By Sara Creato, The Daily Free Press

The violins whined, the trumpets groaned and the electric harpsichord twinkled. With delicate flicks of his baton in upwards, downwards and circular motions, the conductor controlled the orchestra. A musician at the back of the stage struck a drum, inviting a jolting sound, but the disruption is a choreographed aspect of the piece.

By Salman Khan, The People’s Network

The New England Philharmonic introduced its latest venture, New Music New England, with a vibrant concert at Boston University's Tsai Performance Center on March 3. This inaugural event celebrated composer John Harbison's 85th birthday and aimed to spotlight New England composers by curating performances of their work. Under the leadership of Music Director Tianhui Ng, the concert featured five orchestral pieces, including the local premiere of Wang Lu's "Surge" and a performance by Grammy Award-winning organist Paul Jacobs.

By BMINT STAFF, Boston Musical Intelligencer

Matthew Aucoin, an American composer, conductor, writer, pianist, MacArthur Fellowship winner, Artist-in-Residence at Los Angeles Opera and co-artistic director of the American Modern Opera Company, also has strong Boston connections. He will be in town to witness performances of two of his works virtually at the same time on February 18th when the Harvard Radcliffe Orchestra includes an orchestral suite from his opera Eurydice in its Sanders Theater concert and the New England Philharmonic plays his Two Dances. Complete information at the end.

By Mark G. Auerbach | Special to The Westfield News

The volunteer ensemble premieres a new piece by Medfield-raised composer Matthew Aucoin during its next concert on Feb. 18.The volunteer ensemble premieres a new piece by Medfield-raised composer Matthew Aucoin during its next concert on Feb. 18.

By A.Z. Madonna

October 13, 2021 by A.Z. Madonna, Globe Staff

In a city flush with amateur orchestras, the New England Philharmonic has spent much of the past 44 years distinguishing itself from the crowd. The groundwork was laid in the ensemble’s first decades. Then, its exemplary reputation solidified during the 23-year tenure of Richard Pittman, who became music director in 1997 and steered the orchestra headlong into challenging contemporary music — territory that would be unthinkable for the average volunteer ensemble that rehearses once a week.

September 29, 2021 by Lloyd Schwartz

The New England Philharmonic has found a more elegant way of dealing with a transition. Eric Nathan, their distinguished composer-in-residence, has worked collaboratively with the orchestra to plan the whole season. All but one program will have a different conductor finalist and each of them will begin with a new musical tribute to Richard Pittman, the beloved longstanding music director, now recently retired. The first program will be directed by Nathan himself with works of his own, Bernard Hoffer (the tribute to Pittman), Hannah Kendall, and Stravinsky’s “Firebird” (Oct. 16).

NEW ENGLAND PHILHARMONIC Looking at this orchestra’s adventurous repertoire and keen musicality, you’d never know its musician ranks were made up of amateur volunteers. After the season’s inaugural concert, which will be conducted by composer-in-residence Eric Nathan (Oct. 16), the ensemble will begin auditioning new music directors, starting with Massachusetts Institute of Technology director of orchestras Adam Kerry Boyles leading music by Amy Beach, Michael Gandolfi, Ravel, and more (Dec. 5). 855-463-7445, www.nephilharmonic.org