In his final solo performance as Seattle Symphony's Principal Cellist, Joshua Roman will join his colleagues and Maestro Schwarz for four performances of Ernst Bloch's rhapsodic lament, Schelomo.

Back in the fall, I offered a review of blues diva Rita Chiarelli's performance with the TBSO. In that review, I mentioned that the CD project Chiarelli and the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra were working on would definitely be on my hit list for new CDs to pick up—based, of course, solely on this one live performance.

Celebrated pianist Emanuel Ax will open the Singapore Symphony Orchestra’s new 2008/2009 season this June 27. The pianist will perform Chopin’s Second Piano Concerto in a special CIMB-SSO Gala Concert alongside the SSO and Maestro Lan Shui.

The Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra will perform a free concert at Jay Pritzker Pavilion as part of Millennium Park's Rising Stars series on Sunday, June 15, 2008 at 3:00 p.m. This special performance features Igor Stravinsky's thunderous The Rite of Spring and Spring from Vivaldi's The Four Seasons, showcasing the virtuosic playing of violinist and Baroque Band founder Garry Clarke.

The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra proudly begins its 2008 Sounds of Summer Series with a dynamic program dedicated to the musical mind of Johannes Brahms. The program, Obsessions of Johannes Brahms, is held on Monday, June 16, 2008 at 7:00 PM in the Margeson Theater in the Lowndes Shakespeare Center, 812 E. Rollins Street, Orlando.

Another Brick in the Wall, Comfortably Numb, Wish You Were Here. Three of the most played songs of all times from one of the most successful bands of all time - Pink Floyd. On Friday evening, July 18 at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre the best songs of this iconic band will be given the ultimate symphonic treatment by the magnificent 70-piece Queensland Orchestra in a one-off concert event.

Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Music Director Andreas Delfs and President and Executive Director Mark C. Hanson announced plans today for the MSO’s 2008/09 season – the MSO’s 50th and Music Director Andreas Delfs’ 12th and final season as Music Director. Delfs will become Conductor Laureate following this season, honoring the contributions Delfs has made to the MSO and the City of Milwaukee.

DAVE BRUBECK: Thursday, October 16, 2008 at 8 p.m.

Regarded as a genius in his field, the pianist, composer and bandleader wrote such jazz standards as "In Your Own Sweet Way" and "The Duke." Bruebeck was awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2007 he was honored with a BBC Jazz "Lifetime Achievement Award."

Five organizations dedicated to American music, composers, and orchestras have jointly launched EarShot, the first-ever national partnership created to strengthen and support orchestras in their commitment to up-and-coming American composers and their music.

Outstanding young Finnish conductor Pietari Inkinen returns to Brisbane with world renowned pianist Boris Berman as soloist in Brahm's First Piano Concerto. It was under the guiding baton of Pietari Inkinen that The Queensland Orchestra won the coveted 2007 ABC Limelight Award for Best Orchestral Performance for the May 4 Piers Lane Plays Beethoven concert. Can he do it again in 2008 when he partners with Russian pianist, Boris Berman'.

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra today unveiled a major education initiative, OrchKids, an after-school program designed to effect social change and nurture promising futures for youth in Baltimore City’s low-income neighborhoods. In collaboration with a broad array of community partners, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s OrchKids program will provide music education, instruments and mentorship to Baltimore’s neediest youngsters.

Has there been a greater musical figure than Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)? Despite living over three centuries ago, Bach’s music always feels contemporary and his influence all pervasive.