Posts: Allen Biggs

Symphony Meets Hardware Store in Lou Harrison’s Quirky Concerto

March 5, 2024

One violin, 12 brakedrums, 6 flowerpots, windchimes (glass and metal), dustbins, plumbing pipe… You could be forgiven for mistaking the instrumentation for Lou Harrison’s Concerto for Violin and Percussion Orchestra for a shopping list for ACE Hardware.
This month in MOZART SERENADES, sandwiched between two giants of the wind repertoire—Strauss’ Serenade and Mozart’s Gran Partita—comes a quirky and rhythmic concerto by American maverick composer Lou Harrison. Concertmaster Jennifer Cho becomes the sole strings player on the program, featured alongside five stellar percussionists who use a variety of traditional and non-traditional instruments to create a unique soundscape.

2023-24 Season, Allen Biggs, Ben Paysen, Blog, Jennifer Cho, Lou Harrison, MOZART SERENADES, Patti Niemi, Raymond Froelich, Tim Dent

MEET MVP ALLEN BIGGS – Principal Percussion

December 21, 2023

Allen has been performing with the California Symphony since the very first concert back in 1986. He’s survived exploding canons and thrives on physical challenges like open water swimming in the Bay. Meet Principal Percussionist—and triathlete—Allen Biggs!

2023-24 Season, Allen Biggs, Blog

Drum Roll Please… with Percussionist Allen Biggs

September 13, 2023

In his career with California Symphony, it’s not common for Principal Percussionist Allen Biggs to play drum kit during concerts—let alone for two different pieces on the same program! In season opener COPLAND—AMERICAN TRADITIONS, Wynton Marsalis’ Violin Concerto in D and Juan Pablo Contreras’ MeChicano both feature drum kits of various sizes and playing styles, reflecting…

2023-24 Season, Allen Biggs, Blog, COPLAND—AMERICAN TRADITIONS, Juan Pablo Contreras, Wynton Marsalis

Behind the Scenes at FRENCH IMPRESSIONS

March 30, 2022

From a foreign national anthem, to a groundbreaking world premiere that was immediately heralded by critics as “a masterpiece,” and unusual intermission on Sunday afternoon, this weekend’s concerts were almost as drama-filled as the Oscars. #WeStandWithUkraine Both concerts this weekend opened with a rendition of the Ukrainian national anthem, in solidarity with the people of…

2021-22 Season, Ades, Allen Biggs, Balch, Blog, Debussy, French Impressions, Ravel

Allen Biggs, Percussionist-in-Place

May 6, 2020

You might have seen California Symphony percussionist Allen Biggs at the back of the orchestra. During the shelter-in-place, you can find him serenading his neighborhood with his marimba from his driveway.   What was an early influence in your musical life? I was born in San Francisco.  Then when I was three years old, my…

2019-20 Season, Allen Biggs

Meet Stellar Percussionist Allen Biggs

October 9, 2018

California Symphony percussionist Allen Biggs has been performing with the California Symphony since the first ever concert more than three decades ago. He is a one of a quartet of percussionists who will perform under the dome of the planetarium at Chabot Space & Science Center for Symphony Surround, June 8, 2019. We caught up…

Allen Biggs, Musicians