SPRINGFIELD — MOSSO: Musicians of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, will present a free concert on Oct. 15, at 7:30 p.m. at Springfield Symphony Hall. Maestro Kevin Rhodes, music director and conductor of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra for 20 years, will return to Springfield to lead a program titled ‘COMING HOME: A Symphonic Reunion,’ which will include popular symphonic works by Beethoven, Dvorak, Tchaikovsky, and others to be announced by Rhodes from the stage.
“I’ve missed my colleagues; since the pandemic silenced our concerts, and after isolating at my family’s home in Michigan, I’ve been conducting opera and ballet in Milan, Rome, Slovenia, and Slovakia,” said Rhodes. “I’m glad that my colleagues are working together to bring live classical music back to Western Massachusetts, and I’m honored to be on stage with them.”
Beth Welty, assistant principal second violin with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra since 1983, points out, “MOSSO’s efforts to perform live music since the last official SSO concerts have included organizing performances at the Black Lives Matter rally in front of Springfield City Hall in September of 2020, the 2021 Springfield Jazz and Roots Festival with the Kevin Sharpe Band, the Mattoon Street Arts Festival, and a free concert on the steps of Springfield Symphony Hall in June of 2021. Area businesses have also sponsored MOSSO ‘pop-up’ concerts in various locations throughout the city.”
Marsha Harbison, assistant concertmaster of the SSO since 1977, said, “the musicians of the SSO have not performed together on the stage of Springfield Symphony Hall since March of 2020. The professional musicians of the symphony are eager to perform exciting and healing music in our great Symphony Hall, under our world class maestro Kevin Rhodes.”
MOSSO said the event was made possible by the support of the Music Performance Trust Fund, the American Federation of Musicians, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, Amanda Spear-Purchase and the staff of Symphony Hall, and Lyman Wood.
Tickets for the Oct. 15 performance are free, but must be reserved in advance. No tickets will be sold at the door, and ticket holders must be masked and have proof of full vaccination against Covid-19. All performers will also be fully vaccinated and masked. Seating will be general admission, but Symphony Hall capacity will be reduced to allow for social distancing. For details and reservations: www.SpringfieldSymphonyMusicians.com.
Donations can be made online through the MOSSO website: SpringfieldSymphonyMusicians.com or checks can be made out to MOSSO and sent to MOSSO, PO Box 3513, Amherst, MA 01004. All donations made to MOSSO will be used to produce live musical events for the Springfield community.
