Here are my photos of the last River Concert at St Mary's College of Maryland. Since 1999, there have been summer concerts at the College. They have been wildly popular in St Mary's County, even attracting people from nearby counties, states and tourists, even people who weren't total classical music lovers. Crowds averaged 4500 people at one point.
We have been fans for years and years, but I am not sure if we attended the first concert. Jim and I officially became the photographers in 2013, but before that I wrote concert reviews with photos for the Baynet for several years 2010-2013. (https://thebaynet.com/author/cap-joanna-macaulay-of-calm-reflections-photography/). We even helped out in 2020 when the concerts were on Youtube. We are sad to see the end, as thousands of other people are as well.
Jeffrey Silberschlag is actively searching for other locations for the Chesapeake Orchestra concerts, so if you have a place to offer them with space for many people, please let him know through the college or even contact me (Joanna Macaulay) through my email. Jeffrey stated before the Hayden Farewell piece, "We'll see you again somewhere, some way."
This last series concert featured Mozart, Rossini "Barber of Seville", Verdi, Tchaikovsky "Romeo and Juliet" and Hayden. The last two works were the most powerful "Adagio for Strings" by Samuel Barber, one of the most heartbreakingly tragic, haunting musical works ever written. Jeffrey's introduction to the work said "This is the string piece that lets you know how I feel about this whole thing, better than words." It was followed by Hayden's "Farewell Symphony #45 IV Finale" where the Chesapeake Orchestra musicians left the stage in ones and twos, leaving Jose Cueto and a female violinist alone on the stage even after the conductor left.
To learn more about new plans for the Chesapeake Orchestra in the future, please visit chesapeakeorchestra.org
Chesapeake Orchestra
The large crowd
The back of the tent which I frequently visited
The fruit drink stand "She's Fresh Lemonade"
Farm Fork Soul by Head of the Bay Ventures in Clements, MD was overrun with hungry concert goers, but they must have been prepared for a crowd.
David Hautanen, VP for enrollment management introduced the concert
Jeffrey Silberschlag, Music Director
Timpani
Horn players
Woodwinds
Viola player
Double Bass players, Bill Hones on left
Violin players
Arts Alliance Tent
Play
Jose Cueto
Jeffrey Silberschlag, trumpet solo
Jose Cueto waves goodbye
Cellist
Jose Cueto and Jeffrey Silberschlag shake hands after the "Farewell Symphony Finale"
Chesapeake Orchestra last bow
Audience response to the Finale
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