The Santa Maria Philharmonic Society announced its 2015-2016 season, which boasts several large orchestra concerts, expanded youth outreach, guest soloists, and several esteemed guest conductors. The expanded season comes thanks to renewed support over the last few seasons since the orchestra nearly shut down.
The season opens with a concert that includes beloved Santa Maria Philharmonic Maestro John Farrer on Sept. 26 for a performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 and Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto with guest soloist Kevin Kumar. The next performance is a Yuletide Brass and Organ Concert on Dec. 4 with guest conductor Greg Magie. “A Night at the Opera: Greatest Moments in Opera” is Feb. 27, and features guest conductor Brian Asher Alhadeff. A Chamber Orchestra concert with guest conductor James Riccardo is April 16, and features works by Dvorak, Bartok, Wagner, and Prokofiev.
The Philharmonic’s youth outreach programs have expanded beyond the standard Music Van outreach and “Peter and the Wolf” concerts. A miniature version of Tachaikovsky’s Nutcracker ballet will be performed for fifth grade students from across the Santa Maria Valley.
Those wishing to become season subscription members of the Santa Maria Philharmonic can sign up online at santamariaphilharmonic.org using PayPal. More information is available at 925-0412.
This article appears in Aug 20-27, 2015.