LSO Coming to Annapolis Jan. 15

Since late October, the Londontowne Symphony Orchestra (LSO), hasn't played a public venue. That may seem like a long stretch to local patrons of the community musicians, but they will soon be preparing for a new year concert at Annapolis High School, "The French Connection," at 3 p.m. on Jan. 15. Tickets to the show are still available.

The performance is the third of five symphony shows in this year's "Champions and Heroes" concert series. Tickets for the five concerts are $45, or $15 per concert. Students are free with identification and discounts are available for seniors ($35 series/$10 per concert).

Guest conductor Taras Krysa from the University of Las Vegas will be substituting for LSO music director and conductor Dr. Anna Binneweg.

The Jan. 15 concert will feature music inspired by champions of French composition including Ravel's Daphnis and Chloe Suite No. Two and Debussy's Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun. Solo violinist Solomiya Ivakhiv will be featured in Barber's Violin Concerto.

This is the third concert of their 2011-2012 season.  from last season.

All of the musicians volunteer their time to perform with the community orchestra. Funds raised through ticket sales are put back into the LSO for necessary expenses like venue rental.

The orchestra was founded by the late Kathy Solano in 2002. Her dream was to create a regional classical symphony for the residents of Anne Arundel County. From the LSO website:

The orchestra is composed of music teachers, college professors, student musicians, professional military musicians and highly qualified members of the community at large. The Londontowne Symphony Orchestra offers quality symphonic music in traditional settings, but also provides recitals and occasional light classical/pops concerts as well.

Buzz Stillinger, principle cellist, wrote in an email that the concert will be "filled with mystifying orchestral colors and imagery." He also wrote that it is an "afternoon not to be missed!"

In March, they'll perform at their own LSO Gala, a fundraising event hosted by Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville. The fee for the Gala is $35 for a single or $60 for a couple. Party-goers will stroll through the gardens and hear chamber music performed by members of the LSO. They also have food and wine from local caterers. Tickets for the gala are available online.

After that, two more performances make up the rest of their concert season: "Rising Stars" in April at Annapolis High and the "Tragic and the Triumphant" back at , in June.

Rising Stars will feature student musicians from the Anne Arundel Music Teachers Association piano competition. The June concert will feature Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5.