CES at Frostburg State University Presents the Maryland Symphony Orchestra Valentine’s Day Weekend
Jan 27, 2026 11:00 AM
The Cultural Events Series at Frostburg State University will present the Maryland Symphony Orchestra on Friday, Feb. 13, at 7:30 p.m. in FSU's Woodward D. Pealer Performing Arts Center Recital Hall. The stirring performance, which explores – through music – the profound connections between history, culture and the human experience, is supported by the Community Trust Foundation’s Iris and Peter Halmos Community Fund and by the FSU Foundation.
The lyrical beauty of Antonin Dvořák’s “Wind Serenade” captures the timeless harmony between nature and the human spirit and calls to mind traditions of the Bohemian/Czech peoples. Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson’s “Sinfonietta No. 1,” with its bold, expressive themes, blends classical traditions with vibrant cultural influences. Lewis W. Ballard’s “Incident at Wounded Knee” offers a moving reflection on Native American culture and explores themes of resistance, justice and resilience. The concert concludes with Joseph Haydn’s Symphony No. 64 in A Major, a jubilant and uplifting work that exemplifies music’s power to inspire hope and unity.
Since its founding in 1982, the Maryland Symphony Orchestra’s influence and reputation have reached far beyond Western Maryland. Under the baton of Elizabeth Schulze, who was declared by The Washington Post to be “a superb conductor,” MSO has become a first-class orchestra of exceptional artistic quality.
Prior to the concert, at 6:30 p.m., MSO Music Director, Elizabeth Schulze, will present Prélude, a discussion of the works to be performed. Attendees will gain insight on the works to be performance and learn how each composer’s work connects to and expresses their heritage.
The CES at Frostburg State University Presents Free Lecture with the Maryland Symphony Orchestra
In addition to the performance, on Wednesday, Feb. 11, at 3 p.m., community members are invited to attend a free lecture and discussion in the Pealer Recital Hall, The Business of the Arts: Behind the Scenes with MSO. The session, led by MSO Executive Director Kim Bowen, will explore the logistics of programming from an arts administration perspective. Registration is requested but not required.
Ticket pricing and fee information can be found at tickets.frostburg.edu. Discounts are available for youth, military and FSU employees; all tickets are free for FSU students. The University Box Office, located in FSU’s Lane University Center, is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, please visit the CES webpage at ces.frostburg.edu or contact the box office at 1-866-849-9237 or 301-687-3137.
Community donors to this MSO engagement include Carl Belt, Jr., and Jane A. Belt; Janice S. Keene; Dr. Greg and Teddy Latta; MaryJo A. Price; and Nicholas Scarpelli, II and Tama Scarpelli. CES Premier Sponsors include Linda W. Buckel & Juanita W. Andrews in memory of George W. & Lillian T. Walker; and Betsey Hurwitz-Schwab & Douglas S. Schwab. CES is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council (msac.org) and receives financial support from the Allegany Arts Council and the City of Frostburg.