Women Composers, Performers to be Celebrated at SSO’s March 14 Concert

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Symphony Orchestra (SSO) will offer a celebration of women at its next performance during Women’s History Month. “Mendelssohn, Gershwin, & a Woman’s Voice” is slated for Saturday, March 14 at 7:30 p.m. at Springfield Symphony Hall. Tickets are now on sale, starting at $25, online at springfieldsymphony.org or by calling the SSO box office at (413) 733-2291.

At the March 14 performance, the SSO will present its fourth annual Fearless Women Awards, honoring local women who embody courage, resilience, and empowerment. Since its inception, the SSO’s Fearless Women Awards have recognized more than 20 women in the region, nominated by their peers. A pre-concert reception will be held in the Mahogany Room at Symphony Hall, and the Fearless Women awardees will be recognized on stage at the start of the performance.

This concert will feature women composers and performers celebrating Women’s History Month. Guest conductor and SSO Artistic Advisor Mei-Ann Chen will appear for her second performance of the 2025-26 season, which will include the return of a Springfield favorite, pianist Claire Huangci, to Symphony Hall.

The SSO’s nonprofit community partner for the March 14 performance is the Gray House, and concertgoers are encouraged to bring diapers, wipes, gift cards, and monetary donations, all much-needed items to help families in the community. The Gray House is a small neighborhood human service nonprofit located in Springfield whose mission is “to help our neighbors facing hardships to meet their immediate and transitional needs by providing food, clothing, and educational services in a safe, positive environment in the North End of Springfield.”

The concert will open with Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel’s “Overture in C Major,” her sole surviving orchestral work that only in recent years has earned well-deserved recognition in the symphonic musical world. Huangci will also perform George Gershwin’s “Piano Concerto in F” to close out the first half.

The second half will feature a piece by Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel’s younger brother, Felix Mendelssohn, “Symphony No. 3, Op. 56, A Minor.” He was inspired to create a masterwork after visiting the ruins of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, where Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, lived and loved.

“March 14 is a celebration in the truest sense. It is a night where the brilliance, strength, and artistry of women fill every corner of Symphony Hall,” said Heather Caisse-Roberts, president and CEO of the SSO. “From the extraordinary music of Fanny Mendelssohn to the dynamic leadership of Mei-Ann Chen and the breathtaking artistry of Claire Huangci, this program reflects what happens when talent and vision are given the space they deserve. And when we honor our Fearless Women from right here in our community, we are reminded that leadership, resilience, and creativity are alive all around us. The Springfield Symphony Orchestra is proud to be a stage where women are not an afterthought. They are the story.”

For more information and to purchase tickets for the 2025-26 season’s concerts, visit springfieldsymphony.org.