On Sunday, March 24th at 3 p.m., the San Luis Obispo Symphony will present the annual Apex for Kids Family Concert, a unique and entertaining concert designed especially for families with young children, at the Performing Arts Center in San Luis Obispo. “You to Zoo: A Magical, Moose-ical Tour” will feature a performance of “Carnival of the Animals,” a whimsical collection of musical vignettes by composer Camille Saint-Saëns. Narrated by Kevin Harris of SLO Little Theatre, “Carnival” will feature young dancers from the Coastal Chamber Youth Ballet, under the direction of Molly McKiernan. Maestro Nowak will also offer a few musical surprises, designed to entertain and educate young and old alike, along with video on the big screen. The lobby will open at 2 pm, one hour prior to the concert, for family-friendly activities including an up-close look at the furry, feathery and scaly friends from Zoo to You and Pacific Wildlife Care, fun with the Symphony’s Musical Petting Zoo, a pre-show performance with the Bucket Busters and other interactive activities. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children.
Note: A reprise of Sunday’s Family Concert will be presented on Monday morning, March 25th at 10:30 am for busloads of Central Coast schoolchildren. Schools may call (805) 543-3533 for reservations.
In 1886 while on vacation, Saint-Saëns wrote “Carnival of the Animals” which has fourteen movements and is written for not one, but two pianos and orchestra! By this point in his life he was already a very well-respected composer and pianist. Almost every movement represents an animal and in some movements Saint-Saëns created beautiful music, but in others he decided to poke fun at musicians he believed took themselves too seriously. Not wanting to ruin his reputation as a composer, he only allowed one movement to be published during his lifetime, “The Swan.” Today Carnival of the Animals is enjoyed by children all over the world for the pictures it paints of animals.
Kevin Harris received his MFA in Directing from the University of Iowa, his BFA in Acting from New York University, and his California Teaching Credential from Chapman University. While at NYU, he spent three years at the Atlantic Theatre Company studying acting under David Mamet, William H. Macy, and Felicity Huffman. He has served as the Managing Artistic Director of SLO Little Theatre for four years.
The Coastal Chamber Youth Ballet Company’s mission is to train, inspire and nurture young dancers toward artistic excellence. To bring the art of dance, through professional-quality performances and outreach efforts, to new multi-generational audiences, providing them the opportunity to learn about and gain a greater appreciation for the art of dance. To prepare and present our dancers in works that epitomize the artistry of professional ballet and instill a life-long love of dance, sending them into the future with self-confidence, discipline, creativity and self-respect.