2023-2024 Season

Saturday, September 30, 2023, 7:30PM ~
Dances, Songs, and Melodies from the Past ~ Juan Palacios, Guest Conductor
Hammer Theatre Center

John Rutter	Suite for Strings
Zoltan Kodály	Dances of Marosszék
Luigi Boccherini	Cello Concerto In B Flat Major, G 482 German Marcano, cellist
Ludwig van Beethoven	Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92

Juan Cristóbal Palacios was born in Caracas, Venezuela, and has dedicated his life to spreading the art of music. He began his musical studies at a very early age in his native country to then move to the USA where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Theory and Composition, Master degree in Composition and Orchestral Conducting from Boston Universities and Yale Universities. Later moved to Paris, France, to attend the rehearsals of the “Ensemble Intercontemporain” thanks to Maestro Pierre Boulez’s invitation. Juan Cristóbal has divided his musical career into three areas: Orchestral Conducting, Composition, and Musical Education. He has conducted many orchestras in South America, USA, and Europe; his composition has premiered in different countries around the world; and he has been helping develop music programs in different countries of the American continent. This multidisciplinary effort was recognized by the County government of Chacao, Venezuela, when he received the order “José María y Bote” in its first degree, for his ability to impart knowledge, inspire citizens and awaken intellectual curiosity among young people. In 2007 his professional career was interrupted due to the political situation in his country making him move, with his family, to the USA. After settling in San Diego, Mr. Palacios became part of the San Diego Youth Symphony and Conservatory’s Faculty, and to the Enriching Life Through Music (ELM) music program. Since 2006, Mr. Palacios has been the Principal of the JCP Advisory Group, an organization designed to collaborate, create, develop, design, advise, and implement art programs around the world.

 

Please click here for more information about Juan Palacios, conductor

Please click here for more information about German Marcano, cellist

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Saturday, December 2, 2023, 7:30PM ~
Ardent Echoes ~ James Beauton, Guest Conductor
Hammer Theatre Center

Ludwig van Beethoven	“Egmont” Overture, Op. 84
John Ireland	A Downland Suite for String Orchestra
Nick DiBerardino	Double Percussion Concerto, arx duo, percussion
Robert Schumann	Symphony No. 4 in D minor, Op. 120

Conductor and Percussionist James Beauton is currently the Director of Orchestra and Classical Music Studies at the Ruth Asawa School of the Arts in San Francisco. He began his conducting career in 2017 as director of the UC San Diego Wind Ensemble, where he led the group through a wide range of repertoire, including several world premieres. Beauton emerged on the orchestral podium in 2019, conducting a performance of Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite with the Villa Musica Summer Orchestra in San Diego. Shortly following, he became assistant conductor of the Coachella Valley Symphony, a position that included directing the Buddy Rogers Youth Symphony. James was also director of the Mt. San Jacinto College Concert Band and founded and conducted the Villa Musica Chamber Players in San Diego. Equipped with a mastery of the percussion repertoire, a theoretical background in media theory, and a robust practical application of recording technology, James’ scholarly work includes a published dissertation that explores the symbiotic connection of classical musicians and 21st century life. James is a Yamaha Performing Artist.

Please click here for more information about James Beauton, conductor

Please click here for more information about arx duo, percussion

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Saturday, February 24, 2024, 7:30PM ~
Symphonies and Memories ~ Thomas Shoebotham, Guest Conductor
Hammer Theatre Center

Nancy Bloomer Deussen	A Field in Pennsylvania
Benjamin Britten	Simple Symphony, for string orchestra, op.4
Samuel Barber	Knoxville: Summer of 1915, Op. 24 Shaunette Sulker, soprano
Antonín Dvořák	Symphony No. 8 in G major, Op. 88, B 163

 

Thomas Shoebotham is chief conductor for New Ballet in San Jose, California. From 2007-2018 he was Music Director of Palo Alto Philharmonic, where he gained recognition for creating compelling concerts that featured both traditional masterpieces and newer works by various current composers, including Chris Theofanidis, Roberto Sierra, Stephen Paulus, Lee Actor, and Jennifer Higdon. In addition, he has conducted numerous other orchestras and opera companies in both the San Francisco Bay Area and elsewhere, including Peninsula Symphony, the San Francisco Concerto Orchestra, Albuquerque Philharmonic, Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra, the St. Peter’s Chamber Orchestra, and the Rio Grande Chamber Symphony, Opera San José, Lyric Theatre of San Jose, West Bay Opera, Emerald City Opera in Steamboat Springs, Berkeley Opera, and Verismo Opera.

 

Please click here for more information about Thomas Shoebotham, conductor

Please click here for more information about Shaunette Sulker, soprano

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Saturday, May 11, 2024, 7:30PM ~
Illumination ~ Anthony Rivera, Guest Conductor
De Anza College Visual and Performing Arts Center, 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino

Caroline Shaw	Entr’acte
Eric Nathan	Selections from Dancing with J.S. Bach
Jean Françaix	L’Horloge de Flore (Flower Clock) Oboe Concerto Robert Scott, oboist
Jean Sibelius	Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 43

Dr. Anthony Rivera is Director of Instrumental Music at Santa Clara University where he conducts the Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Chamber Ensembles, and Athletics Pep Band. Prior to Santa Clara University, he served as Director of the University of Maryland Repertoire Orchestra and Associate Conductor of the Wind Orchestra. An active guest conductor, clinician, and lecturer, Rivera has worked with many ensembles and presented throughout the United States and abroad. Having guest conducted The United States Coast Guard Band, The United States Air Force Band of the Golden West Concert Band, and presented numerous lectures for the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA), National Band Association, and the Santa Clara University Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI). He recently presented at the 2022 Internationale Gesellschaft Zur Erforschung & Förderung Der Blasmusik (IGEB) Conference, lecture entitled, “Memories and Modernity: Re-imagining Classical-Era Opera Transcriptions for Harmonie”.

Please click here for more information about Anthony Rivera, guest conductor

Please click here for more information about Robert Scott, oboist

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