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Association of California Symphony Orchestras
ACSO is the network, the voice, and the forum for classical music in the west.

California Orchestras: December 2015 Concert Listings

As part of ACSO's year-round programs and services, the Association of California Symphony Orchestras offers a monthly summary of orchestra performances in California. The information listed below represents concerts presented by current member organizations and is subject to change. For information on becoming an individual or organizational member please call us at (916) 484-6744 or visit us at www.acso.org/members-donors/.

The deadline to be included in the January calendar listings is December 15.

Wednesday, December 2, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, December 4, 2015 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, December 5, 2015 at 8 p.m.
Sunday, December 6, 2015 at 4 p.m. 
Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra
Nicholas McGegan, conductor
Sherezade Panthaki, soprano; Isaiah Bell, tenor; Philharmonia Chorale, Bruce Lamott, director
Handel: Ode for St. Cecilia's Day "Tra amplessi innocenti" from Cecilia, volgi un sguardo
Purcell: Te Deum and Jubilate in D Suite from "Distressed Innocence"
12/2: First United Methodist Church, 625 Hamilton Ave., Palo Alto
12/4: Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco
12/5, 12/6: First Congregational Church, 2345 Channing Way, Berkeley
(415) 392-4400

Friday, December 4, 2015 at 8 p.m. 
Saturday, December 5, 2015 at 8 p.m.
Chapman Orchestra
52nd Annual Holiday Wassail
Daniel Alfred Wachs, Steven Coker, Chelsea Dehn, conductors
Memorial Hall Auditorium, One University Dr. Chapman University, Orange 
(714) 997-6812
https://www.chapman.edu/copa/music/index.aspx

Friday, December 4, 2015 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, December 5, 2015 at 8 p.m.
Eureka Symphony
Carol Jacobson, conductor
Bach: Sinfonia from Christmas Oratorio
Vivaldi: Gloria
Kelly: Scrooge
Arkley Center for the Performing Arts, 412 G St., Eureka
(707) 845-3655

Friday, December 4, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 5, 2015 at 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 6, 2015 at 2 p.m.
San José Youth Symphony
Yair Samet, conductor
Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker
The Flint Center, 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino
(408) 885-9220

Friday, December 4, 2015 at 7 p.m.
Saturday, December 5, 2015 at 2 p.m. & 7 p.m.
Sunday, December 6, 2015 at 3 p.m.
Westmont College Orchestra
Michael Shasberger, conductor
First Presbyterian Church, 21 E. Constance Ave., Santa Barbara
(805) 565-6040
www.westmont.edu/music

Saturday, December 5, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.
Colburn Orchestra
Robert Spano, guest conductor
Ben Manis, cello
Pärt: Fratres for String Orchestra and Percussion
Lutosławski: Cello Concerto
Copland: Symphony No.3
Ambassador Auditorium, 131 S. St. John Ave., Pasadena
(213) 621-1050
www.colburnschool.edu

Saturday, December 5, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 6, 2015 at 2 p.m.
Folsom Symphony
Peter Jaffe, conductor
Pasquale Esposito, tenor
A magical holiday program 
Harris Center for the Arts, 10 College Parkway, Folsom
(916) 608-6888

Saturday, December 5, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.
Fresno Philharmonic
Carl Topilow, conductor
Jack Hannah, narrator
Holiday Favorites
William Saroyan Theatre, 700 M St., Fresno
(559) 261-0600

Saturday, December 5, 2015 at 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 6, 2015 at 2 p.m.
Las Vegas Philharmonic
Donato Cabrera, conductor
The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, 361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas, Nevada
(702) 749-2000

Saturday, December 5, 2015 at 3 p.m. & 8:15 p.m.
Livermore-Amador Symphony
Lara Webber, conductor
John Marchand, narrator
Humperdinck: Hänsel and Gretel Prelude
Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf
Ravel: Ma mère l'oye (Mother Goose)
Tchaikovsky: Sleeping Beauty Suite
Bankhead Theater, 2400 1st St., Livermore

Saturday, December 5, 2015 at 7 p.m.
Sunday, December 6, 2015 at 3 p.m.
 Orange County Women's Chorus
Eliza Rubenstein, conductor
St. Wilfrid of York Episcopal Church, 18631 Chapel Ln., Huntington Beach
(949) 451-8590
www.ocwomenschorus.org

Saturday, December 5, 2015 at 8 p.m.
Philharmonic Society of Orange County
Anonymous 4: The Last Noel
Saint Paul's Greek Orthodox Church, 4949 Alton Parkway, Irvine
(949) 553-2422

Saturday, December 5, 2015 at 8 p.m.
Sunday, December 6, 2015 at 3 p.m.
Monday, December 7, 2015 at 8 p.m.
Santa Rosa Symphony
Bruno Ferrandis, conductor     
Shawnette Sulker, soprano; Edith Dowd, mezzo-soprano; Benjamin Brecher, tenor; Philip Skinner, bass-baritone
Berio: Folk Songs
Beethoven: Symphony No. 9
Weill Hall, Green Music Center, 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park
(707) 546-8742

Saturday, December 5, 2015, 2015 at 3 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Tulare County Symphony
Bruce Kiesling, conductor
Hope Garcia, vocalist; Tracy Harris, flute
308 W. Main St., Visalia
(559) 732-8600

Sunday, December 6, 2015 at 3 p.m.
Civic Youth Orchestra
Holiday Favorites
California Center for the Arts, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido
(760) 839-4100

Sunday, December 6, 2015 at 7 p.m.
Conejo Valley Youth Orchestra
Bill Benson, conductor
Holiday Classics 
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, 40 Presidential Dr., Simi Valley
(805) 577-4057

Tuesday, December 8 2015 at 7:30 p.m.
Auburn Symphony
Peter Jaffe, conductor
Handel: Messiah Sing-Along
Placer High School Auditorium, 123 Agard St., Auburn
(530) 823-6683

Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.
Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra
Heiichiro Ohyama, conductor
Gail Eichenthal, guest host
Mendelssohn: Symphony for Strings in C major No.9  "Swiss Symphony"
Dvořák: Serenade for Strings Op.22                            
Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St., Santa Barbara
(805) 966-2441

Friday, December 11, 2015 at 8 p.m.
San Diego Youth Symphony and Conservatory
Jeff Edmons, music director
Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E minor
Sherwood Auditorium, Museum of Contemporary Art, 700 Prospect St., La Jolla

Saturday, December 12, 2015 at 8 p.m. 
Sunday, December 13, 2015 at 3 p.m.
Claremont Concert Orchestra
David Cubek, conductor
Rachel V. Huang, violin; Roger Lebow, cello; Gayle Blankenburg, piano
Beethoven: Triple Concerto, Op. 56
Lutoslawski: Funeral Music
Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's Dream
Garrison Theater, 241 E. 10th St., Claremont
FREE (909) 607-3267

Saturday, December 12, 2015 at 8 p.m.
Sunday, December 13, 2015 at 7 p.m.
Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra
Peter Oundijian, conductor
Stefan Jackiw, violin
Bartók: Divertimento
Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E minor
Beethoven: Symphony No. 4 in B-flat major
12/12: Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale
12/13: Royce Hall, 340 Royce Dr., Westwood
(213) 622-7001 x1

Saturday, December 12, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.
San Bernardino Symphony
Frank Fetta, conductor
Home for the Holidays
Rimsky-Korsakov: Christmas Eve Polonaise
Tchaikovsky: Selections from the Nutcracker
Berlin: White Christmas
Puccini: La Boheme (Christmas Eve)
Leotovych: Carol of the Bells
McCarrick: Hanukkah Hanamera
Williams: Home Alone Holiday Songs
Regney and Baker: Do You Hear What I Hear?
California Theatre of the Performing Arts, 562 4th St., San Bernardino
(909) 381-5388
www.sanbernardinosymphony.org

Saturday, December 12, 2015 at 8 p.m.
San Francisco Conservatory of Music Orchestra
Scott Sandmeier, conductor
Joshua Peters, violin
Brahms: Academic Festival Overture, Op. 80
Brahms: Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77
San Francisco Conservatory of Music, 50 Oak St., San Francisco
(415) 503-6275
  
Saturday, December 12, 2015 at 8 p.m.
San José Youth Symphony
Yair Samet, conductor
Joyce Jang, viola; Tiffany Wong, harp; Kevin Li, piano
Arnold: A Grand, Grand Festival Overture
Forsyth: Concerto for Viola in G minor
Boieldieu: Harp Concerto in C Major
Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 1
Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet
McAfee Performing Arts Center, 20300 Herriman Ave., Saratoga
(408) 885-9220

Saturday, December 12, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. 
Santa Monica Symphony Orchestra
Guido Lamell, conductor
Bernstein: Theme from Magnificent Seven
Williams: Superman March
Williams: Jurassic Park Theme
Williams: Star Wars Suite
Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 "Eroica"
Barnum Hall, Santa Monica High School, 600 Olympic Blvd., Santa Monica
FREE (310) 395-6330
www.smsymphony.org

Saturday, December 12, 2015 at 6 p.m.
Sunday, December 13, 2015 at 2:30 p.m.
Stockton Symphony
André Raphael, guest conductor
Lady Tramaine Hawkins, vocalist
A selection of traditional Gospel and popular holiday songs.
Atherton Auditorium, San Joaquin Delta College, 5151 Pacific Ave., Stockton
(209) 951-0196

Sunday, December 13, 2015 at 2:30 p.m.
California Youth Symphony
Holiday Concert
Leo Eylar, conductor
Classical and Seasonal Favorites by the CYS Senior and Associate Orchestras 
Smithwick Theatre, 12345 El Monte Rd., Los Altos Hills
(650) 326-6666

Sunday, December 13, 2015 at 4 p.m.
Carson City Symphony
David Bugli, conductor; Michael Langham, choral conductor
New Victorian Dancers
Music of the season
Carson City Community Center, 851 E. William St., Carson City
(775) 883-4154

Sunday, December 13, 2015 at 5 p.m.
San Diego Youth Symphony and Conservatory
Inspiration Series Concert
Lincoln High School, 4777 Imperial Ave., San Diego

Sunday, December 13, 2015 at 4 p.m.
Southeast Symphony
Anthony Parnther, conductor
Ellington: The Nutcracker Suite
Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker Suite
Anderson: Christmas Festival
Ticeli: Angels in the Architecture
First Congregational Church of Los Angeles, 540 S. Commonwealth Ave., Los Angeles
(310) 673-7372

Sunday, December 13, 2015 at 4 p.m.
Youth Orchestras of Fresno
Adam Elmore and Thomas Loewenheim, conductors
Beatriz Herrera, vocalist
Rodriguez: Mosaico; Song Selections; Mexican Christmas Medley; Cri Crí Medley
Revueltas: La Noche de los Mayas
Contreras: El Laberinto de la Soledad
Paul Shaghoian Concert Hall, 2770 E. International Ave., Fresno
(559) 275-6694

Monday, December 14, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.
Southern California Philharmonic
Branden Muresan, conductor
Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker Suite Opus 71a 
Puccini: Gloria
Vivaldi: Gloria
Rutter: Gloria
Mozart: Gloria
Handel: Messiah
Mozart: Coro 12 and 42
Anderson: Sleigh Ride; Christmas Festival
Alexandra Nechita Center for the Arts, Lutherna High School of Orange County, 2222 N. Santiago Blvd., Orange

Tuesday, December 15, 2015 at 7 p.m.
Marin Symphony
Alasdair Neale, music director
Holiday Pops
Veteran's Memorial Auditorium, 10 Ave. of the Flags, San Rafael
(415) 473-6800

Friday, December 18, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.
San José Youth Symphony
Yair Samet, conductor
Annual Season of Hope Concert
Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph, 80 S. Market St., San Jose
(408) 885-9220

Saturday, December 19, 2015 at 8 p.m.
Long Beach Symphony - POPS! Series
Damon Gupton, conductor
Holiday Swing Party with Byron Stripling 
Featuring Byron Stripling Trio 
Long Beach Performing Arts Center, Long Beach Arena, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach 
(562) 436-3203 x1 

Saturday, December 19, 2015 at 4 p.m. & 7 p.m.
Pasadena Symphony
Holiday Candlelight
Grant Cooper, conductor
Christina Saffran, vocalist
The Donald Brinegar Singers
Los Angeles Children's Chorus
LA Bronze, Handbell Choir
All Saints Church, 132 N. Euclid Ave., Pasadena
(626) 793-7172

Saturday, December 19, 2015 at 8 p.m.
Sunday, December 20, 2015 at 7 p.m.
San José Chamber Orchestra
Barbara Day Turner and Daniel Hughes, conductors
Winter's Gifts: Celebration
with The Choral Project
12/19: First Presbyterian Church, 1140 Cowper St., Palo Alto
12/20: Mission Santa Clara, 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara
(408) 295-4416

Monday, December 21, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, December 22, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, December 23, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.
California Symphony
Donato Cabrera, music director
Anderson: A Christmas Festival
Various: Do You Hear What I Hear?
Children's Christmas Medley
Tchaikovsky: Selections from The Nutcracker Suite
Blake: The Snowman (Film viewing with score performed live)
Anderson: Sleigh Ride
Audience Sing Along
12/21: Napa Valley Performing Arts Center at Lincoln Theater, 100 California Dr., Yountville 
12/22, 12/23: Lesher Center for the Arts, 1605 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek
(707) 944-9900

Monday, December 21, 2015 at 8 p.m.
Philharmonic Society of Orange County
Canadian Brass
Holiday music
Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Dr., Irvine
(949) 553-2422

Saturday, December 26-31, 2015
Reno Chamber Orchestra
2015 Nevada Chamber Music Festival  
Nightingale Concert Hall, 1335 N. Virginia St., Reno, Nevada
(775) 348-9413
 
Thursday, December 31, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. 
San Francisco Chamber Orchestra
Benjamin Simon, conductor
Haydn: Sinfonia Concertante in B-flat, Op. 84
Bach: Concerto for Three Violins, BWV 1064R
Copland: Quiet City
First Congregational Church, 2345 Channing Way, Berkeley
FREE (415) 692-3367

Thursday, December 31, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.
San Luis Obispo Symphony
Lawrence Loh, conductor
Cafe Musique, guest ensemble
Cal Poly PAC, 1 Grand Ave., San Luis Obispo
(805) 543-3533

Thursday, December 31, 2015 at 8:30 p.m.
Santa Barbara Symphony
New Year's Eve Concert
The Granada Theatre, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara
(805) 899-2222 

For the schedules of:


Los Angeles Philharmonic
www.laphil.org

Pacific Symphony

www.pacificsymphony.org

 

San Diego Symphony
www.sandiegosymphony.org

 

San Francisco Symphony

www.sfsymphony.org

 

If your organization would like to be included in future listings, please e-mail your concert information to office@acso.org in the following format:

 

Day of week, Month, Date and Concert Time (a.m. or p.m.)

Name of Organization

conductor

soloist(s) (instrument)

Repertoire Summary­ (e.g., Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67)

Concert Location, Address, City

Telephone number for ticket information (xxx) xxx-xxxx

Website

 

Disclaimer: the entries in this document are given to us by the organization and ACSO claims no responsibility for their accuracy.