May 2, 2019
It’s been called “a model for residency programs across the country” (Mercury News). Not all orchestras around the country have resident composer programs, and among those that exist, the California Symphony’s Young American Composer-in-Residence program is different in three key ways, says California Symphony Director of Operations & Education Sunshine Deffner. By Sunshine Deffner, Director
April 23, 2019
California Symphony Composer-in-Residence Katherine Balch composed Artifacts for New England Conservatory friend and colleague Robyn Bollinger, based on four pieces that are core to solo violin repertoire. Each movement in Artifacts takes its inspiration from diverse works composed between the early 1800s and 1976. By Donato Cabrera, California Symphony Music Director “Robyn and I have
April 23, 2019
The fifth and final concert set of the 2018/19 season takes place on 5/5, Cinco de Mayo. Here’s our countdown of the top five things that make season finale concert EPIC BRUCKNER an epically wonderful way to celebrate the day. 5. Finale Fiesta For Cinco de Mayo, we’re bringing some Latin flavor to the Lesher
April 14, 2019
California Symphony percussionist Victor Avdienko has one thing to do in Bruckner’s Symphony No. 7 and that is to play a lone, epic cymbal crash. For him though, it’s much more than just a single note. By Victor Avdienko, California Symphony percussionist. I played this piece before with Herbert Blomstedt [San Francisco Symphony Music Director
April 13, 2019
Bruckner’s Symphony No. 7 is an impressive, expansive, melodic work that requires a supersized orchestra, and for many members of the orchestra it’s a real work out. If you’re a percussionist however, your entire part for this epic masterwork fits neatly onto a single page of music. The percussionists’ sheet music (pictured) indicates that
July 2, 2019
Summer adult education class Fresh Look: The Symphony Exposed takes place at Walnut Creek Library starting July 9. Instructor Scott Foglesong (Chair of Musicianship and Music Theory at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music) leads the class. First stop in Fresh Look is an introduction to the orchestra. In this class you’ll meet the key players and
July 10, 2019
Class 2: “So, when you say ‘classical’ you mean…?” In Class 1 you learned the basics, and in Class 2 you’ll continue building upon the basics to discover different styles of orchestra music, how to tell them apart, and why it even matters. Here’s a sneak peek at the music you will hear during Class
July 16, 2019
Class 3: “You mean there’s more to classical…?” Now that you’ve made it through the first two sessions of Fresh Look, we treat you to Beethoven. Here are samples of what you’ll hear in Class 3: “You mean there’s more to classical…?” BEETHOVEN – PIANO CONCERTO NO.3, II The second movement of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto
April 3, 2019
The California Symphony presents EPIC BRUCKNER at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek on Sunday, May 5 at 4pm, featuring: Balch – Artifacts Bruckner – Symphony No. 7 BALCH – ARTIFACTS We’ll have to wait until May 5 to hear the world premiere of Composer-in-Residence Katherine Balch’s violin concerto, Artifacts, but in
April 14, 2019
Q: What instrument is named after a tuba, looks like a French horn, and sounds like a trombone? No, that’s not the beginning of a super nerdy orchestra joke but it’s a pretty good description of the hybrid horn that is the Wagner tuba. A quartet of the rare instruments features in Bruckner’s Symphony No.