Santa Barbara Symphony Presents Concerts for Young People

In response to growing demand, the Santa Barbara Symphony will present four Concerts for Young People over two days at the Granada Theatre - a twofold increase over last year. Performances will take place at 10 and 11:30 am on Thursday, January 26, and Friday, January 27. Now in its sixth decade, the Concerts for Young People program is designed to introduce area fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-graders to the wonders of orchestral music through live interactive, kid-friendly symphonic performances and demonstrations. Attendance is free for students and teachers. A list of participating Santa Barbara Unified School District schools appears below.

The 45-minute program will include works by Beethoven, Elgar, and others. Violinist Holly Radford, a 17-year-old resident of Santa Barbara and a member of the Santa Barbara Youth Symphony, will be the featured soloist for Pablo de Sarasate's Zigeunerweisen.

"The goal is to encourage children to actively engage with the music, so that they're creating imagery in their minds as they listen. We view music, particularly classical music, as a vitally important developmental tool for young students. Learning potential aside, attendees always enthusiastically enjoy these concerts," said Dr. Amy Williams, director of education and community engagement for the Santa Barbara Symphony.

Guest conductor David Lockington will lead the Santa Barbara Symphony in all four Concerts for Young People. A native of Great Britain, Maestro Lockington serves as music director of the Modesto and Pasadena symphonies, and previously served in the same capacity with the Grand Rapids Symphony, the Ohio Chamber Orchestra, the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, and the Long Island Philharmonic. He will next lead the Santa Barbara Symphony in full concerts at the Granada Theatre on January 28 and 29. The program for those performances will include orchestral accompaniment to screened excerpts from Disney's Fantasia films, Hindemith's Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber, and Maestro Lockington's own Ceremonial Fantasy Fanfare. Tickets remain available.

The Santa Barbara Symphony serves approximately 8,300 young people directly through its Music Education Center, whose programs include the Music Van, Concerts for Young People, the Junior Orchestra, and the Santa Barbara Youth Symphony. In operation since 1978, the Santa Barbara Symphony Music Van visits third-grade classrooms in the greater Santa Barbara area between September and December, serving some 2,000 students in more than 40 schools each year. The center recently launched two new initiatives: an expansion of BRAVO!, the Santa Barbara Unified School District's afterschool music education program, as well as a new violin program in the Hope Elementary School District.

The Santa Barbara Symphony was founded in 1953 on the belief that a special city deserves a special orchestra. Consistently lauded for its unique ability to present brilliant concerts, engage the community, and deliver dynamic music education programs, the organization prizes both innovation and artistic excellence, and is widely recognized as one of the region's premier cultural institutions. Its award-winning Music Education Center serves some 5,000 students throughout Santa Barbara County each year. Charismatic Israeli conductor Nir Kabaretti was appointed music and artistic director of the Santa Barbara Symphony in 2006. For additional information, visit www.thesymphony.org.

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