HAMILTON, ON – Excitement abounds as the HPO celebrates the return of Music Director Gemma New to Hamilton to lead musicians in our next concert Gemma Conducts Mendelssohn on March 19, 2022 at the FirstOntario Concert Hall. This performance marks Gemma’s first live performance with HPO musicians since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Canadian violinist Yi-Jia Susanne Hou takes center stage as soloist. 

This concert opens with Visions by critically acclaimed Canadian contemporary composer Jordan Pal, before Yi-Jia Susanne Hou performs the virtuosic solo of Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto. The world premiere of Echoing Mendelssohn by HPO 21-22 Composer Fellow Maria Eduarda Mendes Martins collides the past and present before Bizet’s effervescent Symphony No. 1 in C Major draws the evening to a spirited close. 

After consultation with patrons, our Board of Directors, staff and musicians, the HPO has made the important decision to keep all exisiting health and safety protocols in place for Gemma Conducts Mendelssohn and will reassess guidelines at the end of this month. This means that we will continue to require ticketholders to present proof of vaccination (two doses) at the March 19 concert. Socially distant seating and masking protocols also remain in place. Visit hpo.org/safetyinfo to view all details regarding proof of vaccination and additional health and safety measures. 

For those not ready to return to live events, Gemma Conducts Mendelssohn is available digitally on-demand and can be purchased on its own or as part of an online subscription package.