Now in its 26th season, the free concert celebrates the beauty of nature while emphasizing our shared global responsibility to protect the increasingly fragile world we all share.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., July 21, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The MIT Summer Philharmonic Orchestra (MITSPO) invites the public to enjoy its 26th season of classical music. The free concert, scheduled to take place on Friday, August 1, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. in MIT's Kresge Auditorium, offers a powerful musical tribute to our planet, celebrating Earth's natural beauty and inspiring collective action.
Under the direction of Music Director and Conductor George Ogata, and proudly sponsored by MIT Professional Education since its inception in 1995, MITSPO is the premier summer community orchestra in Greater Boston, composed of 100-110 volunteer musicians from MIT and the local area.
"This year's concert is both a celebration of our planet's beauty and a reminder of our shared global responsibility to protect it," said Bhaskar Pant, Executive Director of MIT Professional Education. "It underscores MIT's enduring focus on sustainability and our belief that ongoing education, innovation, and cultural engagement can help create a better and more sustainable world for all."
The theme, "Sustaining Our Beautiful Planet," features Jonathan Dove's Gaia Theory and Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 6 in A Minor—two influential works that explore the relationship between nature and the human condition. Dove's composition was inspired by his 2008 journey to the Arctic, where he witnessed the rapid melting of Greenland's Jakobshavn Glacier, prompting a musical interpretation of Earth as a living, dynamic organism. Ogata carefully selected the repertoire for its emotional impact and environmental resonance.
"Now in our 26th season, this concert continues a tradition of bringing people together through music. With a program that honors the planet while celebrating the resilience of the human spirit, we're more committed than ever to offering performances that uplift, inspire, and connect," said Ogata.
MIT Professional Education's long-standing support of the MIT Summer Philharmonic Orchestra reflects its commitment to culturally contribute to MIT and the Greater Boston community. Beyond this annual celebration, MIT Professional Education offers a growing portfolio of courses designed to empower professionals globally with the knowledge and tools to thrive in a more resilient and sustainable future.
People are encouraged to arrive early to ensure a seat. For more information about the concert, click here!
About MIT Professional Education
MIT Professional Education is a leader in technology and engineering education for working professionals globally pursuing knowledge advancement, and for organizations seeking to meet modern-day challenges by expanding the knowledge and skills of their employees. Our lifelong learning courses and Professional Certificate Programs are delivered in a range of formats – in-person, on-campus, on-site, live virtual, online, and through blended and hybrid approaches to meet the needs of today's learners and the global workforce. https://professional.mit.edu/
Media Contact
Andrea LePain, MIT Professional Education, 1 617-894-1153, [email protected], https://professional.mit.edu/
SOURCE MIT Professional Education
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