Songs of Independence
Are you ready to celebrate? When it comes to a soundtrack for the Independence Day, we tend to rely on a few classics such as the 1812 Overture and “The Stars and Stripes Forever.” Oldies are definitely goodies, but there are other patriotic songs out there too, just waiting to hop onto your playlist. Here […]
Got That Swing?
Duke Ellington said it best: “It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing.” Especially if you’re looking to dance! How did it all get started? Well, it’s rooted in African-American music ensembles that incorporated interesting new rhythms, courtesy of jazz greats like Louis Armstrong and Coleman Hawkins. It didn’t really take off […]
Rave Reviews for James Harp Piano and Opera!
On Sunday, May 7, 2023, the Howard County Concert Odyssey presented James Harp – Piano and Opera at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Ellicott City. This early Mother’s Day gift received rave reviews and requests for an encore performance next year. The marvelous talent of James Harp, and the voices of sopranos Colleen Daly and […]
Welcoming Diane Lichtenberger to Our Board
We are pleased to announce that music educator and soprano Diane Lichtenberger is joining the Howard County Odyssey Board of Directors for a two-year term. A graduate of the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, Diane contributed to the musical education of youth in our community for more than three decades. She spent much of […]
Three Facts about Opera that Might Surprise You
Opera is fascinating but can be a bit mysterious to those who are new to it. Basically, operas tell stories through song. But what’s unique about opera singing? Well, opera singers are trained to be able to perform in large theaters, without microphones, and to be heard and understood clearly over the orchestra. Opera is […]
Ah, the Sounds of Spring!
Are you feeling the beginnings of spring fever yet? Spring will be here any day now, and it’s a season that has inspired countless artists, including composers. One spring story stands out – the Greek myth of Persephone. The story was set to music by Igor Stravinsky back in 1934 in a work called, naturally, […]
Learning to be great
Every great musician had that moment when they picked up their first instrument and thought, “Now what?” And that could happen to someone at any age, whether it’s the first instrument picked up or the latest. Getting started is the beginning of an adventure. Is it an adventure you’ve ever sought out? Well, here are […]
Mount Hebron Music Students to Perform Chamber Music
On Sunday, March 12, 2023, at 4 p.m., the Howard County Concert Odyssey will host an evening of chamber music at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Ellicott City. In keeping with the Odyssey’s mission of encouraging music students within our region, the performance will feature students from the Mount Hebron High School Department of Music […]
Drumming Up 6 Fun Facts
Welcome to a fresh new year! Let’s start our musical journey by looking at an instrument that has deep roots in the past but is just as relevant today as it was at the beginning of civilization: the mighty drum. Here are some little-known and fun facts about the world’s oldest musical instrument. The oldest […]
Carols: Did you know … ?
‘Tis the season! It’s the time of year when we try to forget about politics, problems and pandemics, and simply enjoy the music – namely, carols. A carol is actually a song of joy or mirth. Today they’re usually religious, but they don’t have to be. In fact, the earliest carols were pagan songs. Here […]