PACIFIC SYMPHONY OC CAN YOU PLAY? KICKS OFF WITH
PUBLIC ART PROJECT DISPLAYING PIANOS ACROSS ORANGE COUNTY
FOR ALL TO PLAY AND ENJOY JAN. 16-FEB. 6!
Pacific Symphony wants to know: OC Can You Play? and if you can, have we got a piano for you! And if you can’t, why not?!
The Symphony has taken on a big, exciting three-prong project, which begins with the installation of pianos in public spaces throughout Orange County for all to play and enjoy during the latter half of January 2011.
The project also includes two other initiatives, the first beginning in March, when the Symphony hosts the competition ¡°OC Can You Sing?¡± for amateur singers. Then, for ¡°OC Can You Play With Us?,¡± taking place in May, the Symphony invites amateur musicians to play side-by-side with the Symphony, conducted by Music Director Carl St.Clair, in the Ren¨¦e and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa, Calif.
Details on a launch party are forthcoming! Keep up with all the activities and where to find a piano when you need one at www.pacificsymphony.org/OCCanUPlay.
¡°OC Can You Play¡± was inspired by Pacific Symphony¡¯s 2010-11 season, dubbed the ¡°Year of the Piano,¡± which features top pianists all season long, including Yuja Wang, Lise de la Salle and Lang Lang. The centerpiece and culmination of the piano festival occurs in mid-February 2011 when Arnaldo Cohen performs all five Beethoven piano concerti over three nights.
OC Can You Play?
Approximately 20 pianos are about to turn up in public spaces throughout the county¡ªSunday, Jan. 16 to Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011¡ªwith three pianos at South Coast Plaza (including a grand in Jewel Court); one at¡downtown Disney in Anaheim; the Irvine Spectrum Center; the Block at Orange; Main Beach in Laguna Beach; on a hilltop at Whiting Ranch, downtown Brea; and one near the Mission in San Juan Capistrano. Also among the hosting sites is the Orange County Performing Arts Center (the Symphony¡¯s artistic partner); Irvine Barclay Theater, the University of California, Irvine; The Lab in Costa Mesa; Great Park in Irvine; Fullerton; OASIS Senior Center in Newport Beach; Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley; downtown Santa Ana; and the Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center in Mission Viejo¡so far!
Presenting sponsor Yamaha and supporting sponsor Kawai have donated pianos, which are being painted by local professional artists, and the Piano Technicians Guild is providing significant support in preparing and tuning the pianos. The public¡ªthose who already play and those who don¡¯t¡ªis invited to play tunes, teach their children ¡°Chopsticks,¡± ¡°Ode to Joy¡± or whatever they like, or create ¡°piano mobs¡± and impromptu or planned classical, rock and jazz performances are welcome.
Come, play, videotape a performance and display it on You Tube and the Symphony¡¯s Facebook page! For more information, contact Kelly Dylla at (714) 876-2323; or e-mail her at kdylla@pacificsymphony.org.
OC Can You Sing?
Ever dreamed of being on ¡°American Idol¡±? The second initiative under the
project umbrella, ¡°OC Can You Play?¡± takes place in March when Pacific Symphony hosts the competition, ¡°OC Can You Sing?,¡± designed for amateur singers living in Orange County.
The competition opens on Dec. 16, 2010 (when audition tapes are first accepted; residents are invited to submit video-taped performances to YouTube). Chosen by a panel and the public, finalists compete at the Symphony¡¯s Pops concert featuring ¡°American Idol¡± finalist Katharine McPhee, led by Principal Pops Conductor Richard Kaufman, on March 17-19, 2011 at 8 p.m., in the Ren¨¦e and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall.
For details on how to submit a video, visit www.pacificsymphony.org/OCCanUSing. For more information, contact Brandon Rueda at (714) 876-2335; or brueda@pacificsymphony.org
OC Can You Play With Us?
Ever dreamed of playing in a professional orchestra? The final initiative, ¡°OC Can You Play With Us?,¡± takes place May 16, 2011, when amateur musicians have the opportunity to perform side-by-side with Pacific Symphony musicians. Sponsored by MetLife, this event is for adult amateur musicians over the age of 24 who want to experience what it is like to perform on stage with the Symphony. Applicants are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis for the chance to play with the orchestra on the stage of the Ren¨¦e and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall under the baton of Maestro St.Clair. Each hour-long session consists of a short rehearsal, followed by a mini-performance of movements from Mussorgsky¡¯s ¡°Pictures at an Exhibition.¡±
Registration opens Feb. 15, 2011. For details: www.pacificsymphony.org/PlayWithUs. For more information, contact Molly Pontin at 714-876-2343 or mpontin@pacificsymphony.org.
Submitted By;
Jayce Keane
Director of Public Relations
Pacific Symphony
3631 S. Harbor Blvd. Suite 100
Santa Ana, CA 92704
Direct: 714/ 876-2383 ©¦Tickets: 714/ 755-5799
www.PacificSymphony.org
