The Wellesley Symphony has commissioned a new work called An Appalachian Trail Symphony: New England (Symphony No. 1) by Keane Southard and will perform it on Feb. 10. The concert will also feature a Mozart overture and piano concerto.

The Wellesley Symphony joined a consortium of orchestras in sponsoring the project by Southard, an outdoorsman inspired to hike the New England portion of the Appalachian Trail and write his first symphony about the experience.

An Appalachian Trail Symphony: New England (Symphony No. 1) had its world premiere by the Sage City Symphony in May, 2018 in Bennington, Vt., with the composer conducting. The piece is in five movements, one for each state the Trail crosses, and includes footsteps through rustling leaves, mosquitos and flies, bird song, the noise of the Mass Pike, and a chorale written by his grandfather, and rises and falls according to the landscape.

The orchestra will perform Southard’s symphony under the baton of Maestro Max Hobart on Sunday, February 10th at 3 PM at MassBay
Community College, 50 Oakland St. Orchestra president Leslie Holmes will give a pre-concert talk at 2:15.

Also on the program is the Overture to The Magic Flute by Mozart, and his Piano Concerto No. 22 in E flat, K. 482, with pianist Victor Rosenbaum. The American pianist has played as soloist and chamber music performer in the United States, Europe, Asia, Israel, and Russia in such prestigious venues as Tully Hall in New York and the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Tickets for the concert are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and students, and free for children 12 and under and may be purchased at Wellesley Books,
Andrews Pharmacy on Weston Road, on-line, and at the door. There is plenty of free parking at the college. Call 781-235-0515 or visit
www.wellesleysymphony.org