Photograph by Chad Pilster
Jason Klein conducts the Saratoga Symphony at St. Andrew's Church, Saratoga, in preparation for an upcoming performance.
Saratoga Symphony performs locally
Free concert takes place on March 12
By Shari Kaplan
The Saratoga Symphony is affectionately known by members as the "extension chord orchestra" and "gypsy orchestra" for players' need to bring their own power strips and lighting for concerts and for the group's history of rehearsing in various places. They will perform a free concert March 12 at 3 p.m. at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 13601 Saratoga Ave.
Directed by Dr. Jason Klein, the orchestra will play Mendelssohn's dramatic Symphony no. 5, Reformation, and will join the St. Andrew's choir in John Rutter's Requiem, a peaceful arrangement whose text is in both English and Latin. Exposing audiences to lesser-known pieces has become something of a trademark.
"I have a thing for unusual repertory, and this orchestra has indulged me in that," Klein says, chuckling. The orchestra's trust rests partly on his laurels, which include a doctor of musical arts degree from Stanford University, past positions as music director of the Fremont-Newark Philharmonic and Hayward Area Symphony, and stints as guest conductor with the Stanford Avoyards, Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra and Monterey County Symphony.
Currently, Klein is the music director for the Youth Orchestras of Southern Alameda County and teaches instrumental music to children in the Mount Diablo Unified School District.
"Jason is well-respected among Bay Area musicians, and his knowledge and skill are extensive," says Los Gatan Paul Slemmons, who serves as Saratoga Symphony concertmaster. "The pieces he picks aren't necessarily the war horses, but they're just as deserving of merit. There are lots of diamonds in the rough, and Jason is known for bringing them out."
Another reason most of the symphony's 40 or so volunteer members--many of whom reside in Los Gatos, Monte Sereno and Saratoga--have stayed for so many years is Klein's insightful personality and sense of humor.
"I think 90 percent of [an orchestra's survival] is the musicians being happy with the conductor," adds Slemmons, who began playing the piano at age 5, the cello at 10 and later graduated to the violin, which he has played for years in various orchestras.
The Saratoga Symphony had its origins eight to 10 years ago, according to Slemmons, and was originally called the Palo Alto Symphony since they rehearsed in donated space in that city. After several years there, the group moved to West Valley College, where it was offered as a class through which participants could earn college credit. During this period, the group also adopted its current name.
The symphony now rehearses at St. Andrew's Church and performs frequently at venues throughout the Bay Area, including the San Francisco Waltz Society's annual ball, one of its few paid gigs. Its next local performance is April 16, also at St. Andrew's.
The symphony's mission is to provide musicians with the opportunity to participate in a symphony orchestra and to expand the community's musical culture by performing both familiar and rarely heard pieces. Often, the symphony offers local artists a chance to play solo works with orchestral backup and, on occasion, it premieres the works of local composers.
The group welcomes new members. For more information, call Paul Slemmons at 408.354.2527 or Jennifer Gille at 650.323.7467.
Saratoga, California Since 1955
