Lexington Symphony

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Lexington Symphony

Lexington Symphony is a hidden gem from the Greater Boston area!

Passionate about educating the next generation about classical music, Lexington Symphony presents a biennial workshop and concert for children and a yearly educational program for third graders, Orchestrating Kids Through Classics™. Orchestra members work with community members in all aspects of the organization, and it is this energetic collaboration between musicians, community and conductor that makes Lexington Symphony a thriving group.

04/17/2026

American contralto Emily Marvosh is acclaimed for her expressive stage presence, refined musicianship, and richly distinctive voice. She has appeared as a soloist with leading ensembles including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Handel and Haydn Society, and Rhode Island Philharmonic, as well as in performances across the United States. Her honors include the Adams Fellowship at the Carmel Bach Festival and awards from the American Prize. She also served as the inaugural Resident Artist with the Lexington Symphony.

A passionate advocate for contemporary music, Marvosh has premiered new works with ensembles such as Lorelei Ensemble—a GRAMMY-nominated group dedicated to innovative repertoire for women—as well as other new music organizations. Her upcoming season features European tours, U.S. debuts, and an original multimedia project in Lowell.

A Michigan native, Marvosh is also an award-winning recitalist and will serve as artist-in-residence at Saginaw Valley State University in 2026. She is a member of Beyond Artists, supporting causes including Rosie's Place and the Gabriela Lena Frank Creative Academy of Music. She holds degrees from Central Michigan University and Boston University.

On April 25, 2026, Marvosh performs Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream with soprano Sonja DuToit Tengblad at historic Cary Hall for An Evening with Shakespeare with the Lexington Symphony. Tickets at https://www.lexingtonsymphony.org

04/12/2026

Soprano Sonja DuToit Tengblad, praised as “radiant” by Opera Magazine, is recognized for her versatility across orchestral, operatic, and early music repertoire. Recent highlights include appearances with Boston Philharmonic, Boston Landmarks Orchestra, Boston Baroque, and Handel and Haydn Society, along with debuts at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. She earned second place in the American Prize.

A dedicated collaborator, she performs with ensembles including the GRAMMY-nominated Lorelei Ensemble, as well as Blue Heron and Conspirare. A strong advocate for contemporary music, Tengblad has premiered numerous new works and co-created innovative projects such as Modern Dickinson, featuring 21st-century settings of poetry.

Beyond performance, she is the founder of Beyond Artists, supporting causes including Braver Angels and the Eden Reforestation Project. She also co-founded Mothers Out Front (East Boston chapter) and is active as an educator at Wellesley College and Harvard University.

On April 25, 2026, Tengblad performs Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream with contralto Emily Marvosh at historic Cary Hall for An Evening with Shakespeare with the Lexington Symphony. Tickets at https://www.lexingtonsymphony.org

04/02/2026

Lexington Symphony under the direction of Jonathan McPhee presents its season finale at Cary Hall. Sponsored by Kip Connor and Linh Vong. Our season finale features Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream performed with soprano Sonja DuToit Tengblad and contralto Emily Marvosh. This composition is adapted and arranged by Maestro McPhee and expands Mendelssohn’s incidental music into a full evening that explores Shakespeare’s comedic wit and warmly human story where the real and fairy worlds collide. Tickets to An Evening With Shakespeare on Saturday, April 25, 2026 at www.LexingtonSymphony.org

03/21/2026

Béla Bartók’s acclaimed Concerto for Orchestra is a captivating five-movement work that blends Western classical traditions with the rich folk influences of Eastern Europe, particularly his native Hungary. Composed in 1943 after Bartók fled Hungary during World War II, the piece departs from standard tonality and showcases virtuosic, soloistic writing across every section of the orchestra.

Bartók chose the title Concerto for Orchestra rather than symphony to highlight this distinctive approach—treating each instrumental group with concerto-like brilliance. Commissioned by the Koussevitzky Foundation, the work premiered in 1944 with the Boston Symphony Orchestra under Serge Koussevitzky and was an immediate success.

Bartók’s deep research into Eastern European folk music resonates throughout the piece, contributing to its enduring popularity as one of his most accessible and beloved works.

Don’t miss our upcoming performance of this extraordinary 20th-century masterpiece on March 28 at the historic Cary Hall!

Tickets: https://www.lexingtonsymphony.org

03/14/2026

Composed in 1947–48 by Dmitri Shostakovich, the Violin Concerto No. 1 was not performed for several years due to political pressures in the Soviet Union. During the cultural crackdown known as the Zhdanov Doctrine, Shostakovich and many other composers faced public criticism, and the concerto was set aside. In the years before its premiere, Shostakovich continued refining the work, collaborating at times with its dedicatee, the legendary violinist David Oistrakh.

The concerto finally premiered on October 29, 1955, with the Leningrad Philharmonic conducted by Yevgeny Mravinsky. Oistrakh later praised the piece for its depth and described the solo violin part as a powerful and dramatic role.

Structured in four movements, the concerto moves from the dark introspection of the opening Nocturne to a fiery Scherzo featuring Shostakovich’s musical signature (the DSCH motif), followed by a monumental Passacaglia and an extended cadenza that leads directly into a brilliant, high-energy finale.

On March 28, 2026, British violinist Callum Smart performs this extraordinary concerto live at historic Cary Hall with the Lexington Symphony.

Tickets: https://www.lexingtonsymphony.org

03/07/2026

William Grant Still Jr. (1895–1978) was an American composer who wrote nearly 200 works, including symphonies, operas, ballets, choral music, and chamber pieces. Born in Mississippi and raised in Arkansas, he studied at Wilberforce University and the Oberlin Conservatory and later worked with composer Edgard Varèse. Closely connected with prominent African American writers and artists, he is considered part of the Harlem Renaissance.

Still is best known for his Afro-American Symphony (1930), which was the most widely performed symphony by an American composer until 1950. Often called the “Dean of Afro-American Composers,” he broke significant barriers in classical music as the first African American to conduct a major U.S. symphony orchestra and to have an opera produced by the New York City Opera.

On March 28, experience the Lexington Symphony perform Bells by William Grant Still—a rarely heard work celebrated for its atmospheric, impressionistic style and shimmering bell-like sonorities.

Tickets: https://www.lexingtonsymphony.org

03/06/2026

Internationally acclaimed violinist Callum Smart is celebrated for the sincerity and authority of his playing, with performances praised as both natural and compelling. He has appeared as soloist with major ensembles including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Hallé Orchestra, and BBC Philharmonic, collaborating with conductors such as Vasily Petrenko and John Wilson.

A dynamic recitalist, Smart has performed at leading venues including Wigmore Hall and Konzerthaus Berlin, and his album Transatlantic reached the UK Classical Top 30. Now Assistant Professor of Violin at Carnegie Mellon University, he is also dedicated to expanding music education through initiatives such as the Benedetti Foundation and his innovative AI-powered practice platform, Caidence. A prizewinner at both the BBC Young Musician and Menuhin competitions, Smart performs on a rare violin made c.1730–35 by Carlo Bergonzi.

On March 28, experience Callum Smart perform Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No. 1 live with the Lexington Symphony—a powerful work of dazzling virtuosity and profound emotion—at historic Cary Hall.

🎻 Tickets: https://www.lexingtonsymphony.org

Photo credit: Patrick Allen and Roscoe Rutter

02/26/2026

Lexington Symphony under the direction of Jonathan McPhee presents its spring concert at Cary Hall. Sponsored by Winfield and Linda Perry. British violinist Callum Smart returns by popular demand to Lexington Symphony to perform Shostakovich’s evocative Violin Concerto No. 1. Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra was commissioned by Boston Symphony Orchestra’s Serge Koussevitzky in 1943. This popular piece is filled with opportunities for each section of the orchestra to shine as the piece builds to an exuberant conclusion. Tickets to Pushing The Limits on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at www.LexingtonSymphony.org

02/12/2026

Three days left to purchase tickets and celebrate Lunar New Year with us! Lexington Symphony under the direction of Jonathan McPhee, presents its inaugural Lunar New Year concert at Cary Hall. Sponsored by Martha Segal with additional funding from Bin Wu & family in recognition of the Chinese American Association of Lexington. This concert offers a culturally rich and exhilarating evening that you won’t want to miss! The international Mongolian morin khuur soloist, Dr. Erdenbuhe will perform a concerto featuring that ancient national instrument. Colin McPhee’s composition was inspired by melodies played on the Balinese gamelan. We will remain in the Far East as Igor Stravinsky’s Petrushka tells us the magical story of three puppets that come to life in a Russian street fair. Tickets to Celebrating Coexistence on Saturday, February 14, 2026 at www.LexingtonSymphony.org

02/06/2026

Composed in 1910–11, Petrushka was one of the works that launched Igor Stravinsky onto the international stage. Written soon after The Firebird for Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes, the music reveals a composer moving toward a sharper, more modern style—rhythmically driven, brilliantly orchestrated, and full of biting contrasts.

Set amid the bustle of a Russian carnival, the score overflows with color and energy. Stravinsky layers folk-like melodies, irregular rhythms, and bold orchestral effects to create music that feels noisy, crowded, and alive. Winds, brass, piano, and percussion play a central role, often pushing the orchestra in unexpected directions.

At the heart of the work is the famous “Petrushka chord,” a striking clash of two keys played simultaneously. This harsh, unsettled sound symbolizes the puppet Petrushka’s inner conflict and became one of Stravinsky’s most influential musical ideas.

The Petrushka Suite distills the ballet into a vivid orchestral showcase, moving from exuberant fair music to darker, more haunting moments. Playful and tragic at once, Petrushka stands as a landmark of early twentieth-century music and a defining statement of Stravinsky’s emerging voice.

Witness the musicians of Lexington Symphony perform Petrushka on February 14, 2026 as part of their inaugural Lunar New Year program, Celebrating Coexistence at historic Cary Hall.

Tickets at https://www.lexingtonsymphony.org

Address

PO Box 194
Lexington, MA
02420

Telephone

+17815239009

Website

http://www.lexingtonsymphony.org/

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