The Bangor Symphony Orchestra will present the first Masterworks concert in its 131st Season, Blaze and Brilliance, at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 18 at the Collins Center for the Arts in Orono. The BSO will be joined by Grammy-Award winning cellist Zuill Bailey performing Michael Daugherty’s Tales of Hemingway, plus orchestral performances of Peggy Stuart Coolidge’s New England Autumn and Robert Schumann’s Second Symphony.
Bailey is widely regarded as one of the premiere cello soloists in the world. Over a career spanning more than 35 years, he has performed with more than 200 symphony orchestras worldwide, in addition to recitals and chamber music appearances on major series and festivals internationally. This concert will be conducted by Grammy-Award winning BSO Music Director and Conductor Lucas Richman. The Masterworks concert is part of the Bangor Symphony Orchestra’s 2026-27 Masterworks Season. Single tickets, starting at $18, are available through bangorsymphony.org or by calling 207-581-2787.
On Thursday, Oct. 15 Bailey will be visiting the Bangor Symphony Youth Orchestras at their rehearsal at Peakes Auditorium at Bangor High School from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m. The participating ensemble will be the BSYO Philharmonic Orchestra.
Bailey will be lecturing at a Strings Class at the University of Maine School of Music on Friday, Oct. 16 at 10:15 a.m., followed by a Cello Masterclass from 10:45 a.m. to noon. Masterclass participants are students at the University of Maine School of Music.
The Bangor Symphony Orchestra’s Chamber Music Series kicks off on Monday, Oct. 19 with a performance at 6:30 p.m. at the Gracie Theatre on Husson University campus in Bangor. This new initiative by the BSO brings together premiere soloists with BSO musicians performing chamber music. Bailey will be joined by BSO musicians Mitchell Newman (violin), Simon Bilyk (violin), Laura Galucci (viola) and Noreen Silver (cello) for a performance which will include music of J.S. Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven and Franz Schubert. The Chamber Music concert is part of the Bangor Symphony Orchestra’s 2026-27 Chamber Music Series. Single tickets, starting at $20 with children under 12 and Husson students free, are available through gracietheatre.com or by calling 207-941-7888.
The Bangor Symphony Orchestra is one of the nation’s oldest continually operating professional orchestras, dedicated to enhancing the cultural landscape of Bangor, Maine, through exceptional live performances, music education and community engagement. The BSO continues to perform and celebrate the transformative power of music.
Single tickets are now on sale through the Collins Center for the Arts Box Office for all concerts. For tickets or more information, visit bangorsymphony.org or follow Bangor Symphony Orchestra on social media.