Prince George's Philharmonic
2020-2021 Season
Welcome! Our 55th season together promises to be both unusual and exciting. In a way, it will consist of two seasons — and two orchestras — in one!
Our fans will remember that the pandemic curtailed the second half of our last season by closing venues down. Alas, the first half of this season doesn’t look much different in that respect. So, uncertain and challenging times call for some problem solving — and a lot of creative programming!
As venues continue to be closed through at least November, our “other orchestra,” members of the Philharmonic’s strings, will perform two programs of masterpieces of the chamber string orchestra repertoire onstage in “virtual,” live-streamed concerts, which will be available on our new YouTube channel.
Because so many people were looking forward to the final concerts of our 2019-20 season, we will be performing the music of Ravel, Rachmaninoff, Bayolo and Respighi from those programs for this season’s finale at The Clarice. Also, this season, we will collaborate with exciting Billboard crossover artist Chelsey Green, perform music of the pioneering African American woman Florence Price and the popular Mexican composer Arturo Márquez, and celebrate Beethoven’s 250th birthday with some of his most beloved works.
Many changes have been made as we’ve risen to the challenges of the pandemic, but the most important things remain steadfast: our community with each other and with you, the quality of our programming and performances, and the diversity of our orchestra, our repertoire and our audience. This season we will enjoy the music of African American, Czech, English, French, German, Italian, Latin American, Norwegian and Russian composers from the 18th, 19th, 20th and 21st centuries.
Diversity is essential to our identity as the Prince George’s Philharmonic. We could not exist without it, nor would we want to. Black Lives have always deeply mattered to us. Now more than ever, we join in solidarity and in music with our brothers and sisters everywhere.
We look forward to sharing great music again with all of you very soon.
Jesus Manuel Berard
Music Director