Presented over two days and four performances, this year’s program, The Orchestra Rocks, brought energy and excitement into the concert hall as students joined the orchestra from their seats. After months of preparation in their classrooms, students arrived ready to sing, play recorder, and actively participate in the performance alongside the musicians on stage.

Conducted by Music Director Elizabeth Schulze, the concerts highlighted the power of rhythm and the ways music can move both performers and audiences. Students experienced the orchestra not just as listeners, but as participants, creating a shared musical moment that filled the theatre with sound and enthusiasm.

“This program is one of the most meaningful ways we connect with young people in our community,” Kim Bowen, Executive Director of the MSO, said. “To see thousands of students fully engaged, making music together, and experiencing the orchestra in such an active way is incredibly special. It is about more than a concert. It is about opening the door to something they can carry with them for years to come.”

The performances also featured special collaborations with the North Hagerstown High School Drum Line and the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts Chorale, adding depth and excitement to the program and showcasing the talent of local student musicians.

 Link Up is a nationally recognized music education program that gives students the opportunity to learn foundational musical skills in the classroom before attending a live, participatory concert with a professional orchestra. The Maryland Symphony Orchestra brings this experience to life locally each year, working with teachers and schools throughout the region to make music education both accessible and engaging.

“Our goal is to help students feel confident and excited about music,” Brooke Evers, Director of Education for the MSO, said. “When they walk into the theatre, they already know the music. They are ready to be part of it. That sense of ownership and connection is what makes this experience so impactful.”

Programs like Link Up are made possible due to the support from participating schools, teachers, and community partners including the Maryland State Arts Council, Washington County Arts Council, Vincent Rauth Groh and Barbara Ingram Groh Perpetual Charitable Trust, the City of Hagerstown, the Delaplaine Foundation, and the Alice Virginia and David W. Fletcher Foundation.

For more information about the MSO, visit marylandsymphony.org.