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Thanks for a great season!

Thank you for spending the "Crescendo" season with us! From seven musicians in Stravinsky's "Soldier's Tale" to almost 150 voices and instruments coming together for Beethoven's truly joyful Symphony #9, it has been a season to remember! With all the changes, surprises, and wonderful musical memories of this past year, we are truly grateful for the health and strength of our communities on and off stage, and for the support you have shown to our orchestra. We wish everyone a peaceful summer, and look forward to sharing details of our 2022-2023 concert season soon!

2022 Young Artist Auditions Winners

Young Artist Auditions 2022 Results

The North State Symphony is happy to announce the results of the 2022 Young Artist Auditions. The YAA honors young musicians in the North State, both instrumental and vocal. The competition has two divisions, High School and College/University.

The judges of the YAA were North State Symphony violinist Joel Quivey; vocal instructor Linda Snodgrass; and North State Symphony Music Director Scott Seaton.

The winner of the High School Division was James Johnston, violin, of Anderson. He played "Introduction of Rondo Capriccioso" by Saint-Saëns. James is a sophomore at Shasta View Academy. He wins a cash prize and the opportunity to perform with the North State Symphony in the 2022-23 concert season.

Second prize in the High School Division was won by Allie Braito, piano, of Cottonwood. Allie performed Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, Mvt. 1. She wins a cash prize.

The winner of the College/University Division was Sarah Harris, voice, a sophomore at Shasta College. She performed "Les Oiseauxdan la charmille" by Offenbach. She wins a cash prize and the opportunity to perform with the North State Symphony in the 2022-23 concert season.

Second prize in the College/University Division was won by Cassidy Winkelman, cello, from Shasta College. She performed Elgar's Cello Concerto in E minor and wins a cash prize.

Congratulations to all our participants, and their instructors, for their excellent performances.

The Young Artists Auditions are a project of the Chico Guild ~ North State Symphony, which awards the High School Division prizes. The North State Symphony League of Redding provides the College/University Division Prizes.

Sarah Harris, voice
1st Place
College Division

Cassidy Winkelman, cello
2nd Place
College Division

James Johnston, violin
1st Place
High School Division

Allie Brito, violin
2nd Place
High School Division

2021-22 Season Greetings From the Maestro

Welcome to the 21st season of your North State Symphony!

After such a trying year away from live music, it seems as if we are given a unique opportunity to be reintroduced to the world around us and to see things with fresh eyes and ears. We are given an opportunity to experience concerts not as just live music events, but as bonding experiences with our community to reflect on the times, both past and present.

Our new season is Crescendo, and - just as the name implies - we’re going to start with a whisper, a restlessness for creation in a work written by one of the world’s great composers in a time with incredible parallels to what we have lived in the past year. Stravinsky’s The Soldier’s Tale is not only a work of immense adaptation, but also takes us on a journey through the universal quest for happiness.

Our anticipation for the culmination of the crescendo with Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony is nurtured along the journey with world-class guest artists, community collaborations, known and unknown composers, and timeless classics blended with new and impactful works representative of our modern and ever-changing world.

In this incredible time of rediscovery and self-reflection, we strive to be an orchestra of our communities and the incredible music that fills our halls will always be the essence of who we are and the most fundamental glue that binds us.

I look forward to sharing this season filled with new experiences with all of you!

Musically yours,

Musician Accents

"Musician Accents" is a virtual series produced by Music Director Scott Seaton. Enjoy a deeper and intimate look into the musicians who make up the North State Symphony. Conversations and topics range from musical backgrounds, favorite composers and pieces, and their experience playing with the North State Symphony. This series began in September of 2019 during concert weekends and continues to be produced virtually.