August 30, 2017 :: The weirdly named star of our 2017–18 Season Opener’s YTTE (Yield To Total Elation) by Nathaniel Stookey is a one-of-kind, electro-acoustic instrument created by San Francisco-based Grammy-nominated audio engineer and kinetic sculptor, Oliver DiCicco has designed, with whimsical names like “Crawdad” and “Olivetti.” The OOVE, created by Oliver DiCicco and played at our Season Opener...
August 27, 2017 :: Margaret Martin with her brother Gregory, after opening night of the Lamplighters’ “Yeomen of the Guard” in the Lesher Center this summer. We were delighted to learn that the winner of our Symphony Surround auction package to meet incoming composer-in-residence Katherine Balch, is an aspiring composer in her own right! Margaret’s mom spotted the auction package — a...
August 18, 2017 :: Here’s our press release with everything you need to know about our 2017–18 season opener LYRICAL DREAMS, which features a modern day classic by American composer Samuel Barber, and a whimsical new instrument played by Bay Area composer Nathaniel Stookey (it bears some resemblence to a vacuum cleaner!) The program concludes with an epic masterpiece...
August 2, 2017 :: In case you missed it, here’s a round up of happenings at the California Symphony, including news of some fine new additions to the orchestra; a behind-the-scenes encounter between a local high school student and our Composer-in-Residence at the May finale concert, and exciting new grants awarded to us in support of the Sound Minds...
July 28, 2017 :: Inquiring minds check out our instrument petting zoo at the Chevron Family Theatre Day in Walnut Creek, July 15 2017. Princesses, pirates, and patient parents, flocked to the Lesher Center in Walnut Creek to bring smiles to children’s faces at the Chevron Family Theatre Festival one sunny Saturday in July. Costumed characters, including Darth Vader, ewoks,...
:: Sound Minds student Carlos — as a first grader with his paper replica cello; in fourth grade, and (far right of picture) as a proud fifth grade, sunglasses-wearing, graduate of the program in May 2017. While the California Symphony celebrated its 30th anniversary last season, Sound Minds completed a milestone of its own. It’s now six years since...
:: Hello and welcome to the first post on the all-new California Symphony blog! Music Director Donato Cabrera and the California Symphony perform at the Lesher Center in Walnut Creek. We should probably stop right there and explain that while this is a new blog account, the symphony has had a blog presence for just over a...
