It was a packed house two nights in a row for the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra’s Southcoast Chamber Music Series this weekend for their performance of “Galaxy” Feb. 1 and 2.

At St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Dartmouth, attendees heard from three composers in a performance by Jesse Holstein and EmmaLee Holmes-Hicks on violin, Anna Griffis on viola, Leo Eguchi on cello as well as Yanic Dinur and Janice Weber on piano. The group performed the previous day in Marion at St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church

Weber, who also serves as the series’ artistic director, said the name for this performance came to her “because the galaxy is giant, cosmic and there are some giant pieces on this.”

She added, “In a repertoire, they’re just like a whole solar system under themselves, and the other ones were like little stars. We know stars are big, but in relative terms, it seems like just little pristine things.”

After the weekend of performances, which went “great,” according to Weber, she highlighted the versatility of all the musicians involved in the chamber music series. 

For example, playing these pieces in two different halls, the musicians had to adjust their sound. While St. Gabriel’s has a more open hall, at St. Peter’s it’s “more in your face,” Webber said.

However, no matter the location, she said, “The audiences are wonderful — they’re attentive. They’re just great.”

The “Galaxy” performance featured composers Philipp Scharwenka, Bohuslav Martinu and Johannes Brahms. 

Dinur, who usually spends his time conducting the orchestra and as its music director, joined the series for the first time this weekend, playing in the piece by Brahms. 

“I love the whole program,” Dinur said, adding he liked the combination of pieces.

Though Brahms is a well-known composer, he said “Janice is a great programmer, she always programs pieces that are great but more unfamiliar. It’s always very exciting and interesting.”

There are two concerts remaining in this series with the next taking place over the March 29 and 30 weekend. On Sunday, March 30 the group will perform “Elan,” which will feature composers Victoria Bond, Betsy Jolas, Moritz Moszkowski and Maurice Ravel, at 3 p.m. at St. Peter’s. 

Tickets must be purchased in advance online at https://nbsymphony.org/chamber-series-2024-2025/