Summer is officially here! And though the 2023-24 Howard County Concert Odyssey season has concluded, that doesn’t mean your enjoyment of live music has to end for the season. The summer months bring an assortment of free concerts to our area for you and your family to enjoy as you await the beginning of the 2024-25 HCCO season!
The Washington National Cathedral offers frequent Carillon recitals during the summer months. Visitors can listen to the carillon’s 53 bronze bells from anywhere on the Cathedral grounds as carillonneur Edward M. Nassor plays this unusual instrument, which is located about 150 feet up in the Cathedral’s central tower. The recitals generally take place on Saturday mornings at 12:30 p.m., but you may wish to check the Cathedral’s events calendar before going.
The Columbia Orchestra will be presenting Preludes & Possibilities: A Summer Pops Concert with Columbia Orchestra with guest conductor Victoria Gau on Sunday, June 23. Enjoy a variety of pops melodies at The Chrysalis at Merriweather Park in Columbia, Maryland). Described as a “fun and exciting musical journey filled with possibilities” and suitable for the whole family, this concert does require registration in advance. Click here for tickets.
Also at the Chrysalis at Merriweather Park, stop by on July 4 for a free performance by the U.S. Navy Concert Band. They’ll be celebrating the American spirit with an assortment of marches, patriotic runes and ensemble works. The 90-minute, family-friendly concert will begin at 3 p.m.
Howard County is hosting a series of free summer concerts at Centennial Park in Ellicott City. Enjoy a number of musical genres during July and August:
- July 10 – Reggae as performed by I&I Riddim, voted Best Reggae Band at the D.C. Annual Reggae Music Awards
- July 17 – The Magical Mystery Girls will perform a selection of Beatles tunes
- July 24 – The Linwood Battle Jr. Quartet will feature smooth, yet funky, jazz melodies
- August 7 – Enjoy a Rock School Showcase performed by students from Bach to Rock
- An additional Howard County-sponsored performance on July 31 will take place at a different venue; visit Rockburn Branch Park to hear Bond and Bentley, a Baltimore-based blues, funk and soul band
For more information about any of these performances, click here.
Having so many free performances in our area provides a great opportunity to plan some high notes throughout your summer!