http://www.PacificSymphony.org/SITC
LAWN CHAIR ALERT! IT’S A “CELEBRATION OF YOUTH” AT PACIFIC SYMPHONY’S 2011 TARGET SYMPHONY IN THE CITIES―FREE OUTDOOR CONCERT SERIES IN MISSION VIEJO, IRVINE AND LAKE FOREST
Program includes light pops, classical and popular patriotic tunes, featuring Southern California Children’s Chorus and Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra cellist George Ma, plus Musical Playground for kids!
It’s music to energize the spirit and celebrate the joy of youth—when Pacific Symphony’s 2011 Target Symphony in the Cities (SITC) concert series, themed “Celebration of Youth,” heads out this summer to several Orange County communities for three evenings of free outdoor music and entertainment. For the seventh year in a row, Target returns as the title sponsor for this popular event, which attracts thousands of people each summer. This year’s concerts, led by Music Director Carl St.Clair, feature Southern California Children’s Chorus and Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra cellist George Ma, with the orchestra performing celebratory light classical and pop music by Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, Rogers and Hammerstein and more; plus, a few favorite patriotic songs.
Taking place in Mission Viejo’s Oso Viejo Park (July 30), Irvine’s Woodbridge Community Park (July 31) and Lake Forest’s Pittsford Park (Aug. 14), concerts begin at 7 p.m. The Symphony’s pre-concert Musical Playground begins at 5:30 p.m. and features many interactive and hands-on activities for children; Mission Viejo’s “Prelude in the Park,” begins at 4 p.m. and also offers an array of pre-concert festivities. For more information about these free community concerts, call (714) 755-5788 or visit www.PacificSymphony.org/SITC.
For this year’s SITC concerts, the Symphony is joined by Southern California Children’s Chorus (SCCC), led by founding director, Lori Loftus, singing arrangements for “The Water is Wide,” “This Old Man,” and Roger and Hammerstein’s “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” from the musical “Carousel,” in addition to leading the audience in a patriotic sing-along. SCCC is Orange County’s only chorus dedicated exclusively to meeting the educational and performance needs of children, with more than 300 children enrolled in a sequential choral program of seven choirs.
The concert also features the talented young cellist Ma, who was a member of the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra for five years and served as principal and assistant principal in his last two, performing selected movements from Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations. Ma is a recent graduate of Capistrano Valley High School and is attending Stanford University in the fall to pursue philosophy and music. Plus, the Symphony performs Shostakovich’s Galop from “Moscow Cheryomushki,” Prokofiev’s March, Op. 99, Tchaikovsky’s Waltz from “Swan Lake,” Chase’s arrangement of “Broadway Tonight” and a salute to the armed forces.
Prior to the concert—and back by popular demand—children may take part in a conducting workshop led by Maestro St.Clair taking place at 6:45 p.m., in preparation to assist him in conducting John Philip Sousa’s “Hands Across the Sea” during the concert. The Symphony’s Musical Playground also includes the opportunity for kids to make an instrument, play in a drum circle, visit the instrument petting zoo and meet Symphony musicians.
“At Target, our local grants are making a difference in communities across the country,” said Laysha Ward, president, community relations, Target. “We’re proud to partner with Pacific Symphony as part of our ongoing commitment to strengthen communities where our guests and team members live and work.”
“We remain grateful to Target for their continued support, sincere interest in our community and for helping make these concerts such a huge success each year,” says Symphony President John Forsyte. “Thanks to Target, we are able to offer high-quality music in beautiful outdoor settings to people who might not otherwise have the opportunity to hear these very talented musicians. We are also grateful to the cities for their financial support and for all the work they put into making each concert a memorable experience.”
Minneapolis-based Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) serves guests at 1,750 stores in 49 states nationwide and at Target.com. In addition, the company operates a credit card segment that offers branded proprietary credit card products. Since 1946, Target has given 5 percent of its income through community grants and programs; today, that giving equals more than $3 million a week.
