt, at age 77, and was buried in Bonn beside her husband.