The Stockton Symphony's 2016-17 season commemorates 90 years of serving the entire San Joaquin community. Performances are held at Delta College’s Warren Atherton Auditorium at 5151 Pacific Avenue, Stockton. The 2016-17season will feature two series consisting of five classical concerts and four POPS concerts.
This milestone anniversary is a celebration of the Stockton Symphony’s journey through the decades since being founded in 1926 by Manlio Silva, an Italian immigrant that was an accomplished musician and orchestra conductor by night and local pharmacist and business owner by day. Throughout the years the Stockton Symphony evolved from a community orchestra to a professional ensemble, gaining “metropolitan” status, as ranked by the American Symphony Orchestra League. “The Symphony’s 90th Anniversary is a great occasion for local pride” states Peter Jaffe, the Symphony’s Music Director and Conductor. Jaffe further points out, “it’s due to the wonderful support of our community and the fabulous talent of our top-notch musicians that our orchestra shines. This is truly a celebration of our community’s cultural jewel.” Jaffe has been with the Stockton Symphony since 1995.
As California’s third oldest professional orchestra, following only Los Angeles Philharmonic and the San Francisco Symphony, the Symphony also provides educational activities to the community to include “Steppin’ Out” concerts for elementary age children, “Harmony Stockton” an intensive music instruction program for underserved children in Stockton and “Insights,” informative lectures provided to the community by Maestro Jaffe and classical music aficionado, Moris Senegor.
The Stockton Symphony’s 2016-17 season will celebrate its rich history by blending the old with the new in a colorful season of classical and POPS concerts featuring accomplished guest artists at the Symphony’s artistic standard of musical excellence.
Season Highlights
- Maestro Peter Jaffe will conduct five Classical Series concerts and three POPS Series concerts for 2016-17 season
- Distinguished violinist Philippe Quint opens the season with Ginastera’s “Estancia Suite;” Lalo’s “Symphonie espagnole” and Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture”
- “Ansel Adams: America,” co-composed by Dave and Chris Brubeck back by popular demand at Classics II
- Conductor, composer and arranger, Victor Vanacore will treat audiences to holiday favorites accompanied by Choruses from Stockton Chorale, University of the Pacific and Delta College at POPS II
- “Exotic Musical Tales” will highlight the talent of young Venezuelan pianist, Gabriela Martinez
- Legendary Ben Vereen will close out the season with his stylistic song, dance and engaging humor
- POPS Series features two family-oriented concerts: “The Haunted Melody” including spooky favorites from Harry Potter, Ghost Busters, Psycho and more; “A John Williams Extravaganza” featuring selections from Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jurassic Park and more.
- Additional guest artists/soloists include guitarist Jason Vieaux and pianist Kevin Cole
Classical Series
This season’s Classical Series has a broad appeal offering something for all classical lovers and beyond including Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Rachmaninoff, Gershwin and more. “Along with performing some of the greatest music ever written, we also bring some of the world’s top soloists to the Stockton for our community to experience – this is going to be an extraordinary season,” states Don Nelson, the Symphony’s Executive Director.” The Classical Series concerts are performed on Saturday evenings at 6 p.m. at Warren Atherton Auditorium.
More information at stocktonsymphony.org