Monthly Archives: March 2017

NORTH STATE SYMPHONY LAUNCHES NEW POPS SERIES

The North State Symphony expands the diversity of musical experiences available to our communities with the introduction of a new Pops series, with concerts in Redding on April 7th and Chico on April 8th.

“A Splash of Favorites” will highlight many old favorites and current popular music in a unique and eclectic format. The orchestra will play music from Broadway shows, television, and films, including popular favorites from the Star Wars soundtrack. In the second half of the concert, guest artist Uncle Dad’s Art Collective joins the orchestra for a special jam session with arrangements that add splashes of rock, jazz and indie music from artists as diverse as Debussy, Ellington, The Beatles, Stevie Wonder and Daft Punk.

Read more about the program here.

“Now that the symphony is finally delving into the world of pops concerts, we have the programming flexibility to cater to a much more diverse audience,” says North State Symphony Music Director Scott Seaton. “If you think a symphony is only about Mozart or Beethoven, I am here to shatter all of your preconceived notions! Our April pops concert is a musical journey that spans from Star Wars to Daft Punk! Where else will you be able to relive the days of Henry Mancini’s Pink Panther and reflect on Frankie Valli’s Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You in the same concert? Not to mention the toe-tapping fun of the Beach Boys’ Wouldn’t it be Nice or the modern groove of Tears of Fears' Mad World.”

Uncle Dad’s Art Collective is a Chico-based group that aims to foster a vibrant and diverse culture of theater, music, dance, and other performing arts, and to leverage the artistic ideas of its members and collaborators in a way that makes a significant positive impact for the individual artist, the collective, and the community.

Concerts are Friday, April 7th at 7:30pm in Redding at the Civic Auditorium in Redding (tickets at reddingcivic.com or by calling 530-229-0022) and Saturday, April 8th at 7:30pm in Chico at Laxson Auditorium (tickets at chicostatetickets.com or by calling 530-898-6333). Student and senior discounts are available.

Generous community support is provided by Sally Wells, Don & Heidi Weidlein, and Robert & Louise Wilkinson who are sponsoring Uncle Dad’s Art Collective for the Redding performance and by Margaret Bomberg who is sponsoring Uncle Dad’s Art Collective for the Chico performance.

We're thrilled to bring orchestral music to thousands of North State kids this week!

This year, our youth concert's theme is SPACE, with Associate Conductor Dwayne Corbin conducting favorites from Gustav Holst's "Planets," Mozart's "Jupiter" Symphony, Daniel Dorf's "Blast Off," music from the Star Wars films - and featuring our amazing 2016 Young Artist Audition High School winner Diego Bustamente on piano.

"Symphony Quest" will be presented in THREE North State communities, with one concert in Chico on Tuesday March 7, two concerts in Red Bluff on Wednesday March 8, and two concerts in Redding on Thursday March 9. One of Redding's concerts is geared towards our youngest audience members: a "Little One's Concert" for preschool and kindergarten students, sponsored by First Five Shasta.

Additional concert sponsors include the Sierra Pacific Foundation, Charles and Joan Genthe, Bob and Louise Wilkinson, Montessori Children's House of Shady Oaks, Kinderland Child Development Center, North State Parent Magazine, and the California Cascade Association for the Education of Young Children.

Read more about Symphony Quest here!