The Rochester Symphony Orchestra (RSO) under the direction of Maestro Zeljko Milicevic presents "Celtic Soul” with Celtic music from across the United Kingdom this St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 620 Romeo Road, Rochester, Michigan.

The RSO welcomes soloist Timothy Michling, instructor of oboe at Oakland University. Tim serves as principal oboe of the Ann Arbor Symphony of Music as well as playing oboe and English horn with the Flint Symphony Orchestra and the Rochester Symphony Orchestra.  Tim will enchant as he solos with the RSO on Recorder, English horn, Penny whistle, Bombarde and Bagpipes.

Selections for the evening include Scottish composer James Oswald’s “Airs for the Season,” selections from Spring, published in 1755. (Timothy Michling will solo on Recorder).

Next is English composer C. Hubert Parry’s “Suite in F Major Lady Radnor’s Suite.” Written for Lady Radnor in 1893 and conducted by her, for an all-female string orchestra she founded.

“Six Studies in English Folk Song” is a collection of six English folk songs  written by English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams in 1926. (Timothy Michling will solo on the English horn).

Irish composer and singer, Turlough O’Carolan born in 1670 and composer of Carolan’s Concerto was a blind Celtic harper,  and is regarded as one of the finest composers and harpists Ireland has ever produced.  (Timothy Michling will solo on the Penny whistle).

“Molly on the Shore” is a 1907 composition by Australian-American Percy Aldridge Grainger. It is an arrangement of two contrasting Irish reels.  

“Ar Soudarded – St. Patrick’s An Dro” is music from Brittany (the Celtic region in northwestern France) and will be performed by Timothy Michling on the Bombarde (a descendant of the shawm and relative of the oboe used in Breton music). 

"Hector the Hero" is a classic lament penned by Scottish composer and fiddler James Scott Skinner in 1903.   (Timothy Michling will solo on Bagpipes.)

Tickets for this outstanding performance are $30 for adults and $5 for students and can be purchased by calling the box office at 248-651-4181 or visit our website at                                https://www.rochestersymphony.com/event/celtic-soul/.

This is an afternoon performance at 3:00 p.m. and one that is not to be missed!