Pacific Symphony Kicks Off 2013 'Symphony in the Cities' Series Tonight

Dust off those lawn chairs and picnic baskets and head out to one of three Orange County neighborhoods for Pacific Symphony's 2013 Target Symphony in the Cities (SITC) concert series-free summer evenings of outdoor music and entertainment. Playing familiar and well-loved tunes by Shostakovich, Massenet, Strauss (Jr. and Sr.!) and American legends John Williams, Leonard Bernstein and John Phillip Sousa, the Symphony also performs alongside the family friendly doo-wop group, the Alley Cats and guest violinist Kotaro Tsutsumi! Target returns for the ninth year as the title sponsor of this popular event, which attracts thousands of people annually, many of whom bring friends and families and make it a full experience.

Led by Music Director Carl St.Clair, this summer the concerts take place in three cities: Costa Mesa (for the first time), supported by the Costa Mesa Conference Visitors Bureau and presented in association with Segerstrom Center for the Arts, at the Center's Arts Plaza (July 26), Mission Viejo's Oso Viejo Park (July 27) and Lake Forest's Pittsford Park (July 28). For more information about these concerts, call (714) 755-5799 or visit PacificSymphony.org/SITC.

"At 35, the orchestra has accomplished so much, but not without the support and partnership of Orange County," says Maestro St.Clair, noting that the Symphony's summer season officially kicks off the orchestra's 35th Anniversary. "This season is one that celebrates this partnership and offers an opportunity for Pacific Symphony to demonstrate its thankfulness to the community, as well as have the opportunity to express the artistic excellence we have achieved. We are happy to have this opportunity to provide our friends and neighbors with three free evenings of great music."

"The City of Lake Forest is excited to host the Symphony for the seventh time; the show appeals to all ages, draws a large crowd every year and enhances the level of cultural arts for our City," says Ron Rivera, senior recreation coordinator for the City of Lake Forest.

"We are honored and excited to have the Pacific Symphony perform this innovative summer concert series in Costa Mesa," says Costa Mesa's mayor, Jim Righeimer. "It will be a highlight of the season. I can't wait to attend."

For this year's SITC concert, the Symphony welcomes the talented, humorous and energetic a cappella group, the Alley Cats. Most of the performers have been in the group for 10 years and the combination of wit and tight harmonies make them a treat for this year's concert series. The Alley Cats sing doo-wop hits, "Bandstand Boogie," "Only You" and "Sh-Boom," plus favorites such as "America the Beautiful" and "God Bless America," when the audience is invited to sing along.

The program also features selections from Bernstein's "West Side Story"; Shostakovich's "Festive Overture"; works by Johann Strauss Jr. and Sr., respectively, "On the Beautiful Danube" and "Radetsky March"; the charming "Meditation from Thais" by Jules Massenet, performed by guest violinist Kotaro Tsutsumi, a member of Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra, and "Liberty Fanfare" by John Williams. And no summer would be complete without patriotic tunes by Sousa including "Washington Post March" and "Hands Across the Sea." The evening also includes a moving armed forces tribute.

"The Target Symphony in the Cities concert featuring the spectacular Pacific Symphony and our Prelude in the Park is one of the premiere events for residents in Mission Viejo," says Mission Viejo's mayor, Rhonda Reardon. "People come with family and friends to enjoy a phenomenal concert under the stars by the best musicians around. This year is even more special as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of our city's incorporation and the 50th anniversary of the milestone anniversaries and top-notch entertainment and activities, I know this will be the best event yet!"

All three concerts get underway at 7 p.m., with Mission Viejo's Prelude in the Park beginning at 4 p.m., and offering an array of pre-concert festivities, including a parachutist and a tribute to Korean War veterans. The Symphony's pre-concert Musical Playground opens at 5:30 p.m. in Lake Forest and Costa Mesa (4 p.m. in Mission Viejo), and features many interactive and hands-on activities for children, including the opportunity to make an instrument, play in a drum circle, visit the instrument petting zoo and meet Symphony musicians. Also prior to the concert-and back by popular demand-children (accompanied by a parent) are invited to take part in a conducting workshop led by Maestro St.Clair beginning at 6:45 p.m., (6:30 p.m. in Mission Viejo) in preparation to assist in leading Sousa's "Hands Across the Sea" during the concert. Fourth- and fifth-grade students from Santa Ana Strings-a one-year-old violin program created through a partnership between Pacific Symphony, Santa Ana Unified School District and the academic support program THINK Together-provide pre-concert entertainment in Mission Viejo.

"We are grateful to Target and our host cities for their continued support and sincere interest in our community," says Symphony President John Forsyte. "Because of them, we are able to offer high-quality music in great outdoor settings to people who might not otherwise have the opportunity to hear these highly gifted musicians. We especially appreciate how hard the cities work to make these concerts a success."

The Southern California-based group, Alley Cats, has performed in front of high-profile individuals including Jay Leno and former President Bill Clinton. According to Leno, "These guys are a tough act to follow-talented, funny and a must see." Landing their first performing gig at Disneyland's "Blast to the Past," the doo-wop group performs regularly on TV, radio shows, corporate events, performing arts centers, fairs, festivals and schools.

"At Target, our local grants are making a difference in communities across the country," said Laysha Ward, president, community relations, Target. "We're proud to partner with Pacific Symphony as part of our ongoing commitment to strengthen communities, where our guests and team members live and work."

Minneapolis-based Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) serves guests at 1,778 stores across the United States and at Target.com. The company plans to open its first stores in Canada in 2013. In addition, the company operates a credit card segment that offers branded proprietary credit card products. Since 1946, Target has given 5 percent of its profit through community grants and programs; today, that giving equals more than $4 million a week. For more information about Target's commitment to corporate responsibility, visit Target.com/hereforgood.

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