Points made by Rohan Smith, the conductor of the Midcoast Symphony, at a recent Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce breakfast were music to my ears. He spoke about what made classical music special, and why orchestras and all the arts are so vital to our community and society in general. He discussed the concepts of form, rhythm and harmony, and described how the molecules in the air are somehow different when one listens to a live performance instead of recorded music.

The Midcoast Symphony has become a major presence in Lewiston and Auburn, giving four concerts over the course of a year at the Franco-American Heritage Center. Smith extolled the acoustics of the hall, and mentioned how much his musicians enjoyed playing there.

The Gala and Benefit Concert, also held recently, has become quite an annual affair in L-A.

As president of the Maine Music Society, I would like to point out that there are other sources of classical music in our area that also deserve support.

Our season began with Mozart at Olin Auditorium and will feature Brahms at the Basilica in March. The Bates College Orchestra gives two performances per year, as does our homegrown Androscoggin Valley Community Orchestra.

The Androscoggin Chorale, a component of the Maine Music Society, hopes to collaborate with the Midcoast Symphony in a future season. We look forward to working with maestro Smith, and applaud his spoken words and his baton.

Edward Walworth, Lewiston