Competition is available to student soloists in Junior and Senior Divisions through Grade 12.
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Applications accepted through January 23rd
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Annual competition information now available on our Young Artist Page.
Welcome to the
Meridian Symphony Orchestra
2025/2026 Season!
We invite you to join the Meridian Symphony Orchestra for this season of "NEW HORIZONS: A SEASON OF REFLECTION AND RENEWAL." Join us in celebrating Maestro James Ogle's final season with the MSO. After ten seasons with us, Maestro Ogle will be retiring at the end of this season.
Maestro Ogle's passion, artistry, and dedication have transformed our orchestra and shaped the cultural heart of our community. We proudly celebrate this decade of leadership and a lifetime of music as he conducts his final celebratory season with the MSO.
December 13 & 14, 2025
"Home for the Holidays"
Saturday evening or Sunday afternoon
​Celebrate the season with a magical evening of music! This festive concert, conducted by Maestro James Ogle, features a sparkling lineup of holiday favorites, classical gems, and cinematic delights
The program opens with Sebesky’s whimsical A Christmas Scherzo, setting the stage for a joyful musical journey. Audiences will be enchanted by selections from Tchaikovsky’s beloved Nutcracker, including the March, Arabian Dance, Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, Chinese Dance, and Russian Dance. Movie lovers will enjoy Christmas at the Movies, arranged by Kronstadt, while traditional favorites like Deck the Halls and The Bells of Christmas are sure to bring warmth and nostalgia. The celebration continues with Tyzik’s vibrant Chanukah Suite and the playful twists of Lovrien’s Minor Alterations. No holiday concert would be complete without Leroy Anderson’s iconic Sleigh Ride and the grand finale, A Christmas Festival.
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Join us for an evening filled with joy, wonder, and the unforgettable sounds of the season!
Presented at Meridian High School.
Our concerts this season will bring both reflection and renewal as we celebrate and also explore who will lead us into future seasons. Be among the first to experience the vision of our Artistic Director finalists as they share the podium during the Winter and Spring concerts with bold, inspiring musical programs.
Presented at Meridian High School.
​February 28, 2026 Spotlight Series
"Beyond the Horizon
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Join the Meridian Symphony Orchestra for Beyond the Horizon—a concert that celebrates imagination, renewal, and the limitless reach of music. Experience the brilliance of Artistic Director Finalist Dan Baldwin, leading an inspiring program that journeys across centuries of sound and emotion.
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The evening opens with the exuberant Finale from Tchaikovsky’s Suite No. 3 in G Major, conducted by Maestro Jim Ogle, whose artistry continues to shape our orchestra’s legacy. From the cinematic triumph of John Williams’ Liberty Fanfare to the lush serenity of Eric Whitacre’s October, the program invites you to explore the many colors of orchestral music.
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You’ll also enjoy Brahms’ witty and exuberant Academic Festival Overture, the playful rhythms of Leroy Anderson’s The Syncopated Clock, and a stunning performance by this season’s Young Artist Soloist. Contemporary composer Daniel Perttu’s evocative To Spring rounds out the evening with fresh energy and optimism.
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Come be part of an unforgettable night that looks beyond the horizon—where tradition meets discovery, and the future of symphonic music comes alive.
May 2, 2026
"Dreams and Legends"
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​Join us for an unforgettable evening of orchestral brilliance spanning a century of musical imagination. Under the batons of Jim Ogle and Artistic Director finalist, Craig Purdy, the program showcases works of dazzling color, heartfelt emotion, and timeless storytelling.
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The concert opens with the fiery Hungarian March (Rakoczy March) from Berlioz’s The Damnation of Faust, a thrilling curtain-raiser brimming with energy and drama. The journey continues with Borodin’s exotic and exuberant Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor, transporting audiences to the steppes of ancient Russia. From the Shakespearean world of Henry V comes Two Pieces for Strings by William Walton — the solemn Passacaglia: Death of Falstaff and the tender Touch Her Soft Lips and Part, showcasing the orchestra’s lyrical warmth. Debussy’s shimmering Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune invites listeners into a dreamscape of sensual color and impressionistic beauty. The program also features our Young Artist Soloist, a rising star performing a captivating concerto selection.
The evening concludes with a very special moment: Jim Ogle’s final performance at the podium, leading Stravinsky’s luminous Firebird Suite (Berceuse and Finale). This powerful and poignant farewell will bring the concert — and Maestro Ogle’s distinguished tenure — to a radiant close.
Presented at Meridian High School.
Artistic Director Search
Meet our Final Candidates
Learn more about our two Artistic Director final candidates on our Artistic Director Search page.
Dr. Daniel Baldwin
