Music to our ears

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The Shriver Hall Concert Series celebrates its 50th season this year with a new director and new commissions. Founded in 1965 by Ernest Bueding—a Johns Hopkins researcher celebrated for his work in parasitology, pharmacology, and biochemistry, as well as his support of chamber music—the series became an independent nonprofit in 1970 but maintained Homewood as its home base.

Catherine Cochran, who was an executive producer and the director of music programming at New York City's 92nd Street Y, joins the series for its golden anniversary as the new executive director, overseeing a season that celebrates its Baltimore roots. Baltimore-based composers James Lee III and Jonathan Leshnoff have new works in the lineup (as does New York–based Timo Andres, an emerging talent), and the series presents three free concerts around the city to reach new audiences. Click for details.