Practically every Wednesday evening from September to June, members of the Arlington Philharmonic Orchestra gather to rehearse for one of the five concerts they perform in each season. The players range widely in age and experience, but all have in common the love of making music. Depending on the Orchestra’s needs, new members are welcome and no audition is necessary to join. Each new season features a sprinkling of new faces ranging from young students to seniors. Many members are loyal veterans – one violinist played with the Orchestra for 70 years, starting shortly after it was established in 1933!

Under the baton of Music Director Orlando Cela, the Orchestra presents its first concert in November.  A joint concert follows in December in which the Orchestra and the Arlington-Belmont Chorale combine forces led by Chorale Music Director Stephanie Beatrice and Maestro Cela.  In February, the Orchestra performs again, followed by a Family Concert in March designed to inspire youngsters of all ages. In May, the Orchestra and the Chorale are together again to present the Philharmonic Society’s Sponsors’ Concert. The season concludes with the POPS! Concert in June, which features both the Orchestra and the Chorale and is coupled with a delightful pre-concert Strawberry Festival.

The Orchestra takes pride in presenting a broad spectrum of the traditional classical repertoire as well as modern works, including local composers. POPS, of course, predominately showcases lighter works taken from the worlds of jazz, show tunes and movie scores. In addition, the instrumental winner of the Philharmonic’s Young Artist Competition (as well as the occasional vocal winner) gets a performance as a soloist with the Orchestra.  These young instrumental soloists span the full range of instruments from piano to violin and never fail to deliver amazing performances.

The Orchestra rehearses each Wednesday night at 7:30 at the First Parish Unitarian-Universalist Church in Arlington beginning the first Wednesday after Labor Day and continuing into June. For more information, contact the chair of the Orchestra at [email protected].