More with Midcoast

More with Midcoast is MSO's series of education and community engagement programs, each offering a way to learn about our instruments, music and musicians.

All of these events are offered free of charge.

Pre-Concert Events

MSO’s pre-concert events offer audience members a chance to go behind the scenes and interact with the instruments while learning more about the music and the musicians who will perform. The programs take place in the performance hall (unless otherwise noted) an hour before each concert, so you can be sure to have a great seat for the concert following the event.

Following are the pre-concert programs scheduled before MSO's May 2025 concerts (read more about the concerts):

Original Piano Music

May 17 at 6:15 pm - at the Franco Center's Heritage Hall

Mt. Ararat High School student Ryan Sweet performs several of his original solo piano compositions.

Open Rehearsal with the MSO’s Music Director

May 18 at 1:30pm - Orion Performing Arts Center

Join Rohan Smith and the orchestra on stage as he rehearses a selection of music from our May concert. Seating is limited so be sure to arrive early.

Youth Performances

We are pleased to showcase some of the area’s best up and coming talents in the Heritage Hall at the Franco Center during intermission of our Saturday evening concerts.

May 17 intermission music:

Prize-winning high school musicians, cellist Ronan Sands and violinist Linnea Turesson, will perform music by Handel and Piazzolla

Judith Elser Concerto Competition

This biennial competition for Maine college students honors the memory of Judith Elser (1940 - 2015), a long-time music teacher who played cello in the MSO for many years (see more.)

Joshua Zhang, winner of the 2023-24 competition, performed a trombone concerto with the MSO as part of the January 2025 concert (read about Joshua.)

Free Concerts in the Park

Keep your eyes on our website in the spring for details about our plans to perform classical music in the great outdoors in the summer of 2025.

More with Midcoast is sponsored by the Maine Trust for Local News and supported with a grant from the Nathaniel Davis Fund.

For more info see our Facebook page, call (207) 315-1712, or email info@midcoastsymphony.org