A Yuletide Celebration of Celtic Music and DanceKilts and tartan abound in a joyous musical celebration of ancient Gaelic carols, lively Irish tunes and heartwarming seasonal melodies. Join U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Champion and Gaelic singer Seán Heely and an ensemble of acclaimed Celtic performers on a magical holiday journey through Scotland and Ireland. Delight in the stirring sounds of the fiddle, Highland pipes, harp, percussion, bouzouki, bass, guitar piano, harmonium and a fleet-footed percussive dancer.Heely is an award-winning Irish fiddler, singer and harpist in the folk and Gaelic traditions of Scotland and Ireland. Irish fiddle legend and National Heritage Fellow Liz Carroll declared him to be “one powerhouse of a fiddler.” This high-energy group has performed in venues including the Kennedy Center, Strathmore Music Center, Hylton Performing Arts Center and at events such as the Garrett County Celtic Festival, the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, the Virginia Scottish Games and the Niel Gow Festival in Scotland.Presented by Rhythm of the Arts.CES is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council (msac.org) and receives financial support from the Allegany Arts Council and the City of Frostburg.

Masterworks of Dvořák, Haydn, Ballard and PerkinsonCelebrate the Valentine’s Day holiday with a stirring musical performance that explores the profound connections between history, culture and the human experience.The lyrical beauty of Antonin Dvořák’s “Wind Serenade” captures the timeless harmony between nature and the human spirit and calls to mind traditions of the Bohemian/Czech people. Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson’s “Sinfonietta No. 1,” with its bold, expressive themes, blends classical traditions with vibrant cultural influences. Lewis W. Ballard’s “Incident at Wounded Knee” offers a moving reflection on Native American culture and explores themes of resistance, justice and resilience. The concert concludes with Joseph Haydn’s Symphony No. 64 in A Major, a jubilant and uplifting work that exemplifies music’s power to inspire hope and unity.Since its founding in 1982, the Maryland Symphony Orchestra’s influence and reputation have reached far beyond Western Maryland. Under the baton of Elizabeth Schulze, MSO has become a first-class orchestra of exceptional artistic quality.Prior to the show, at 6:30 p.m., MSO Music Director Schulze will discuss the selections that will be performed and reveal insight on how each composer’s work connects to and expresses their heritage.The presentation of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra is supported by the Community Trust Foundation’s Iris and Peter Halmos Community Fund and by the FSU Foundation, Inc. CES is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council (msac.org) and receives financial support from the Allegany Arts Council and the City of Frostburg.

A Colorful Spectacle of West African Dance, Music and Acrobatics“…The members of this troupe are fabulous performers. They’ve been handpicked to represent their country from a culture that genuinely prizes music and dance.” (The Chicago Reader)Formed in Paris in 1952 by distinguished Guinean choreographer Keita Fodéba, Les Ballets Africains has since toured to world-wide acclaim. As the national dance company of the Republic of Guinea, the 35-member troupe embodies the authenticity of African dance, incorporating traditional instruments, intense polyrhythms and colorful costumes. Their performances transcend boundaries, promoting a legacy of cultural pride that bridges the gap between nations through the universal language of dance.CES is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council (msac.org) and receives financial support from the Allegany Arts Council and the City of Frostburg.