On the Sunday afternoon of February 8, 2026 at 3:00 PM, the Arlington Philharmonic Orchestra, led by Music Director Orlando Cela, performed their Mid-Winter Concert. The event was performed at the beautiful new Arlington High School auditorium. The program included four Armenian composers and their works:
Geghuni Chitchyan
– Ballet Suite (World Premiere)
Eduard Baghdasaryan
– Rhapsody for Violin and Orchestra with Violin soloist Sargis Karapetyan
Arno Babajanian/Arr. Arakelian
– Elegy in Memory of Aram Khachaturian
Alan Hovhaness
Symphony No. 1, “Exile”
The performance can be viewed on YouTube here. The Alan Hovhaness Symphony No. 1, “Exile” starts around 1:12:45
The Arlington Philharmonic Orchestra presents a broad spectrum of traditional classical repertoire as well as modern works, including local composers. The Arlington Philharmonic Orchestra performs five concerts each season. The players range in age and experience, but all have in common the love of making music.
Orlando Cela is a Venezuelan-born conductor, flutist, and educator who serves as Music Director of the Arlington Philharmonic Orchestra and has held conducting positions with ensembles and academic institutions across the United States and internationally. He launched the orchestral department at Ningbo University in China and conducted the inaugural concert of the Ningbo City Symphony Orchestra, while also guest conducting orchestras such as the Marquette Symphony Orchestra, Northern Michigan University Orchestra, and the Brandeis New Music Ensemble. A champion of contemporary music and music education, he has led world and American premieres with the orchestra of the Governor’s School of North Carolina, presented lectures and workshops at leading institutions in the U.S., Europe, and Asia, and maintains an active performing career as a flutist.
