The Pacific Symphony Presents AN AMERICAN MUSICAL JOURNEY, a Free Concert in Fullerton, 4/26

A brass quintet from Pacific Symphony is heading to Fullerton to perform a free concert titled "An American Musical Journey" in celebration of Music Director Carl St.Clair's 25th anniversary season. Presented in partnership with the North Orange County Community Concerts, the afternoon of music takes place on Sunday, April 26, at 4 p.m. at Fullerton First United Methodist Church (114 N. Pomona Ave. at Commonwealth). "An American Musical Journey" includes favorites by Gershwin, Bernstein and other American music icons. The brass quintet is led by Principal Trombonist Michael Hoffman and includes Symphony musicians Russell Dicey on horn, Tony Ellis and David Wailes on trumpet, and Fred Greene on tuba. For this concert, admission is free with no reserved seating. The church is providing free child care during the concert, and the audience is invited to stay for a reception and chance to meet the performers. For more information and directions visit www.northocconcerts.org.

In celebration of St.Clair's milestone season, the Symphony has created a series of free and low-cost concerts called "Freshly Squeezed Music: Pacific Symphony in Your Orange County Neighborhood" to further the availability of quality music in the community. See the calendar below for the remaining Freshly Squeezed Music concerts. For more information on the Symphony, call (714) 755-5799 or visit www.PacificSymphony.org.

Michael Hoffman has been principal trombonist of Pacific Symphony since 1989. He has performed with many musical ensembles including Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Diego Symphony, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and Los Angeles Opera, and has been in a number of movie soundtracks including "Hook," "Jurassic Park," "Titanic," "Sea Biscuit," "Hidalgo" and "King Kong." He actively participates in the Symphony's Class Act program, helping elementary school students to learn music, and has enjoyed working with many elementary schools as a band director and adopted musician. He finds great satisfaction in contributing to the very important and worthwhile goal of developing future audiences.

North Orange County Community Concerts is a program that finds professional musicians to perform at Fullerton First United Methodist Church for the local people who enjoy classical music. These concerts are provided through a low cost subscription series for the community. Now in its 69th year of servicing the public, the organization partners with Pacific Symphony for this special bonus concert in addition to its yearly program.

Pacific Symphony, led by Music Director Carl St.Clair, is the largest orchestra formed in the U.S. in the last 50 years. The Symphony is recognized as an outstanding ensemble making strides on both the national and international scene, as well as in its own burgeoning cultural community. Presenting more than 100 concerts a year at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa and Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine as well as a rich array of education and community programs, the Symphony reaches more than 275,000 residents each year-from school children to senior citizens.

UPCOMING FRESHLY SQUEEZED MUSIC EVENTS

Class Act: Sharing the Joy of Music through Leonard Bernstein

Thursday, April 23, 7 p.m.

Pioneer Middle School

2700 Pioneer Road, Tustin

Admission is free. No tickets required.

String ensemble from Pacific Symphony led by violinist MarlaJoy Weisshaar, performs as part of Pacific Symphony's award-winning elementary school partnership program, Class Act, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this season. The program, which features music by Leonard Bernstein, is family friendly and includes a musician meet-and-greet for children following the performance. The event is co-hosted by Class Act partner school, Tustin Ranch Elementary.

An American Musical Journey

Sunday, April 26, 4 p.m.

Fullerton First United Methodist Church

114 N. Pomona Ave. (at Commonwealth), Fullerton

No admission fee, but free-will offering will be taken.

Pacific Symphony principal trombonist Mike Hoffman leads an ensemble of brass musicians in "An American Musical Journey," featuring favorite musical selections by George Gershwin and Leonard Bernstein. This event is sponsored by North Orange County Community Concerts.

Pacific Symphony Santiago Strings

Saturday, May 9, 3 p.m.

Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall

600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa

Admission is free, but tickets are required.

http://www.PacificSymphony.org/tickets/concert/PSSS_How_Suite_It_Is

Pacific Symphony Santiago Strings, led by conductor Irene Kroesen, performs it season finale, "How Suite It Is!" in a rousing artistic celebration of the orchestral suite and its intriguing adaptations over time. Concert includes selections by Handel, Debussy, Barber and Rutter.

Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble

Sunday, May 10, 1 p.m.

Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall

600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa

Admission is free, but tickets are required.

http://www.PacificSymphony.org/tickets/concert/PSYWE_Collaborations

Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble, led by conductor Gregory X. Whitmore, performs its season finale, featuring a colorful, innovative array of "Collaborations," which include Frank Ticheli's "Blue Shades," Katoh's "Madrid Inspirations" with guest soloist Dr. Kenneth Tse (professor of saxophone at The University of Iowa), and the world premiere of a commission by Pacific Symphony Composer-in-Residence Narong Prangcharoen.

"OC Can You Play with Us?"

Wednesday, May 13, 7 - 9:30 p.m.

Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall

600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa

Admission for audience members is free, but tickets are required.

http://www.PacificSymphony.org/tickets/concert/OCCYP2015-SBS

"OC Can You Play with Us?" returns as community musicians ages 22 and older from across Orange County have the unique opportunity to play with Pacific Symphony on the stage of the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall under the baton of Music Director Carl St.Clair.

Friends, family and interested observers are invited to come watch as this year's participants perform excerpts from Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake."

"OC Can You Play with Us?" Chamber Edition

Thursday, May 14, 7 - 9:30 p.m.

Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall

600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa

Admission for audience members is free, but tickets are required.

http://www.PacificSymphony.org/tickets/concert/OCCYP2015-CE

"OC Can You Play with Us?" continues into a second evening with a Chamber Edition. Community musicians ages 22 and older from across Orange County have the unique opportunity to play in an instrument choir led by principal flutist Ben Smolen, clarinetist Joshua Ranz or Assistant Conductor Alejandro Gutiérrez. Friends, family and interested observers are invited to come watch and cheer on these musicians.

Inside and Out: Fire and Water Plazacast and Community Celebration

Saturday, June 13, 5 p.m. Community Ensemble Performances; 8 p.m. Concert Begins

600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa

Arts Plaza, Segerstrom Center for the Arts

Admission is free. No tickets required.

Pacific Symphony presents its fourth Plazacast and Community Celebration, a FREE party on the Arts Plaza at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, with food trucks and performances by community ensembles, followed by a live simulcast of Pacific Symphony's "Fire and Water" concert projected onto the wall of the plaza. "Fire and Water" is a multi-faceted, multimedia exploration of the elements. Academy Award-nominated cinematographer Gregory MacGillivray ("The Living Sea," "Dolphins") debuts a stunning video to accompany a newly commissioned piece by Laura Karpman celebrating the oceans. Then, behold the power of Brünnhilde's immolation scene through the music of Richard Wagner, sung by Metropolitan Opera superstar Deborah Voigt.

Photo Courtesy of the Pacific Symphony

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