Symphony at Home

Resiliency. Service. Hope. Our Muncie community is reaching out to one another, strengthening our social fabric even as social distancing challenges our  connectedness. The Muncie Symphony Orchestra is “playing our part” by sharing music with you and your family through our new online initiatives Symphony Sundays, Musician Moment, and new education offerings by our MSO Education Team.

Visit this page each week for uplifting performances and engaging demonstrations:

• Symphony Sundays – select past MSO performances each Sunday at 6 pm
• Musician Moment – performances created especially for you from the comfort of our musicians’ homes. Includes ensemble performances from Westminster Village “Friends of the Orchestra” concerts. Thursdays at 5 pm
• Music Education – instrument demonstrations, book readings and more for the entire family.

Stay tuned for select past performances to be posted each Sunday.

In celebration of Beethoven’s 250th birthday, our newest online offering, Symphony Sundays, features the MSO’s February 23, 2013 performance of Beethoven Symphony No. 7, Mvt. IV., presented in Sursa Performance Hall followed by the February 11, 2017 performance of Beethoven Symphony No. 1 in Emens Auditorium.

Watch and listen to Gershwin’s Magic Key as the Muncie Symphony Orchestra magically weaves Gershwin’s greatest hits into the drama as the master composer shares historical information and musical inspiration.

This concert was performed February 25, 2018 at Emens Auditorium.

The MSO Percussion Section: Stephanie Carter, Cheryl Guise, Cara Pittenger, David Robbins, and Greg Wolff marimba ensemble performs selections live on January 15, 2020 as part of the “Friends of the Orchestra” chamber concert series at Westminster Village. Originally scheduled for December, this rescheduled concert presented a whole new selection of pieces for this January performance.

The Westminster Village and Muncie Symphony Orchestra partnership, “Friends of the Orchestra” concert series, celebrates nine wonderful years this season! Free and open to the public, these concerts attract hundreds of enthusiastic concertgoers each year.

Watch and listen to Classical Kids LIVE! Mozart’s Magnificent Voyage as the Muncie Symphony Orchestra and the audience discover the great master’s passion for composing as Mozart and his son embark on a magic journey into the world of The Magic Flute. Follow the Prince and Papageno as they try to rescue Princess Pamina from the Queen of the Night in Sarastro’s enchanted castle. This concert was performed February 16, 2020 at Emens Auditorium.

Classical Kids LIVE! is produced by Classical Kids Music Education, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to furthering classical music education. In combination with the Classical Kids Teaching Edition, Classical Kids LIVE! serves as one of the world’s best educational outreach and community engagement programs contributing to the long-term health of classical music.

The Muncie Symphony Orchestra performs Movements IV. – March to the Scaffold and V. – Dream of a Witches’ Sabbath from Symphonie Fantastique by Hector Berlioz. This past concert, entitled Symphonic Halloween, was performed on October 27, 2018 in Emens Auditorium.

The MSO dedicates this week’s Symphony Sundays to the amazing Class of 2020! Congratulations to our graduates for their spectacular achievements. In celebration of the start of summer, we share selections from Festival on the Green 2018 that include Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance No. 4, Sibelius’ Finlandia, and Saint-Saens’ Marche Militaire Francaise. While not the well-known “graduation” version, Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance No. 4 has moments that are reminiscent of a festive graduation day procession. Festival on the Green 2018 was performed on June 9, 2018 in the Field Sports Building on the Ball State University campus.

With the cancellation of the Festival on the Green 2020, the MSO would like to share selections from Festival on the Green 2019; The Star-Spangled Banner and includes R. Strauss’ Also Sprach Zarathustra, Debussy’s Claire de Lune, and Holst’s “Jupiter” from The Planets. Festival on the Green 2019 was performed on June 8, 2019 in the JoAnn Gora Student Recreation and Wellness Center on the Ball State University campus.

The MSO would like to thank this year’s sponsors Northwest Bank – Presenting Sponsor, and The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County, Inc. as well as past support from the Shafer Foundation. We are grateful for our Season Partners: Ball State University, Indiana Public Radio, WIPB, and the Indiana Arts Commission.

With Summer 2020 in full swing, the MSO would like to share selections from one of our family concerts, Toddler Pops, which were presented at Southside Middle School. Selections include March of the Toreadors by Georges Bizet; Old Macdonald; Orpheus in the Underworld (Can-Can) by Jacques Offenbach; Chicken Reel by Leroy Anderson. These fun, interactive concerts were performed on May 14, 2016 and May 20, 2017 in the Southside Middle School auditorium.

Sage Hamm, the 2018 MSO Young Artist Competition Steve Dingledine Senior Division Winner and Indiana University student, performs the Andante sostenuto movement of Piano Concerto No. 2 by Camille Saint – Saёns at Emens Auditorium on October 27, 2018.

Stay tuned for select MSO musicians to perform special pieces just for you. Performances will be posted each Thursday.

JIM RHINEHART

MSO Principal Keyboardist, Jim Rhinehart performs Solace by Scott Joplin from his home just for you..

NOELLE TRETICK GOSLING

MSO Concertmaster, Noelle Tretick Gosling shares memories and a performance especially for our patrons.

NOELLE TRETICK GOSLING AND JIM RHINEHART

Noelle Tretick Gosling, MSO Concertmaster, and Jim Rhinehart, MSO Principal Keyboardist perform this moving piece from their March 1, 2020 concert entitled Music for My Mother as part of the “Friends of the Orchestra” chamber concert series at Westminster Village.

DR. JAMES THOMPSON

Dr. James Thompson, a section flutist as well as Education Coordinator for the Muncie Symphony, performs his favorite pieces for solo flute, “Fantasia No. 2 in A minor” by Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767). It is divided into four contrasting sections entitled Grave, Vivace, Adagio, and Allegro (some repeats omitted for time).

ANNIE KING AND LYDIA (WISEHEART) CLIFTON

Harpists Annie King and Lydia (Wiseheart) Clifton perform Rosa Amarela, arr. Rivoal and Garson. The original performance was March 1, 2019 for the “Friends of the Orchestra” concert series at Westminster Village.

The Westminster Village and Muncie Symphony Orchestra partnership, “Friends of the Orchestra” concert series, celebrates nine wonderful years this season! Free and open to the public, these concerts attract hundreds of enthusiastic concertgoers of all ages.

SAGE HAMM

Sage Hamm, the 2018 MSO Young Artist Competition Steve Dingledine Senior Division Winner and Indiana University student, performs Chopin’s Étude Op. 25, No. 5 in E minor from his home. The annual MSO Young Artist Competition has been made possible through the generous support of Psi Iota Xi – Alpha Chapter.

THE STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER – MSO Goes to Town Chamber Concert Series

“The Stars and Stripes Forever” by John Philip Sousa was performed as part of the MSO Goes to Town Chamber Concert Series at Minnetrista on June 20, 2019. Brass Quintet musicians included Larry Powell, trumpet; John Clark, trumpet; Jennifer Johnson, horn; David Bare, trombone; and Mark Mordue, tuba. First Merchants Private Wealth Advisors were the presenting sponsor of this concert.

LIBERTANGO – MSO Friends of the Orchestra

Please enjoy this performance by the MSO Musicians: Violin – Noelle Tretick Gosling, Tiffany Arnold, David Blakley, Sandra Neel; Viola – Adele Maxfield, Kati Harrison; Cello – Heather Scott, Kathy Burrell, Percussion – Nathan Shew. This piece, Libertango by Astor Piazzolla (Arr. by Martin Wray), was performed live on May 19, 2019 as part of the “Friends of the Orchestra” chamber concert series at Westminster Village.

The Westminster Village and Muncie Symphony Orchestra partnership, “Friends of the Orchestra” concert series, celebrates nine wonderful years this season! Free and open to the public, these concerts attract hundreds of enthusiastic concertgoers each year.

A BEETHOVEN LULLABY – MSO Friends of the Orchestra

Please enjoy this performance by the MSO Musicians: Violin – Noelle Tretick Gosling, Tiffany Arnold, David Blakley, Sandra Neel; Viola – Adele Maxfield, Kati Harrison; Cello – Heather Scott, Kathy Burrell. This piece, “A Beethoven Lullaby” by Brian Balmages, was performed live on May 19, 2019 as part of the “Friends of the Orchestra” chamber concert series at Westminster Village.

The Westminster Village and Muncie Symphony Orchestra partnership, “Friends of the Orchestra” concert series, celebrates nine wonderful years this season! Free and open to the public, these concerts attract hundreds of enthusiastic concertgoers each year.

BASSOON DEMONSTRATION
Enjoy this introduction to the bassoon with Lindsey Wiehl, a doctoral student at Ball State who plays with the Muncie Symphony Orchestra and is involved in the “Together in Music” program.

CELLO DEMONSTRATION
Kathy Burrell, from the Muncie Symphony Orchestra, demonstrates the cello.

CLARINET DEMONSTRATION
Liz Felsted, from the Muncie Symphony Orchestra and Together in Music Team, demonstrates the clarinet.

TRUMPET DEMONSTRATION
Enjoy an introduction to the trumpet with Brandon Holloway, MSO “Together in Music” education team member.

PICCOLO DEMONSTRATION
Enjoy an introduction to the piccolo with Paola Cubillos, a Muncie Symphony Orchestra musician and MSO “Together in Music” education team.

XYLOPHONE and MARIMBA

Dave Robbins, MSO percussionist, talks about the difference between a xylophone and marimba. The MSO Percussion Section: Stephanie Carter, Cheryl Guise, Cara Pittenger, David Robbins, and Greg Wolff perform a piece with both the xylophone and marimba as well as a few additional “bells and whistles”. This piece was performed live on January 15, 2020 as part of the “Friends of the Orchestra” chamber concert series at Westminster Village.

The Westminster Village and Muncie Symphony Orchestra partnership, “Friends of the Orchestra” concert series, celebrates nine wonderful years this season! Free and open to the public, these concerts attract hundreds of enthusiastic concertgoers of all ages.

Never Play Music Right Next to the Zoo, book reading

Dr. James Thompson, Education Coordinator for the MSO, reads “Never Play Music Right Next to the Zoo” as part of our Together in Music Program.

WOODWIND COMPARISON

Dr. James Thompson, Education Coordinator for the MSO, compares three woodwind instruments as part of our Together in Music Program.

ZIN ZIN ZIN, A VIOLIN BOOK READING

Dr. James Thompson, Education Coordinator for the MSO, reads “Zin, Zin, Zin, a Violin” as part of our Together in Music program.

TROMBONE DEMONSTRATION

Enjoy an introduction to the trombone with Stuart Ivey, a doctoral conducting student at Ball State and a musician with the MSO.