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The Pacific Symphony Presents FRESH SQUEEZED MUSIC
By: BWW News Desk Feb. 11, 2015
Pacific Symphony Music Director Carl St.Clair has spent 25 years championing music in the community, and it shows in Pacific Symphony's commitment to access, willingness to experiment and openness to sharing the stage. The Symphony celebrates Maestro St.Clair's 25th anniversary at the helm by sending its musicians out into the community to perform chamber and full-orchestra concerts throughout Orange County, with the majority of events taking place between February and June. These free or low-cost concerts are collectively called, "Freshly Squeezed Music: Pacific Symphony in Your Orange County Neighborhood." Concerts highlight Pacific Symphony's extensive and varied reach into the community, and include new partnerships with local community-based arts organizations, as well as highlight artists and students currently involved in Pacific Symphony's education and community engagement programs.
"This anniversary season is the bow on a special life gift that has been afforded me for 25 years," says St.Clair. "It will be a time when we can all share in the journey we have been taking together to bring music and the arts to the forefront in our community. I don't need to be celebrated. I want to know that the values I possess and, in turn, the Symphony's core values are being celebrated. For me, it's a time to pay homage to our community and say thank you to our patrons."
"Freshly Squeezed Music" got underway this past summer with two free concerts in Mission Viejo and Irvine, as part of the Symphony in the Cities series. It continued in September with the Symphony's involvement in the Irvine Chinese School's "Happy Moon Festival," which featured a percussion ensemble led by Principal Percussionist Robert Slack. This February, "Freshly Squeezed Music" returned as the Symphony participated in the Bowers Museum's Asian Lunar Festival with a string quartet led by violinist Shelly Shi, and had its first Class Act Family Night at Temple Beth Sanctuary in Aliso Viejo, with a string ensemble led by violinist Dana Freeman performing music by Leonard Bernstein. This event was co-hosted by Class Act partner school the VanDamme Academy.
Upcoming concerts include a number of additional Class Act Family Nights at St. Paul's Church in Tustin, Betsy Ross Elementary in Anaheim, St. Catherine of Siena Parish School in Laguna Beach and Pioneer Middle School in Tustin. Other concerts include a string performance of Mendelssohn's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at Chapman University in Orange; Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble and Pacific Symphony Santiago Strings concerts at Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa; Pacific Symphony Youth Ensembles Chamber Recital in partnership with Junior Chamber Music at Newport Beach Public Library; a wind ensemble at Fullerton First United Methodist Church; a "Music Meets Art" event at Laguna Art Museum with Carl St.Clair and Laguna Art Museum Executive Director Malcom Warner; a chamber music performance in partnership with UCI (details to be announced); and "OC Can You Play With Us?" featuring community musicians ages 22 and older performing with Pacific Symphony at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa.
For more information on the Freshly Squeezed Music series and for tickets, visit www.PacificSymphony.org or call (714) 755-5799.
UPCOMING FRESHLY SQUEEZED MUSIC EVENTS
Exploring "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at Chapman University
Monday, Feb. 23, 7 p.m.
John and Donna Crean Orchestra Recital Hall, Oliphant Hall
Chapman University, One University Drive, Orange
Admission is free. No ticket required.
A string ensemble of Pacific Symphony musicians led by the Symphony's principal violist and Chapman associate professor of music, Robert Becker, plays excerpts from Mendelssohn's "A Midsummer Night's Dream." The musicians are joined by student actors performing excerpts from Shakespeare's play of the same name. This collaborative evening also features a conversation between Chapman University's Orchestra Director Daniel Wachs and Production Director Michael Nehring on the relationship between Shakespeare's play and Mendelssohn's music.
Class Act: Sharing the Joy of Music through Leonard Bernstein
Wednesday, Feb. 25, 7 p.m.
St. Paul's Church
1221 Wass Street, Tustin
Admission is free. No tickets required.
A string ensemble from Pacific Symphony led by bassist Doug Basye performs as part of Pacific Symphony's award-winning elementary school partnership program, Class Act, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this season. The program, which features music by Leonard Bernstein, is family friendly and includes a musician meet-and-greet for children following the performance.
The event is co-hosted by Class Act partner school, Benson Elementary.
Class Act: Sharing the Joy of Music through Leonard Bernstein
Friday, Feb. 27, 7 p.m.
Betsy Ross Elementary School
535 Walnut Street, Anaheim
Admission is free. No tickets required.
A string ensemble from Pacific Symphony led by violist Carolyn Riley performs as part of Pacific Symphony's award-winning elementary school partnership program, Class Act, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this season. The program, which features music by Leonard Bernstein, is family friendly and includes a musician meet-and-greet for children following the performance. The event is co-hosted by Class Act partner school, Stoddard Elementary.
Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble
Sunday, March 1, 1 p.m.
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall
600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa
Admission is free, but tickets are required.
Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble, led by conductor Gregory X. Whitmore, performs "Olde School/New School," exploring the wide range of compositional styles and genres of wind literature. Reminisce in "OLDE School" with movements from Tielman Susato's "The Dansyere" for brass ensemble and Percy Grainger's wind transcription of Cabezón's "Prelude in the Dorian Mode." Experience "New School" with Gershwin's Second Prelude and John Mackey's "Xerxes and Kingfishers Catch Fire."
Pacific Symphony Youth Ensembles
Chamber Recital in partnership with Junior Chamber Music
Saturday, March 7, 11 a.m.
Newport Beach Public Library
1000 Avocado, Newport Beach
Admission is free. No tickets required.
A collaborative morning of chamber music featuring musicians from Pacific Symphony Youth Ensembles and Junior Chamber Music. Hear selections from Dvorak's Piano Trio and Quintet Op. 81, Beethoven's Piano Trio, Schoenfield's Café Music, Rebecca Clark's Piano Trio and more.
Class Act: Sharing the Joy of Music through Leonard Bernstein
Tuesday, March 17, 7 p.m.
St. Catherine of Siena Parish School
30516 S. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach
Admission is free. No tickets required.
String ensemble from Pacific Symphony led by bassist Doug Basye performs as part of Pacific Symphony's award-winning elementary school partnership program, Class Act, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this season. The program, which features music by Leonard Bernstein, is family friendly and includes a musician meet-and-greet for children following the performance. The event is co-hosted by Class Act partner school, St. Catherine of Siena Parish School. Guests should park at the Albertson's supermarket, located at 30922 Coast Highway, and take the Laguna Beach shuttle to the school.
Music Meets Art at Laguna Art Museum
Thursday, March 26, 7 p.m. (pre-concert reception at 6:30 p.m.)
Laguna Art Museum
307 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach
Admission is free with museum admission and for members. General admission is $7 and students are $5. To reserve, visit http://lagunaartmuseum.org/visitor-in.
Music Meets Art: A conversation between Pacific Symphony Music Director Carl St.Clair and Laguna Art Museum Executive Director Malcolm Warner, featuring musicians from Pacific Symphony, led by violist Cheryl Gates.
Class Act: Sharing the Joy of Music through Leonard Bernstein
Thursday, April 23, 7 p.m.
Pioneer Middle School
2700 Pioneer Road, Tustin
Admission is free. No tickets required.
String ensemble from Pacific Symphony led by violinist MarlaJoy Weisshaar, performs as part of Pacific Symphony's award-winning elementary school partnership program, Class Act, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this season. The program, which features music by Leonard Bernstein, is family friendly and includes a musician meet-and-greet for children following the performance. The event is co-hosted by Class Act partner school, Tustin Ranch Elementary.
North Orange County Concert
Sunday, April 26, 4 p.m.
Fullerton First United Methodist Church
114 North Pomona (at Commonwealth), Fullerton
No admission fee, but free-will offering will be taken.
An afternoon concert featuring a brass ensemble led by Pacific Symphony principal trombonist Mike Hoffman, sponsored by North Orange County Community Concerts.
Pacific Symphony Santiago Strings
Saturday, May 9, 3 p.m.
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall
600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa
Admission is free, but tickets are required.
Pacific Symphony Santiago Strings, led by conductor Irene Kroesen, performs it season finale, "How Suite It Is!" in a rousing artistic celebration of the orchestral suite and its intriguing adaptations over time.
Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble
Sunday, May 10, 1 p.m.
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall
600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa
Admission is free, but tickets are required.
Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble, led by conductor Gregory X. Whitmore, performs its season finale, featuring a colorful, innovative array of "Collaborations," which include Frank Ticheli's "Blue Shades," Katoh's "Madrid Inspirations" for Alto Saxophone and Band with guest soloist Dr. Kenneth Tse (professor of saxophone at The University of Iowa), and the world premiere of a commission by Pacific Symphony composer-in-residence Narong Prangcharoen.
"OC Can You Play with Us?"
Wednesday, May 13, 7 - 9:30 p.m.
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall
600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa
Admission for audience members is free, but tickets are required.
"OC Can You Play with Us?" returns as community musicians ages 22 and older from across Orange County have the unique opportunity to play with Pacific Symphony on the stage of the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall under the baton of Music Director Carl St.Clair. Participants perform excerpts from Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake." Participation fee is $75. Participants will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis, with no audition required. Online registration opens Feb. 27 at 10 a.m. www.PacificSymphony.org/OCCYP
"OC Can You Play with Us?" Chamber Edition
Thursday, May 14, 7 - 9:30 p.m.
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall
600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa
Admission for audience members is free, but tickets are required.
"OC Can You Play with Us?" continues into a second evening with a Chamber Edition. Community musicians ages 22 and older from across Orange County have the unique opportunity to play in an instrument choir led by principal flutist Ben Smolen, clarinetist Joshua Ranz or Assistant Conductor Alejandro Gutiérrez. Participation fee is $75. Participants will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis, with no audition required. Online registration opens Feb. 27 at 10 a.m.
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