On the 14th of August 2016, Friends of the Mahler Chamber Orchestra reconvene in Lucerne, during the Lucerne Festival, for the annual MCO Friends Meeting.
Lucerne is the summer residence of the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, which forms the core of the Lucerne Festival Orchestra. Every summer, musicians of the MCO join their colleagues from all over the world for three weeks of music making in the idyllic surroundings of Lake Lucerne.
In addition to performances featuring the Lucerne Festival Orchestra, the Mahler Chamber Orchestra also has its own series of concerts; this year, the MCO will be presenting a programme focusing on Barbara Hannigan as conductor and soprano.
While the MCO Development department also organizes events around the MCO’s concert tours throughout the year, it became clear very quickly that a majority of its supporters would attend concerts at the Lucerne Festival every summer. Thus, the idea of the MCO Friends Meeting in Lucerne was born: in addition to attending rehearsals and meeting the orchestra, supporters can take part in organized activities in Lucerne and its surroundings, including tours of the concert venue, local landmarks and ateliers. At the Friends Meeting in Lucerne, Friends of the MCO are also treated to a chamber music concert given by MCO musicians – an exclusive opportunity to meet the individuals who make up the orchestra. 
The MCO Friends Meeting is an annual highlight for the MCO Development department. Not only does it give MCO musicians and staff the chance to meet many of the orchestra’s supporters in person; it has also become a meeting point for MCO Friends who have themselves become friends over the years. In addition to showing the MCO’s gratitude to the people who make its year-round music making possible, the MCO Friends Meeting also ensures that the MCO international network stays active and strong.
In August 2016, the Foundation Friends of Lucerne Festival celebrate their 50th anniversary. To commemorate this significant occasion, Friends of the Mahler Chamber Orchestra – the orchestra being an integral part of the Lucerne Festival Orchestra – have been invited to join the Friends Meeting of the Foundation Friends of Lucerne Festival. The highlight of this event will be a special performance of Shostakovich’s Jazz Suite no. 2, featuring members of the Lucerne Festival Orchestra and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra.
Start a conversation with us about how you can become part of the Mahler Chamber Orchestra family! Sandra Wiener would be delighted to explore different options with you.
For more information on the MCO Development department, visit: http://www.mahlerchamber.com/support
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