UMD Symphony Orchestra with Zlatomir Fung, cello

The UMD Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of music director David Neely, presents an evening of two towering works in the orchestral repertoire at the Dekelboum Concert Hall. The program pairs Edward Elgar’s Cello Concerto in E Minor with Igor Stravinsky’s “Firebird” Suite (1919), and features cellist Zlatomir Fung as guest soloist. Fung, who made history as the first American in four decades and the youngest musician ever to win first prize in the cello division of the International Tchaikovsky Competition, brings his celebrated technical command and expressive sensitivity to Elgar’s lush, emotionally charged concerto. The concert also opens with an overture by Verdi, offering a full evening of orchestral music lasting approximately two hours.

The performance is co-presented by Clarice Presents and the UMD School of Music, and it highlights the orchestra’s commitment to polished, communicative performances under Neely’s baton. Stravinsky’s “Firebird” Suite, based on Russian folklore, follows a prince who enlists a magical bird to defeat an evil, ogre-like force, blending Rimsky-Korsakov’s compositional influence with the fervor of Russian musical tradition. The evening showcases both a rising star soloist and the breadth of the orchestral canon.

Venue: Dekelboum Concert Hall, The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, with reserved seating.

When: Friday, November 6, 2026, at 8:00 pm (Eastern Time).

Showtimes: 8:00 pm on November 6, 2026 only.

Tickets: Regular admission is $30 plus a $5 booking fee; students and youth tickets are $10.

Run time: Approximately 2 hours.

Program: Giuseppe Verdi’s Overture to La forza del destino, Edward Elgar’s Cello Concerto in E Minor, Op. 85, and Igor Stravinsky’s The Firebird Suite (1919).

Performers: The UMD Symphony Orchestra, conducted by David Neely, with Zlatomir Fung on cello.

Livestream: This performance is available via livestream.

Accessibility: The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center offers wheelchair-accessible seating, size-inclusive seating, large print programs, assisted listening devices, adult and child-friendly sensory packs, and quiet spaces upon request. ASL interpretation, audio description, and captioning are available for select events or by patron request at least six weeks in advance.

Note: The UMD Symphony Orchestra is dedicated to orchestral training and musical communication, exploring new works, lesser-known masterpieces, and staples of the orchestral repertoire.