The Carmel Symphony Orchestra will begin its 50th Anniversary season with an evening of sweeping orchestral music featuring acclaimed cellist Alexander Hersh. Presented by Pedcor Companies, HORIZONS: The promise of a vast land takes place Saturday, October 10, at 7 p.m. at the Payne & Mencias Palladium.

At the heart of the program is Antonín Dvořák’s Cello Concerto, a work whose powerful, deeply expressive writing gives the soloist opportunities to convey both intimate emotion and soaring intensity. Hersh joins the orchestra for a performance that promises a moving start to this milestone season.

Hersh has established himself as an exciting and versatile artist, appearing as a soloist with the Houston Symphony and Boston Pops. His accomplishments include top prizes and awards at the Astral Artists National Auditions, National Federation of Music Clubs Young Artists Competition and Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, as well as the Borromeo String Quartet Guest Artist Award.

His musical life extends well beyond the concerto stage. A passionate chamber musician, Hersh has performed at festivals throughout the United States and Europe, including Marlboro, Ravinia, Music@Menlo, Caramoor, Lucerne and the Amsterdam Cello Biennial. His repertoire includes the complete string quartets of Bartók and Berg alongside a broad selection of chamber music.

Following his performance at the 2017 Queen Elisabeth Cello Competition, Belgian Radio’s Musiq3 praised his “scenic presence and charm”—qualities audiences will have the opportunity to experience in Carmel.

Hersh also serves as co-artistic director of NEXUS Chamber Music, a Chicago-based collective that brings chamber music into intimate and unconventional venues. By pairing familiar repertoire with lesser-known works, the ensemble creates opportunities for audiences to discover music beyond the traditional concert setting.

For Hersh, string playing is a family tradition spanning four generations. Raised in Chicago, he began studying cello at age five and went on to work with distinguished musicians including Steve Balderston, Hans Jørgen Jensen, Laurence Lesser, Paul Katz and Kim Kashkashian. He also studied with Nicolas Altstaedt at the Hanns Eisler Hochschule für Musik Berlin.

He earned both his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees at New England Conservatory, graduating with academic honors. For his performances, Hersh plays a G.B. Rogeri cello generously loaned through Darnton & Hersh Fine Violins in Chicago.

With Hersh as its featured soloist and Dvořák’s expressive concerto at the center of the evening, HORIZONS offers audiences an inviting opportunity to celebrate the beginning of the Carmel Symphony Orchestra’s golden anniversary season.