Santa Cecilia Orchestra Announces Its 2011-2012 Concert Season November 6, 2011

Highlights include music by Brahms, Bruch, Dvořák, Gershwin, Mendelssohn, Piazzolla and more. This venerable concert series returns to Thorne Hall at Occidental College and Center for the Arts in Eagle Rock for its 19th season, November 2011 through May 2012.

Santa Cecilia Orchestra (SCO) has announced the schedule for its 2011-2012 concert season. Taking place at Thorne Hall at Occidental College and Center for the Arts in Eagle Rock (1600 Campus Rd., Los Angeles CA 90041), the 19th Season will feature music by Brahms, Bruch, Dvořák, Gershwin, Mendelssohn, Piazzolla and more. The symphony will perform four concerts, including the launch of a passionate and unforgettable opening to its 19th season on November 6 at 4:00 p.m. with Romantic Offerings and run through May 12, 2010 with Celebration of Support.

Founded in 1992, Santa Cecilia Orchestra has made a commitment to share the beauty and inspiration of classical music with Southern California audiences, giving special focus to Latino communities. SCO is the only orchestra in the nation with a specific mission to take classical music to the underserved Latino communities. SCO is fulfilling its mission by offering full orchestra concerts, chamber concerts and its nationally acclaimed Discovering Music Program. Discovering Music is a two-year program that is currently offered in elementary schools throughout Los Angeles and has touched the lives of more than 60,000 students in dozens of schools through the power of music education.

For the November 6th Romantic Offerings concert, Maestra De León de Vega will conduct the most beloved of all the Brahms symphonies, the Second. The season continues on February 12, 2012 with Dvořák & Gershwin!, with the return of Bryan Pezzone to play George Gershwin’s Piano Concerto. On April 29, 2012, Latinos Clásicos, a bold colorful atmospheric infused music event will ignite the passions in an orchestral performance. The May 12, 2012 closing season Celebration of Support evening begins with a wine reception, followed by chamber music performed by SCO’s musicians and concludes with desserts and a silent auction.

The price for concerts is $26/$20 for adults and $7 for children and $75 for Celebration of Support. To purchase tickets online and view a complete season schedule, please visit: www.scorchestra.org/concerts.html.

Sonia Marie De Léon de Vega, Conductor and Music Director

Recognized as a noted symphony and opera conductor, Sonia Marie De Léon de Vega has achieved distinction for her world-renowned skills on the podium as the music director, conductor and founder of the Los Angeles-based Santa Cecilia Orchestra. Maestra De Léon de Vega is also celebrated in education circles for creating the Discovering Music Program in 1998, a two-year program that is currently offered in elementary and middle schools throughout Los Angeles.

About Santa Cecilia Orchestra
Under the leadership of Maestra Sonia Marie De Léon de Vega, the 2011-2012 Season pays tribute to the company's extraordinary history as the only orchestra in the nation with a specific mission to take classical music to the Latino communities. The upcoming season features a series of four concerts: Three full symphony concerts and a chamber performance. News, photos and biographies for conductor and soloists can be found at www.scorchestra.org/PressRoom.htm.


The 2011-2012 Concert Series Schedule

“Romantic Offerings”

Sunday, November 6, 2011, 4pm

Thorne Hall, Occidental College
Program:

Mendelssohn: St. Paul Overture

Bruch: Concerto for Clarinet, Viola and Orchestra in E minor, Op. 88

Brahms: Symphony No. 2

This concert will feature a passionate and unforgettable opening to the concert season. Romantic Offerings will include the beautiful Bruch Double Concerto featuring the orchestra’s own principal players: Michael Arnold, clarinet, and Lauren Chipman, viola.

“Dvořák & Gershwin!”

Sunday, February 12, 2012, 4pm

Thorne Hall, Occidental College

Program:

Gershwin: Piano Concerto in F

Dvorák: Symphony No. 7 in D minor, Op. 70

The season continues on February 12, 2012 with Dvořák & Gershwin!, with the return of Bryan Pezzone to play George Gershwin’s Piano Concerto. Gershwin fused jazz with symphonic music to create one of the world’s most popular piano works.


“Latinos Clásicos”

Sunday, April 29, 2012, 4pm

Thorne Hall, Occidental College

Program:

Astor Piazzolla: Tangazo

Alberto Ginastera: Dances from Estancia

Carlos Chávez: Chapultepec

Blas Galindo: Sones de Mariachi

Arturo Márquez: Leyenda de Miliano (Los Angeles premiere)

Arturo Márquez: Conga del Fuego Nuevo

Every year Santa Cecilia Orchestra takes great pride in presenting the music of Latino composers. On April 29, 2010, Latinos Clásicos, a bold colorful atmospheric infused music event will ignite the passions in an orchestral performance. This sizzling concert reveals the soul of Latin Music, thrilling Latin rhythms and rich, exciting orchestration.

“Celebration of Support”

Saturday, May 12, 2012, 7:30pm

Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock

The May 12, 2012 closing season Celebration of Support evening begins with a wine reception, followed by chamber music performed by SCO’s musicians and concludes with desserts and a silent auction.