San Luis Obispo Symphony continues their 60th anniversary season on Saturday, November 13, 2021, at 7:30 p.m. with “American Showcase”, featuring a West Coast premiere by local composer Stefan Podel, featuring principal bass Ken Hustad and the full SLO Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Music Director Andrew Sewell. Tickets range from $21-$89 and are available through the Performing Arts Center San Luis Obispo Box office at pacslo.org or by calling (805) 756-4849. Concert attendees are required to wear a mask and show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test result taken within 72 hours to be admitted. More information about health and safety at SLO Symphony concerts and events is available at slosymphony.org/covid-19-update.
Ticket holders are invited to attend a pre-concert Symphonic Foray talk with Music Director Andrew Sewell, composer Stefan Podel, and soloist Ken Hustad the hour before the performance, sponsored by Michael and Ursula Fitzgerald. A free “No Ties Allowed” open dress rehearsal and interactive instrument petting zoo, suitable for all ages of attendees (no vaccine/test requirement for this free event) will take place at 11 a.m., sponsored by Ann Shaw and Charles Boccadoro in Loving Memory of her father, John Leo Sigmund. Masks are required for audience members over the age of two inside the Performing Arts Center San Luis Obispo.
“American Showcase” opens with Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame Award-Winner Thomas Siwe’s “Duet for Snare Drum and Timpani“. The audience is sure to delight in chamber performances of Warren Benson’s “Scherzino from Three Pieces for Percussion Quartet”, American-Armenian composer Alan Hovanhess’s “Bacchanale”, Leonard Bernstein Award-Winning African-American composer Jessie Montgomery’s “Strum”, and one of Washington Post’s “Top 35 Woman Composers” Valerie Coleman’s “Tzigane for Wind Quintet”. After intermission, the entire orchestra will share the West Coast debut of local composer, arranger, and orchestrator Stefan Podell’s “Concerto for Double Bass, third movement,” featuring principal bass Ken Hustad. The concert crescendos to an end with William Banfield’s “In an Ellington Mood from Symphony No. 6”, followed by Ellington/Strayhorn’s iconic and jazzy “Nutcracker Suite”. Concert sponsors are Melinda and Jim Avila, Mary and Thomas Tanner, and Roger and Jan Verity. Season sponsors include John and Becky Baer, The Foulke Correa Foundation, the City of San Luis Obispo, Chevron, and media sponsors New Times and KCBX Public Radio.
San Luis Obispo Symphony ignites a passion for music in our Central Coast community creating connections and joy. For opportunities to volunteer, support, or explore upcoming concerts and events, visit slosymphony.org.