Dr. Lisa Wong, center, president of the Longwood Symphony Orchestra, is pictured at the VIP reception prior to the concert to benefit Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy with, left to right, Gary Ardell, Dr. Laurie Glader, Conductor Jonathan McPhee, (Dr. Wong), Stacey Farrell and Jim Gaudreau. (Photo courtesy of Melissa Hurley)

The Longwood Symphony Orchestra (LSO) recently opened its 26th regular season at the New England Conservatory's Jordan Hall, with a concert benefiting the local chapter of Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

Dr. Lisa Wong of Newton, a pediatrician practicing in Milton, is president of the prestigious and unique orchestra comprised of 120 musicians, the majority of whom are medical professionals representing every major medical center in the Greater Boston Area.

Since its inception in 1991, under the direction of the noted Jonathan McPhee, Longwood's "Healing Art of Music Program" has partnered with 31 local medical organizations, helping them raise thousands of dollars. The program was recognized last year by the League of American Orchestras as a model of community engagement for orchestras nationwide.

The LSO's next concert will be Saturday, December 6, at NEC's Jordan Hall, when they will partner with ARTZ, Artists for Alzheimer's, a Boston-based organization helping to enrich the cultural life of people living with Alzheimer's disease.

For more information, visit www.longwoodsymphony.org.

49th Ellis Antiques Show a Success - Now Looking Ahead to the 50th

A Gala Preview on October 30th opened the "49th Annual Ellis Antiques Show" at The Castle at the Park Plaza Hotel and Towers. A benefit for the Ellis Memorial and Eldredge House and the Whittier Street Health Center, the show is considered one of the "Top Five" and most prestigious annual antiques shows in the country.

Chairman Cecily Colburn remarked, "Chris Jussel and I developed a vision for making the show more broad based, one where visitors could walk in the door and be intrigued by both the variety and the exceptional level of antiques in over 35 booths.... and now we are thrilled that Lee Gallery is joining us. Boston is the first of the more 'traditional' Antiques Shows to present a Photography Dealer. We are all pleased to continue to present an innovative and varied selection of dealers, each of whom is among the best in their field."

New exhibitors were joined by more than 30 of the most noted antiques dealers in the country. "With such amazing dealers providing the backdrop for our fundraising events, we hope to build on our success of last year and meet our goal of $1 million by our 50th anniversary in 2009," added Colburn.

For information about the 50th Anniversary Celebration in 2009, please call 617-248-8571 or e-mail ellis20@verizon.net.

"Spamalot" Returns to Boston through November 23

Back to taunt Boston for a third time is Monty Python's "Spamalot," which runs for a limited one-week engagement November 18 - 23, at The Colonial Theatre in Boston.

Lovingly "ripped-off" from the internationally famous comedy team's most popular motion picture, "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," the hilarious "Spamalot" is the winner of three 2005 Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Director (Mike Nichols), as well as the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards for Best Musical.

Performances are Tuesday at 7 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sunday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

For tickets and more information, call Ticketmaster at 617-931-2787 or visit www.broadwayacrossamerica.com/boston. For groups (10 or more), call 1-866-633-0194.

A "Free Day At The Zoo!"

We have all been invited to "a day the whole family can enjoy." Both the Franklin Park Zoo and the Stone Zoo invite New Englanders to continue their Thanksgiving celebrations with a "Free Day At The Zoo!" on Friday, November 28, from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Franklin Park Zoo is located at One Franklin Park Road, Boston and the Stone Zoo at 149 Pond Street, Stoneham.

For additional information, call 617-541-LION or visit www.franklinparkzoo.org or www.stonezoo.org.

Enjoy!

In addition to events covered and reported by the columnist, "The Scene..." 
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