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Tough economic times have put a strain on San Jose arts groups, but music will still be heard throughout the San Jose area the weekend of March 28. The San Jose Youth Symphony, Wind Symphony and Chamber Orchestra are offering a show of musical strength with three very different performances.
The San Jose Chamber Orchestra presents a retrospective of works written for the orchestra over the past 10 years on March 28 at 8 p.m. at Montalvo's Carriage House Theatre. Under the direction of Barbara Day Turner, the chamber orchestra's founder and musical director, the group has premiered more than 30 new works in its 12-year history.
The concert will feature an encore performance of "Tango Barroco," which was recorded by the orchestra in 2000. Tickets are $28. Visit www.villamontalvo.org for more information.
No strings attached
The San Jose Wind Symphony brings its repertoire of classical symphonic band literature, military marches and cinematic music to the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts on March 30 at 3 p.m. Edward C. Harris, the director of the School of Music and Dance and director of bands at San José State University, conducts this ensemble of wind, brass and percussion instruments.
A wind symphony, different than a symphony orchestra, does not include a string section but instead features larger wind, brass and percussion sections and plays a very different style of music. While marches may be the norm, more contemporary pieces can include swing band arrangements, Big Band standards and modern classical music compositions. For ticket information, call 408.927.SJWS or visit www.sjws.org.
Inspired youth
The San Jose Youth Symphony presents its newly created Family Concert with special guests San Jose Taiko and Batucada Nana de Santa Cruz March 30 at the San Jose Civic Auditorium. Featured guest performers will bring the cultural flavor of taiko drums, inspired by traditional Japanese drumming and Brazilian samba music.
The symphony hopes to earn at least $25,000 of its annual operating costs of $80,000 from this annual fundraising event. Doors will open at noon for the 3 p.m. interactive concert, which features the symphony's senior orchestra and percussion section. An instrument "petting zoo" beginning at 2 p.m. will be set up in the lobby of the auditorium.
Music Director and Conductor Yair Samet will lead his young musicians through snippets of "Stars and Stripes," "Blue Danube," Haydn's "Symphony 101" and various Stravinski pieces. This unique format allows Samet to walk the audience through each piece and explain how certain sections are performed and conducted.
The musicians will play examples of light classical, Japanese, Latin and jazz music, while the audience learns firsthand about the role of rhythms and percussion instruments.
General admission tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for children under 12 and seniors. Preferred seating at tables ranges from $400 to $1,000 a table. For more information, call 408.885.9220 or visit www.sjys.org.
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