Oakland East Bay Symphony Announces Its 2014-2015 Season, Which Includes NOTES FROM MEXICO, CANDIDE and More

Music Director and Conductor Michael Morgan and the Oakland East Bay Symphony continue to set a high standard of innovative and engaging programming as they announce details of their 2014-2015 season. The six-concert, 26th season-Maestro Morgan's 25th with the Orchestra-- will feature the world premiere of a new work for violin and orchestra by Grammy Award-winning composer/violinist Mads Tolling, the West Coast premiere of Chris Brubeck and Guillaume Saint-James'Brothers in Arts for jazz quintet and orchestra, a semi-staged performance of Leonard Bernstein's Candide, pianists Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner and Richard Glazier, Notes from Mexico, a holiday tribute to Pete Seeger and more. A pre-concert talk will begin one hour before each performance, and the 2014-2015 season at the Paramount Theatre runs November 7, 2014 through May 15, 2015. Sponsors of the 2014-15 season include Bell Investment Advisors, Mueller Nicholls Builders and Chevron. For details, information and tickets, visit www.oebs.org .

Music Director and Conductor Michael Morgan says, "I've had the privilege of leading this orchestra and serving our community for 25 years. That is a long time, and I invite you to celebrate with me. In the 25 years that I have been with the Oakland East Bay Symphony, we have done a lot of concerts, and yet we continue to find new pieces to play and new combinations in which to present them.

"I'm very excited about next season's programs, and I think you will be too! Highlights include a return on opening night by Chris Brubeck after the memorable tribute we played last year for his father, Dave Brubeck. And speaking of tributes, we'll be making our annual holiday concert a tribute to Pete Seeger, whom we are sure would have loved the idea of four choirs and an audience all singing together.

"Pieces on this season's programs that are new to the orchestra range from the monumental Eighth Symphony of Shostakovich to a new jazz-infused concerto for violin and orchestra by the Bay Area's own Mads Tolling. We also bring back two of my favorite series: American Masterworks, this time presenting Bernstein'sCandide, and the Notes from... series. Next season we turn to the colorful music of Mexico, and we're inviting dancers to join us. These productions have become audience favorites and are considered some of the most fascinating and vibrant concerts the Bay Area has to offer.

"Once again there will be something for everyone on our season, and I hope you won't miss it."

OAKLAND EAST BAY SYMPHONY 2014-2015 SEASON SCHEDULE

All Performances at the Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway, Oakland, CA

Friday, November 7, 2014 at 8 pm

Michael Morgan, Conductor
Chris Brubeck, Composer/Trombone
Guillaume Saint-James, Composer/Saxophones
Didier Ithurssary, Accordion
Christophe Lavergne,Drums

Jerome Seguin, Bass

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64
Brubeck/Saint-James: Brothers in Arts (West Coast Premiere) for Orchestra with jazz quintet

Composer/performer and son of the legendary music innovator and Bay Area treasure Dave Brubeck, Chris Brubeck returns to Oakland East Bay Symphony with collaborator Guillaume Saint-James and members of his jazz quintet for the West Coast premiere of Brothers in Arms. The work, subtitled "An Homage to Our Fathers" pays tribute to the composer's fathers who were in France in 1944 during World War II. Chris' father served in Patton's army and Saint-James's was a teenager who would become a doctor and jazz amateur. Chris and Guillaume met when they shared a concert stage in Rennes, France, and discovered their fathers trod the same earth during one of Europe's-and the world's-most trying and triumphant eras. As such, Brothersbrings together two generations and two continents. Audiences will remember Chris Brubeck and friends from their moving and inspiring Dave Brubeck tribute with Oakland East Bay Symphony in 2013. Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony completes the program.

Sunday, December 14, at 4 pm

Let Us Break Bread Together: A Holiday Tribute to Pete Seeger

Michael Morgan, Conductor

Oakland East Bay Symphony, Maestro Morgan and guests ring in the holidays with the 22nd annual edition of what has been hailed as a popular and delightfully out-of-the-box seasonal tradition. This year will feature a musical tribute to Pete Seeger with Linda Tillery, Oakland Symphony Chorus, Mt. Eden High School Chorus,Piedmont East Bay Children's Choir, Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir and other guest artists to be announced.

Friday, January 23, 2015 at 8 pm

Michael Morgan, Conducting
Richard Glazier, Piano

Gershwin: Concerto in F
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 8 in C minor, Op. 65

Pianist, Gershwin specialist and raconteur Richard Glazier will perform the jazz-inspired, technical tour-de-force Concerto in F on a program paired with Shostakovich's masterful Eighth Symphony. In addition to an active schedule as a recitalist and soloists, Richard Glazier's concerts have inspired two national television specials: From Gershwin to Garland - A Musical Journey With Richard Glazier and From Ragtime to Reel Time - Richard Glazier in Concert, both of which aired nationally on PBS.

Friday, February 20, at 8 pm

Michael Morgan and Bryan Nies, Conductors
Mads Tolling, Composer/violin
Oakland Symphony Chorus, Lynne Morrow, Music Director

Barber: Symphony No. 1, Bryan Nies, Conductor

Mads Tolling: New work for Jazz Violin and Orchestra (World Premiere)

Haydn: Mass in Time of War

Double Grammy Award-winning composer/violinist and former Turtle Island String Quartet member Mads Tolling makes his Oakland East Bay Symphony debut creating and performing a world premiere work, supported by The James Irvine Foundation's New Visions/New Vistas program. Assistant Conductor Bryan Nies will take the podium for a performance of Samuel Barber's powerful and haunting First Symphony and the Oakland Symphony Chorus will perform Haydn's Mass in Time of War.

Friday, March 27, at 8 pm

Notes from Mexico

Michael Morgan, Conductor
Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner, Piano
Diana Gamerors, Guitar and vocals

Carlos Chavez: Piano Concerto
Jose Pablo Moncayo: Huapango
Silvestre Revueltas: Sensemaya
Diana Gameros: En Juarez plus Hay Unos Ojos and a medley of traditional Mexican folksongs arranged by Ms. Gameros

This season's edition of the popular and revelatory Notes from . . . series features contemporary and 20thcentury masterworks by Mexican composers. Gilmore Young Artist Award-winning pianist Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner -a phenomenon still in his late teens-will make his Oakland East Bay Symphony debut Carlos Chavez' dramatic concerto. Diana Gameros is a singer, songwriter and activist originally from Ciudad Juarez who now makes the Bay Area her home. She creates authentic, inspiring music that reflects the 21st century experiences of a young indie artist at the borderlands between cultures, languages and genres. Rounding out the program will be guest dancers to be announced.

Friday, May 15, at 8 pm

Leonard Bernstein's Candide

Michael Morgan, Conductor
Thomas Glenn, Tenor

Shawnette Sulker, Soprano

Robert Sims,Baritone

Tami Dahbura, Mezzo-soprano

Zachary Gordin, Baritone

Oakland Symphony Chorus, Lynne Morrow, Music Director

Michael Morgan and the Oakland East Bay Symphony return to their acclaimed exploration of great symphonic works from the American musical theater tradition with a concert performance of Bernstein's comic operaCandide, featuring the return of audience-favorite soloists.

Subscriptions and Tickets

Season subscription tickets are priced from $75 to $315. To order series tickets, call Oakland East Bay Symphony at510-444-0801 or visit www.oebs.org. Single tickets for individual subscription concerts are priced from $20 to $75 and go on sale October 1. For complete information about Oakland East Bay Symphony, please visitwww.oebs.org.

About the Oakland East Bay Symphony

A unique and dynamic blend of high-caliber performances and innovative programing, a following as diverse as its home base, promotion and partnership with young musicians and composers and a roster of guest artists ranging from top classical soloists to Carlos Santana and Joan Baez set Oakland East Bay Symphonyapart. The Symphony is a nationally recognized orchestra that serves the diverse population of the East Bay and greater San Francisco Bay Area. Together with the Oakland Youth Orchestra and Oakland Symphony Chorus the Symphony operates as a unified organizational entity providing performances and music education to youth and adults.

Oakland East Bay Symphony has gained wide recognition for its compelling convergence of artistic excellence and community engagement as exemplified by Music Director Michael Morgan's expansive and inclusive programming philosophy that is regarded as a national model for re-defining symphony orchestras' artistic profiles and, especially, their relevance to the communities they serve. On any given Oakland East Bay Symphony season, masterworks of the standard repertory are presented in masterfully crafted programs that also include new and less well-known works by composers of non-Western traditions and exceptional works from the musical theater world, all delivered with humor and a casual sophistication that draws audiences from all age groups and backgrounds.

Under the artistic leadership of Maestro Morgan, Symphony activities reach over 50,000 people annually, with more than one-third of the operating budget dedicated to education and outreach programs. These programs include several acclaimed engagement programs under the umbrella of the MUSE (Music for Excellence) Program: In-School Mentor and Instrumental Instruction, Young People's Concerts, Ensembles in the Schools, Young Artist Competition, Free Ticket Distribution and regular school visits by Michael Morgan and other musicians. These programs serve over 20,000 young people each year.

Oakland East Bay Symphony was incorporated in July 1988 through the efforts of the Oakland Symphony Musicians Association and the Oakland Symphony League. Michael Morgan was appointed Music Director in 1990. Concerts were performed at the Calvin Simmons Theatre until moving to the Paramount Theatre in the 1994-95 season. The Symphony's growth has resulted in such landmarks as the addition of the American Masterworks Series including concert performances of Bernstein's Mass, Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, and Sondheim's Follies; the "Notes from" series of programs featuring music from non-Western traditions; the annual "Let Us Break Bread Together" that expands the definition of holiday concert; and numerous awards including ASCAP's Award for Adventurous Programming in 2006.

Oakland East Bay Symphony has fostered collaborations with local arts organizations from children's choruses to jazz ensembles to dance and opera companies and museums. The Symphony showcases new American works in performance and encourages young artists. In its efforts to support new music, the Symphony formed a multi-year partnership with The James Irvine Foundation in 1998 to initiate various commissioning projects including the newly established New Visions/New Vistas initiative. For five years, the Symphony has presented a free Independence Day concert and celebration at Richmond's Craneway Pavilion with more than 5,000 attendees annually.