By Catholic Review Staff
Mercy High School announced Jan. 22 that it will be the new home of the Hunt Valley Symphony Orchestra. Founded in 2013, the orchestra will be in residence at Mercy High, performing several concerts each year in the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Auditorium, holding weekly rehearsals and offering opportunities for Mercy students in the performing arts.
According to a news release from the school, the orchestra includes 65 musicians and a chorale. Mercy offers its students several performing arts opportunities, such as Dance Troupe, Ensemble Players, an instrumental group and the Madrigals, a chorale.
“The arts are an integral part of life at Mercy,” said Mary Beth Lennon, Mercy High president, in the news release. “Our partnership with the Hunt Valley Symphony Orchestra will give Mercy students and faculty unique opportunities to perform with professional musicians right here on our campus. We are also pleased to help make a first-class symphony experience available to our neighbors and friends in North Baltimore.”
The Hunt Valley Symphony Orchestra performs 10 concerts a year. The first at Mercy High will be May 17, and feature Dvorak’s “From the New World,” Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition” and Bernstein’s “Overture to Candide.”
The non-profit symphony’s mission includes promoting music education to children and youth.
“My fellow musicians and I are delighted that the Hunt Valley Symphony Orchestra has a permanent home at Mercy High School,” said Greg Lauer, founder and executive director of the orchestra. “Being based at a school helps us further our mission to promote music education to young people and to enrich the culture of our community.”
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