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North State Symphony announces the music to be played in the four major concerts of their 2015–16 season under new Music Director Scott Seaton. Curtain Up! is this season's theme as the Symphony moves into a dynamic new artistic era under Maestro Seaton and a new era of visionary season sponsorship by Dignity Health.

Tickets are now on sale for the four-concert season described below. For those who cannot purchase the four-concert package, individual concert tickets are available beginning the second week in August.

Seaton has included many of the classical world’s most famous and beloved pieces by composers such as Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Leonard Bernstein, and Mozart. Contrasting with the famous masterworks are new and unusual pieces in a variety of styles.

The Symphony’s season opens on September 26 in Redding and September 27 in Chico. Two iconic orchestral pieces will be played on the opening concert, Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, and Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto, played by Alpin Hong.  An overture by the Bohemian composer Smetana, and a new work complete the program.

The November concerts take place on November 14 in Chico and November 15 in Redding.  Seaton will conduct a feast of highly varied music, originally written over a period from the 18th century to the 1950s. The featured work is Bernstein’s popular West Side Story in a setting for orchestra, which will be joined by a variety of works including a symphony by Haydn, and the ever-popular “Blue Danube” Waltz by Johann Strauss II.  Violinist Brianna Ruiz, winner of the 2015 Young Artist Auditions, is featured.

Following special Christmas Holiday, Chamber Music and Youth Concerts in December and January, the full North State Symphony returns in February with favorites for traditional music-lovers. Mozart’s Magic Flute Overture begins the concert, which ends with the Second Symphony of Johannes Brahms. Between Mozart and Brahms, a brilliant young violinist Andrew Sords, will play the concerto by Jean Sibelius. Dates are February 27 in Redding and February 28 in Chico.

Seaton’s premiere season ends in May of 2016 with another rich variety of music. Short works by Beethoven (Leonore Overture #3), Puccini (Preludio Sinfonico) and the contemporary composer Mason Bates (Mothership) set off a beautifully passionate and virtuosic display by Rachmaninoff, his Symphonic Dances. The May schedule consists of an evening concert on May 14 in Chico and an afternoon concert in Redding on May 15.

The beautiful Cascade Theatre is the North State Symphony’s Redding home for its major concerts, while elegant Laxson Auditorium hosts the Chico mainstage concerts. Evening concerts begin at 7:30 PM at both venues. Afternoon concerts in Chico begin at 2:00 PM, while the two Sunday afternoon concerts in Redding will be held at a new time -- 4:00 PM -- by popular request.

To purchase tickets for Redding concerts, call the Cascade Theatre Box Office at 530-243-8877. Tickets for the Chico concerts are available through the University Box Office by calling 530-898-6333.

North State Symphony is a project of California State University, Chico and is supported by various departments of the University as well as community Board members, donors and volunteers in both Redding and Chico. For more information,  call 530-898-5984.