Mid-Atlantic Symphony’s “Holiday Joy Concert” brings new soloists
and program, 7 PM Thursday, December 10th  2015

It would be hard to tell who has the most fun at the Mid-Atlantic Symphony’s Holiday Joy Concert at the Avalon: the audience, the soloists, the musicians or the maestro, Julien Benichou. For all, the beauty and intimacy of the setting makes it special in spite of, or possibly because of the crowded stage where singers must dodge the bows of the cellists, and change out of suitcases on the floor below, and the balcony rising up in front of the orchestra bringing concert goers in closer to the performers. The joy of is all is infectious.

This year two new soloists will perform with the MSO: Sharin Apostolou, soprano and Yevgeny Dokshansky, saxophone.

Sharin, a native of New Jersey graduated from the Portland Opera Studio. With her clear supple soprano voice she bridges the opera-musical theatre gap and brings exuberance to often dazzling performances. Her roles this year encompass “My Fair Lady” and “Lakme.”  Yevgeny, born in Belarus conducts and plays clarinet as well as saxophone. He trained at SUNY, winning two first prizes in concerto compositions;
Jacob’s School of Music, Indiana University and DePaul University, Chicago. He is music director of Ensemble Next Parallel in Washington D.C.

The orchestral and vocal program will have old and new Christmas carols, selections from the Handel and Tchaikovsky; compositions by Telemann, Wendell, Monk and Leroy Anderson’s rousing “Trumpeter’s Lullaby.”

In the 2015-2016 season the MSO celebrates Music Director Julien Benichou’s
10th year with the orchestra and a decade of exciting music from the classical repertoire. Over this period, he has added three orchestras to his conducting and teaching schedule: the Chesapeake Youth Orchestra, Towson University Orchestra and recently: Montclair University Orchestra, which he will conduct at Carnegie Hall on December 4th in Tim Janis’s “The American Christmas Carol.”

Much could be said about Julien’s conducting but a savvy music lover who is a regular
subscriber said it succinctly, “he plays the music as I like to hear it played.” He is often referred to a very exciting conductor, and is revered by the musicians and audience. There is a verve and freshness in his performances that makes familiar standards sound like something new.

Join us at the Avalon, December 10, 2015 at 7:00 PM. Tickets are $45 available on the website www.midatlanticsymphony.org, www.avalonfoundation.org  or by calling 1-888-846-8600/1-410-289-3440 and at Crackerjacks toy store for check or cash.