This November 1st & 2nd, Music Director Nicholas Hersh has put together a fun and exciting program that reimagines the Classics-favorite, Vivaldi's Four Seasons with The Four Seasons Mixtape! Who better to take on the challenge of four different composers for each of the seasons than New York Philharmonic violinist Audrey Wright.
See Audrey & the MSO perform The Four Seasons Mixtape this November 1st & 2nd, 2024 at the Gallo Center for the Arts.
Nicholas Hersh, conductor
Audrey Wright, violin
We are so delighted to have Audrey Wright join us for the Four Seasons Mixtape this upcoming November 1 & 2! We were able to chat with her and ask her thoughts on the unique concert format, and learn more about some of her upcoming projects.
Have you performed Vivaldi’s Four Seasons before, and how does this concert’s interpretation differ from a traditional performance of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons?
Yes, I have performed Vivaldi’s complete Four Seasons previously with the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, where I am concertmaster, and have performed individual seasons from the complete work in other settings. What I find so amazing about this work is that each individual movement is its own mini masterpiece within the greater whole. The nature of Vivaldi’s writing encourages the violin soloist to be inventive with their interpretation, and for me, no two performances of this music are exactly the same. Because of this, it feels totally appropriate to rework the traditional Four Seasons into this fabulous Mixtape of wildly different styles. The connective tissue between the four works I am performing with the Modesto Symphony can be found when we examine each composer’s unique musical language and programmatic approach to composing their respective seasons. The wonderful challenge for me is in bringing out these distinct compositional voices across all four pieces, while using my own sound and artistic voice to tie them together.
What has been your experience while preparing these pieces? Are there any parts that are particularly exciting or challenging to play and show to the audience?
I love performing music of contrasting styles on a single program, so being able to dive into the juxtaposition between the fiery Baroque of Vivaldi, the minimalist modernism of Richter, the lush romanticism of Ysaÿe, and the sensual tango of Piazzolla all in this one concert is both right up my alley and also the biggest challenge. I often think that what we do as performing musicians is akin to acting, so I try to really embody the different characters of each piece to transport the audience.
Any upcoming performances/projects are you looking forward to?
In addition to a very exciting season ahead as a full time violinist in the New York Philharmonic, I am also looking forward to this season with the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, where I will actually perform Piazzolla’s entire Four Seasons of Buenos Aires with the orchestra in May 2025. Additionally, I am thrilled to have multiple upcoming performances this season of my co-created collaborative performance of sound and light, Luminous Being, along with my husband and creative partner, artist Geoff Robertson. Info about all of these performances can be found on my website at www.audreywrightviolin.com!
Why do you believe the Symphony or live performances are still relevant and important to attend?
I believe attending live performances at the Symphony and elsewhere are relevant today more than ever. We live in a fast-paced and chaotic world that exists more and more in distorted and all-consuming online spaces. To be able to come together in-person to experience the power of live music, even for just an hour or two, is the greatest opportunity we have in this day and age for collective understanding and reflection.
Come listen to Audrey play alongside the Modesto Symphony Orchestra at The Four Seasons Mixtape on November 1 & 2 at the Gallo Center for the Arts!
As part of our values to create a warm and welcoming environment for everyone, the Modesto Symphony Orchestra will have a sensory-friendly rehearsal of The Four Seasons Mixtape on November 1, 2024.
A Sensory-Friendly Open Rehearsal is designed to create a welcoming symphonic experience for people with autism, sensory input disorders, sensory sensitivities, or other physical, cognitive, or developmental disabilities, and their families and caretakers. The rehearsal is adapted for persons with light and audio sensitivities, and to allow for patron movement and talking. A sensory-friendly rehearsal is also a great way for young ones to experience the symphony for the first time. All are welcome to experience the MSO in a safe, non-judgmental environment.
Rehearsal attendees are invited to come and be themselves. Etiquette expectations will be relaxed, talking or vocalizing is accepted. Patrons may move freely in their seats and the aisles, within appropriate safety parameters.
House lights will remain on throughout the rehearsal.
Some loud sounds and notes will be modified for this performance.
Seating is general admission, and wheelchair spaces are available. Please let us know if a wheelchair space is needed.
November 1, 2024
3:30 pm to 5 pm
Gallo Center for the Arts
$5 price is per seat.
After a summer break, we sat down with Music Director Nicholas Hersh and Principal Pops Conductor Ryan Murray as they chatted about our upcoming season.
Ryan Murray, Principal Pops Conductor (RM): Nick, I’m really excited for your Classics Series! I think every Classics concert this year has something for everyone—something that makes this music accessible. It’s a little bit away from the “overture-concerto-symphony” format, and although that may be scary to some people who are comfortable with that model, there are still giant symphonic pieces in there. Can you talk about how this season is going to appeal to the long-time classical music lovers, but also those that are thinking about coming to the concert hall for the first time?
Nicholas Hersh, Music Director (NH): Thanks for that! The thought behind our Classics Series was to provide a unique experience at every concert. You could come to all of them and have a completely different experience each time. Our first concert is probably the most traditional, but the concerto element of it is probably the LEAST traditional bit of it. It’s featuring a saxophone first of all, which is a very rare instrument for concertos, and featuring one of the absolute best in the world at it, Branford Marsalis. He’ll be playing two very jazz-inspired pieces by Milhaud and Williams, and that’s paired with the amazing ever-green Symphonic Dances of Rachmaninoff, which again, sort of takes that idea of what a symphony can be and takes it a step further.
“The thought behind our Classics Series was to provide a unique experience at every concert. You could come to all of them and have a completely different experience each time.”
And then we come to our second concert where the traditional format is tossed out the window! We’re doing this ‘mixtape’ idea, which in this case, is featuring the Four Seasons. We’ll be playing some of Vivaldi’s “Seasons”—but only one as a matter of fact. Each “Season” is written by a different composer, and each of them has their own voice. Some of the Seasons are inspired by Vivaldi, such as Max Ritcher’s ‘Autumn’, and it’s an exciting way to experience how music evolves.
We pair that “quartet of seasons” with a couple of other pieces that emphasize seasonality: Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer’s Night Dream and “La Calaca” by Gabriela Oritz, which I’m very excited about. La Calaca is about Day of the Dead, which is the very weekend that we’ll be having that concert.
Then we come to your feature performance on the Classics Series, Fantasia in Concert, maybe you could talk a little about that, Ryan?
RM: I’m really excited about that, I just conducted it in May 2024 [with the Auburn Symphony], and it’s just an unbelievable show. It’s the greatest moments of classical music with the brilliance of Disney animation. There’s Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony, Firebird—it’s exciting music, but it’s an incredibly difficult show for the orchestra and the conductor. I’m looking forward to taking on that challenge again—it’s just a magical, magical thing.
It's going to be great fun to share with our audience in Modesto, in the beautiful Gallo Center, and it’s always nice when you can do a show a second or third or fourth or fifth time, because you find different things in it as a conductor. It’s like you’re starting from level two instead of level one or zero.
A question I get a lot about Fantasia from patrons is: “Is it the original or is it the new one?” It’s actually a mix of pieces from both the original Fantasia and Fantasia 2000 that Disney in Concerts has put together for us.
The Sorcerer's Apprentice, Dance of the Hours, The Nutcracker Suite, and Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony are from the 1940s version, as well as Clair de Lune, which didn't even make it into the original cut of the film, but was recorded and is also in this concert. Then we have Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, Firebird, Pines of Rome, and a few other pieces from Fantasia 2000.
NH: The greatest hits, isn't it?
RM: Yeah, absolutely!
Nicholas Hersh, conductor
Modesto Symphony Youth Orchestra, side-by-side
Fri. April 11, 2025 at 7:30pm
Sat. April 12, 2025 at 7:30pm
NH: Of course, we finish our Classics Series with two concerts, one featuring the talents of our Modesto Symphony Youth Orchestra joining us on stage for a performance of Copland's Rodeo. As well as Carnival of the Animals, which is all about discovery and youth.
Nicholas Hersh, conductor
MSO Chorus, Daniel R. Afonso Jr., chorus director
Fri. May 9, 2025 at 7:30pm
Sat. May 10, 2025 at 7:30pm
We’re finishing off the Series with Verdi's Requiem, which is as epic as it gets. It’s one of the great masterpieces of anything written for orchestra. It features our MSO Chorus in an unbelievably intrinsic way, even more so than Beethoven's Ninth Symphony last year. They’ll have to sing the entire way through, and I’m very much looking forward to working with our fabulous chorus and our chorus director, Daniel Afonso on that. And meanwhile… we have a great Pop Series coming on as well!
RM: We do! The Pops Series this year, in a way, is kind of like a season of second chances because we have some great things that we just slightly missed out on in the past.
Ryan Murray, conductor
Nikki Renée Daniels, guest artist
MSO Chorus, Daniel R. Afonso Jr., chorus director
Fri. Dec 6, 2024 at 7:30pm
Sat. Dec 7, 2024 at 2:00pm
Nikki Renée Daniels was going to sing Holiday Pops! with us two years ago but was unable to join us. Now, she's coming back this year, and I'm really excited! Her voice is just unbelievable, and she's been singing everywhere since then—with major orchestras and major Broadway shows and companies.
Then when we head into spring, and Capathia Jenkins will return for her Aretha Franklin tribute show. I was so sad that the audience didn't get the chance to hear her at Picnic at the Pops in 2023 because of the unbelievable torrential rainstorm and lightning. But I can tell you just from the dress rehearsal—she is one of the finest artists I have ever worked with.
Ryan Murray, conductor
Capathia Jenkins, guest artist
Ryan Shaw, guest artist
Fri. Mar 14, 2025 at 7:30pm
Capathia brings this amazing musicianship and subtlety and such incredible colors to her singing, and although it works outdoors—it's going to be even more exciting indoors, where people will be able to intimately hear all the amazing things that she's doing with her voice. It's a fantastic show, it's brilliant music, and I can't wait for Capathia to come back.
We’re finishing off the season with another film, and although we've made our way through the original Star Wars trilogy—we're sticking with John Williams. We're doing Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark! What a fun summer adventure movie with the incredible music of John Williams. It's just going to be another smash hit!
NH: Oh, yeah, that's one I haven't had the pleasure to conduct yet! Is this your first time as well?
RM: Yeah, I haven't done it before, either. It’ll be fun to dig into it. The great thing about John Williams is that every time you open a new score, it’s like visiting an old friend. There are new things, but there is this language he has that is so natural for the orchestra.
"The great thing about John Williams is that every time you open a new score, it’s like visiting an old friend. There are new things, but there is this language he has that is so natural for the orchestra.
NH: That's what it is, isn't it? It's one of those amazing things with him where when you start rehearsing it, you look at it on paper and it seems very virtuosic, and very, very difficult. But then, it just fits, it just works.
RM: It just clicks, yeah.
NH: You don't have to futz with anything, every dynamic, every timbre is just *so*. It’s challenging and yet fluid at the same time. I can think of very few other composers like him who have that kind of flexibility.
RM: The rhythms are exciting, the melodies are beautiful, and the orchestration—it works brilliantly.
So, it's a great Pops Series with lots of different kinds of music for different audiences.
And of course, our Holiday Candlelight Concert. This is such a special concert in the unbelievable St. Stanislaus Catholic Church. It’s an amazing chance to showcase the traditional music of the holidays, and the incredible ability of our MSO Chorus.
I think it's so fitting and so perfect that Daniel Afonso conducts this concert. He does a beautiful job with it, and it’s a real chance for our audience to get to know him better as the incredible musician that he is, and to meet our chorus on a more intimate level. And paired with the Opus Handbell Ensemble, it's just such a fun and festive event and I always enjoy when I can be there as an audience member too.
NH: I think that ties in beautifully with the concept of the Classics Series. Each of these performances is its own experience. They bring a different kind of energy, and we’ve called this season, the “season of energy.”
Audiences will get to see something new and rewarding from each concert. It's been great fun putting this together with you, Ryan, and our wonderful staff of the MSO.
Ryan Murray, conductor
Capathia Jenkins, guest artist
Ryan Shaw, guest artist
Fri. Mar 14, 2025 at 7:30pm
Nicholas Hersh, conductor
Modesto Symphony Youth Orchestra, side-by-side
Fri. April 11, 2025 at 7:30pm
Sat. April 12, 2025 at 7:30pm
Nicholas Hersh, conductor
MSO Chorus, Daniel R. Afonso Jr., chorus director
Fri. May 9, 2025 at 7:30pm
Sat. May 10, 2025 at 7:30pm
Whether you’re a seasoned Picnic veteran, or this is your first time enjoying Picnic, we know a lot goes into planning your picnic-perfect evening. The MSO has put together a Picnic Planner to ensure that you have an unforgettable night with us!
Bring a comfy blanket, or low sand chairs to sit and enjoy the show (seats lower than 9”, and backs must be lower than 32” from the ground)
Water, don’t forget to hydrate!
A cooler for your non-alcoholic beverages, your favorite snacks, or picnic meal.
We will have an Express Bag Check for anyone with a clear bag or no bags.
Pre-orders are now closed. Scrip is available for pre-order online to pick up on the grounds!*
No outside alcohol please!
Video and audio recording equipment.
Grills, cooking devices, or anything with an open flame.
Pets (Service animals are welcome).
Please, no fireworks, noisemakers, or items that may disturb the peace.
Worried about finding parking? We highly encourage you to use a RideApp service (like Uber or Lyft), especially if you plan to enjoy our wine offerings at Picnic.
There is a designated pickup and drop-off spot for services located in the GREEN Premier Parking Lot 4. Use address 100 Administration Circle and follow the signs to the right for RideApps drop-off and pick-up.
Guests are welcome to bring their own picnics, as simple or complex as they like, to Picnic at the Pops!
Don’t want to worry about the hassle? We got you covered! Pre-order a picnic dinner from Greens on Tenth to have ready on-site for you to enjoy.
Wine generously donated by GALLO will be available to purchase on-site. 100% of wine sales proceeds benefit the Modesto Symphony Orchestra. Skip the line! Pre-order your beverage scrip tickets today and pick them up at Picnic. To pre-order scrip & the full wine & beverage menu, click here.* Pre-orders for scrip are now closed.
Purchase delicious food from the Sinaloense Food Truck and dessert from Yogurt Mill’s Froyo Truck.
Modesto Symphony Youth Orchestra will be selling Glow Products to help you light up your night. 100% of proceeds go towards MSYO scholarships. (Glow product sales are cash only.)
If you want to get your tickets today, visit in-person or call the Gallo Center for the Arts at 209-338-2100. Tickets are also now available to purchase from our ticket outlets below:
Modesto Symphony Orchestra Office:
911 Thirteenth Street, Modesto, 95354
Monday – Friday
10 am to 4:30 pm
Gather:
2425 McHenry Ave, Modesto, CA 95350
Monday – Saturday
10 am to 5 pm
https://www.gather2gether.com/
Carnegie Arts Center:
250 N. Broadway, Turlock, CA 95380
Tuesday – Saturday: 10 am to 5 pm
www.carnegieartsturlock.org
Groups of 10 or more can save 20% off General Lawn Seating tickets! Call the Gallo Center ticket office at 209-338-2100 for more information.
We hope this quick guideline helps you out and we can’t wait to see you all this September!
*updated 9/4/24
Come watch Chester Gregory, Crystal Monee Hall, & Terron Brooks, conducted by Ryan Murray, perform Dancing in the Street: The Music of Motown alongside the Modesto Symphony Orchestra this September 7th at the GALLO Grounds!
Motown, a term derived from Detroit’s nickname, “Motor City”, started as a record label founded by Berry Gordy Jr. in the late 1950s. The label was instrumental in integrating Black musicians and artists into popular music during the 1960s and 1970s. Motown music became its own genre, blending soul and pop together into one. Berry Gordy was directly involved in auditions for the label – often scouting key talent himself in clubs, or sitting in on auditions. For this year’s Picnic at the Pops, we wanted to highlight some of our favorite Motown artists and their hits that you’ll be able to hear live performed by the Modesto Symphony Orchestra!
Stevie Wonder circa 1973
Stevland Hardaway Morris, better known as his stage alias, Stevie Wonder, is one of the best selling and awarded musicians of all time. Signed to the Motown label at only 11 years old, he was quickly taken under Berry Gordy’s wing. His single Fingertips, released when he was 13, rocketed to the number 1 spot of the Billboard charts, making him the youngest solo artist to receive the number 1! Even if you aren’t an active Motown fan, there’s no doubt that you’ve heard a tune from this legendary artist before. Not only a talented artist, Wonder is a dedicated activist, known for his campaign in the 80s to make MLK Jr’s birthday a federal holiday.
At this year’s Picnic at the Pops, we’ll be performing Superstition, which is probably one of Wonder’s most iconic songs. Even just saying the name probably has you humming the beat and thinking of Wonder’s vocals. Superstition was a number 1 Billboard single, earned Wonder two Grammys, and is #12 on Rolling Stones’ Top 500 songs of all time.
Diana Ross circa 1976
Diana Ross started as an aspiring fashion designer, believe it or not. At age 14, she enrolled in Cass Tech High School, taking classes in design, pattern making, and tailoring. When she turned 15, she took a “side gig” as the lead singer of the Primettes (sister group to the Primes). After receiving success at smaller gigs and sock hops, she approached her old neighbor, William “Smokey” Robinson about auditioning for Motown. Gordy was enchanted by her singing, but after hearing how young the group was, he opted to advise them to finish their education. After being signed on in 1961, Ross’s rise to stardom was just beginning. Her solo career launched in 1970, and she quickly found success in music and film. Her stellar singing and unmatched charisma could not be denied.
One of our favorite Diana Ross songs is Touch Me in the Morning. It hit No.1 on the Billboard 100 chart, and remained on that chart for a consecutive 21 weeks! It came out shortly after her Academy Award nomination for Best Actress in Lady Sings the Blues, and it completely reinvigorated her singing career. No one can deny the power of Ross’s vocals, and they truly shine in this classic.
Marvin Gaye circa 1973
Marvin Gaye was a critical part of shaping Motown’s sound in the early 1960s, earning him the nicknames ‘Prince of Motown’ & ‘Prince of Soul’. He’d become known for his success as a solo act, and for his influence on several R&B genres. After a few failed attempts at charting with other groups, Marvin would catch the attention of Berry Gordy when performing at his home for a Christmas party. Gordy was immediately impressed with Marvin, and negotiated him out of his previous contract, to sign on with Motown. Marvin would go on to record many beloved duets with some of Motown’s most iconic female singers, including Diana Ross, Tammi Terrell, and Kim Weston. In the 1970s, he would record two albums, marking him as one of the earliest artists in Motown to produce independently. With his numerous awards and high ranking on Rolling Stones listings and how critical his music is to pop culture, it is without question, that Marvin Gaye is one of the most influential soul artists of all time.
How Sweet It Is is one of Gaye’s most iconic songs from his Motown days. By January 1965, just 4 months after the singles released, it had sold nearly a million copies, making it his most successful single at that point in his career. And it is no question why – his velvet-quality vocals and the piano riff, matched with the rhythmic tambourine make the perfect recipe for a perfect feel-good classic.
Lionel Ritchie circa 1984
Lionel Richie kicked off his music career in 1968, after deciding to abandon becoming a priest, as he felt he wasn’t exactly “priest material”. Despite not even knowing how to read or write music, he joined the Motown group “Commadores” as a co-lead singer. While originally the group was meant as a support act to the Jackson 5, they quickly stood out on their own, with a combination of funky tunes for dance like Brick House, and Richie’s romantic ballads, such as Still. 1981 marks Richie’s start of his successful solo career, with his duet Endless Love with Diana Ross, which topped international charts. Over the course of his career, he’s sold over 100 million records worldwide, earned four Grammys, an Academy Award and Golden Globe for his song Say You, Say Me, and Congress recognition, making him one of the most successful music artists of all time.
It's really no wonder that All Night Long is such a classic Richie hit. It is the embodiment of “forget your troubles and woes, and just dance the night away!” Richie’s smooth vocals flow effortlessly with the beat of the song, while the music is full of boundless energy that just makes you want to get up and groove!
Martha Reeves circa 1974
Martha Reeves, lead singer of Martha and the Vandellas, should be praised for her passion for performance. At the age of 19, she was working multiple day jobs, and singing in jazz clubs. While performing one evening, she was scouted by a Motown executive, who invited her to an audition the very next day. Her unique gospel-trained vocals launched the group to quick distinction from other Motown girl groups, producing hit singles such as Heat Wave, Quicksand, and their most popular Dancing in the Street. Martha’s vocal talent, hardworking attitude, and her commitment to improving conditions for musicians in the industry by speaking to Congress in 2007 to increase royalties for artists – she truly is a pinnacle of Motown.
Dancing in the Street is Martha and the Vandellas most popular single, and just listening to it, it’s clear why. The jazzy high energy music, and Martha’s powerful voice rings out, just making you want to get up and dance. It has been the subject of many covers, although there is no denying the original!
Come listen to these Motown hits and many more performed at Picnic at the Pops! this September 7th at the GALLO Grounds!
We are so excited for this year’s Picnic at the Pops! It is sure to be an amazing show featuring all of your classic Motown favorites, sung by our iconic guest artists: Chester Gregory, Crystal Monee Hall, and Terron Brooks. All three boasting roles on Broadway, and national tours - this will be a show you won’t want to miss!
Come see these artists groove on stage along with the Modesto Symphony Orchestra at Picnic at the Pops! this September 7th at the GALLO grounds!
The Modesto Symphony Orchestra is delighted to welcome the legendary Branford Marsalis for a special one-night-only performance on October 5, 2024. Branford Marsalis is a multi-talented saxophonist known for his virtuosity and versatility across jazz, classical, and popular music genres. As the leader of the acclaimed Branford Marsalis Quartet, he has earned three Grammy Awards, as well as numerous accolades for his contributions to music.
Branford Marsalis was born on August 26, 1960, to Dolores, a jazz singer, and Ellis Louis Marsalis Jr. , a jazz pianist and music teacher. In 1979, he would attend the Berklee College of Music, and before he even finished his studies, he would land a job with Lionel Hampton Orchestra, a testament to his skills and prowess.
Branford is a popular featured soloist with classical ensembles, having performed with many acclaimed orchestras such as the Los Angeles, New York, and Warsaw Philharmonics, the Chicago, Detroit, Düsseldorf, North Carolina, and Tokyo Metropolitan Symphonies and the Boston Pops, with a growing repertoire that includes compositions by Debussy, Glazunov, Ibert, Mahler, Milhaud, Rorem, Vaughn Williams, and John Williams. Branford has also received numerous awards for his composition work, with screen credits including Spike Lee’s Mo Better Blues, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, and Rustin. His original music for August Wilson’s “Fences” would earn him a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music in a Play and a Tony Nomination for Best Original Score Written for the Theater.
Branford previously served as Creative Director of the Ascent Series of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. In 2022, Branford performed John Williams’ Escapades with the Boston Symphony Orchestra for Tanglewood’s celebration of Williams’ 90th Birthday, the same piece our audiences will enjoy this October.
Join us for an evening of extraordinary music as Branford Marsalis graces the stage with the Modesto Symphony Orchestra, performing a captivating program that highlights his exceptional talent. This is a concert you won't want to miss!
Music has always been a powerful medium for expression and connection, and LGBT+ composers have made remarkable contributions to its vibrant landscape. Their stories resonate through their music, celebrating both individuality and the shared human experience. This Pride Month, we’re celebrating the lives and legacies of LGBT+ composers: their extraordinary talents and their impact on the world of classical music.
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
1. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)
One of the most well-known composers in classical music, Tchaikovsky left a legacy with works such as Swan Lake, the 1812 Overture, and his Piano Concerto No. 1, which the Modesto Symphony featured during their season opening concert in October 2023. Due to his international acclaim, the Soviet Union made great efforts to censor any mention or reference of Tchaikovsky being anything but heterosexual. However, many biographers do agree that he was gay, citing his long-term connections with men in his social circles, and the fact that he was a bachelor for most of his life, except for a short-lived, failed marriage to Antonina Miliukova.
Francis Poulenc
2. Francis Poulenc (1899-1963)
Francis Poulenc was a French composer and pianist, with a wide catalog of compositions, including piano works, operas, ballets, choral pieces, and orchestral concert music. He was one of the first openly gay composers, having a serious relationship with painter Richard Chanlaire. He was known as a very light-hearted individual within musician circles, which likely contributed to his more sincere & religious works being overshadowed. He was highly celebrated and in 1945, was commissioned by the London Philharmonic by the French government to perform his defiant compositions and works against Nazi rule.
Dame Ethel Smyth
3. Dame Ethel Smyth (1858-1944)
Ethel Smyth was an English composer, and a prominent member of the women’s suffrage movement. As a child prodigy, Ethel studied composition with other well-known Romantic Era composers, including Tchaikovsky, Grieg, and Dvořák. Her compositions were frequently criticized, being labeled as “too masculine” for a female composer. In 1910, she became involved with women’s suffrage and developed a close relationship with leadership. She was inspired to compose her most well-known work, “The March of the Women”, which then became the anthem for the Women’s Social and Political Union and suffragettes. Most of her lovers were women, and on her sexuality, she said that it was “so much easier to love her own sex.”
Samuel Barber and Gian Carlo Menotti
4. Samuel Barber (1910-1981)
Samuel Barber was a highly celebrated American composer, who made little effort to keep his sexuality a close secret. His life partner was opera composer Gian Carlo Menotti, who he met in 1928 while attending the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia. The two stayed together for 40 years, supporting each other’s careers—Barber received two Pulitzer Prizes, and Menotti completed 15 operas—while the two were together.
The Modesto Symphony Orchestra, featuring violinist Simone Porter, performed Barber’s romantic Violin Concerto in February 2023.
5. Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687)
Jean-Baptiste Lully
Considered a top figure of the French Baroque style, little is known about Jean-Baptiste’s education and early life, although, accounts say that he was employed by a duke of Guise in 1647 to entertain his niece. It was during his time that he honed his skills in instruments and dance. By 1653, Jean-Baptiste caught the attention of King Louis XIV, who made him the royal composer for instrumental music, and would eventually rise to become the superintendent of the royal music and music master of the royal family in 1661. However, his talent and charisma would not prevent Louis XIV’s anger for Jean-Baptiste’s reputation of love affairs with many men and women in the court.
Leonard Bernstein
6. Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990)
Leonard Bernstein was one of the most important conductors and composers in American classical music history, and possibly classical music as a whole. His repertoire is widely celebrated, including the Broadway hit West Side Story—which the MSO performed an arrangement of during their That’s Entertainment! concert in March 2020, his Sonata for Clarinet and Piano, and Slava! A Political Overture, among countless others. He is also widely known for his humanitarian efforts in the civil rights movement, anti-Vietnam war efforts, and his advocacy for AIDS research. One of his most famous humanitarian performances was when he conducted Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 to celebrate the fall of the Berlin Wall. He was married to actress Felicia Cohn, which was a reality for many gay men, to maintain a good public standing. Felicia was understanding of his sexuality, writing to him, “…If your peace of mind, your health, your whole nervous system depend on a certain sexual pattern what can you do?”
To learn more about Pride and how composers intersect, we encourage you to read more at the sources below!
Sources:https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/great-classical-composers-who-were-gay/ https://www.ethelsmyth.org/about/biography/https://www.spectrumensemble.org/samuel-barber.html https://www.classicfm.com/composers/bernstein-l/leonard-biography-compositions-family-wife/There is a large catalog of talented Black artists who have left lasting impacts on the world of classical music but are overlooked because of their race. We have composed a list of 6 Black Composers and Musicians who influenced and helped shape the orchestral world. Which Black artist would you like to hear their music being performed live today?
Florence Price
1. Florence Price, composer (1887-1953)
Florence Price was born to a music teacher mother, who instilled a love of music in Florence from an early age. At the age of 4, she had her first piano performance, and at 11, her first composition was published. Unsurprisingly, she graduated from the Conservatory of Music in Boston with honors, receiving a teaching certificate and an artist diploma in organ. As a teacher, she influenced many upcoming Black musicians and composers, and received the honor of being the first Black woman to have her composition played by a major U.S orchestra, with Chicago Symphony Orchestra performing her Symphony No. 1 in 1933. The Modesto Symphony Orchestra had the honor of performing her Concert Overture No. 2 in October 2022 and Symphony No. 3 in May 2023.
William L. Dawson
2. William L. Dawson, composer
(1899-1990)
Dawson was a skilled trombonist as a child, and ran away from home as a teenager to pursue a career in music at Tuskgee Institute (now know as Tuskgee University). After graduating with honors, he would go on to receive a master's in composition from the American Conservatory of Music. He would start his career by teaching at Tuskgee, and directing the 100-member choir, recognized internationally and sponsored by the White House. Last February 2024, the Modesto Symphony Orchestra performed his most famous composition: Negro Folk Symphony. It premiered in 1934 by the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra, and masterfully showed the evolution of American Classical music by incorporating elements of Black culture, blending them masterfully with classical forms.
Chevalier de Saint-Georges
3. Joseph Bologne - Chevalier de Saint-Georges, composer (1745-1799)
Not much is known about the Chevalier’s early music education, other than at the age of 7, he was sent to Paris for his musical studies. He would debut as a solo violinist in one of Europe’s most renowned orchestras, Le Concert des Amateurs, playing two of his own violin concertos. He was appointed the next conductor of the orchestra, only furthering its renown and reputation across the globe. An accomplished composition writer, performer, fencer, and socialite, it is no surprise that president John Adams is quoted in saying “he is the most accomplished man in Europe”.
The 2022 biographical drama film, Chevalier, is based on his legendary life.
George Walker
4. George Walker, composer, organist and pianist (1922-2018)
George Walker has the distinction of being the first Black composer to receive a Pulitzer Prize in Music for his work, Lilacs in 1996. During his education at Curtis Institute of Music, he studied under many great classical performers and teachers, including Rudolf Serkin, Gregor Piatigorsky, and William Primrose. Perhaps this period, including his own experiences growing up around jazz, contributed to his unique composition style, where he did not tie himself down to one label or genre. Over his lifetime, he composed well over 90 different works, and received commission requests from the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, and Philadelphia Orchestra, among many others.
Marian Anderson
5. Marian Anderson, contralto (1897-1993)
Marian Anderson was an important figurehead not only in the opera community, but the civil rights movement in its entirety. Not to be discouraged by the roadblocks that would try and prevent her from a career in singing, she received her first spotlight in a singing competition with the New York Philharmonic at the age of 25, which propelled her onto singing tours across Europe and the United States. After initially being denied to sing at a concert in Washington D.C in 1939, by the Daughters of the American Revolution, Anderson was put into the international spotlight, which was not the norm for a female Black musician. After receiving presidential support from Franklin D. Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor, Anderson would perform an open-air concert on Easter Sunday, 1939 to an integrated crowd of 75,000 people, and a radio audience of millions.
Marian was invited by the MSO in 1956 to perform a recital at the historic Strand Theater (where Brenden Theaters now resides in Downtown Modesto). The audience was at full capacity and according to Pat Morrison of the Modesto Bee, “Her direct and reverent style, deep in feeling and calm in confidence lends a spiritual tone to her voice. To hear Marian Anderson is more than a musical experience.”
Duke Ellington
6. Duke Ellington, pianist and composer (1899-1974)
Duke Ellington spent most of his early musical years writing one-off compositions while working other jobs. For example, his first composition, entirely written by ear was the “Soda Jerk Rag” at the age of 15. Around 1919, however, Ellington was encouraged by artists around him to pursue his musical career. Finding success as a piano player, Ellington formed his own group that would play around Virginia and Washington D.C. He would gain national recognition, however, in the1920s, with his orchestra’s feature in the Cotton Club at Harlem. He would conduct his jazz orchestra until his last days and received a posthumous Pulitzer Prize in 1999. More recently, you may have heard the MSO perform the Duke Ellington Fantasy arranged by Leroy Anderson at their Great American Songbook concert in March 2023.
To learn more about Black excellence in music, we encourage you to check out the sources below!
Sources:https://jimcrowmuseum.ferris.edu/question/2021/december.htmhttps://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/black-composers-who-made-classical-music-history/https://www.laphil.com/about/watch-and-listen/the-legacy-of-henry-lewishttps://www.carnegiehall.org/About/History/Carnegie-Hall-Icons/Marian-AndersonMSOC Summer Sings will have three consecutive meetings during the month of June. This opportunity is available to anyone who is interested in singing, no audition or previous experience required!
Time: Mondays from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm
Location: First United Presbyterian Church (1600 Carver Road, Modesto)
The price (or suggested donation) is $5 per person, per meeting (cash or check only).
Each meeting will have a theme that explores different repertoire:
June 10, 2024 – Music from the United States:
We will explore works by mostly 20th and 21st Century American composers, with music in different genres and styles, including works by some California composers.
June 17, 2024 – Music from the Romantic Period:
We will sing works from the Romantic period, including compositions from different parts of the world and by lesser-known composers.
June 24, 2024 – Music from Latin America:
We will take a brief “tour” of Latin America through works from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Venezuela, and more! (Yes, there will be an Afonso piece in this session).
Please register before attending by filling out our form here.
REGISTER FOR MSOC SUMMER SINGS →
For any questions, please contact our Chorus Director, Daniel Afonso Jr. at dafonso@csustan.edu.
Welcome to a season of Energy! The MSO has a fantastic season of concerts that run the gamut of emotions: from Picnic at the Pops! Dancing in the Streets to a new spin on Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons to bringing Walt Disney’s beloved animated Fantasia to life on screen and stage! You’re guaranteed to move and be moved this season at the Modesto Symphony Orchestra.
Nicholas Hersh, conductor
Branford Marsalis, saxophone
Nicholas Hersh, conductor
Audrey Wright, violin
Ryan Murray, conductor
Nikki Renée Daniels, guest artist
MSO Chorus, Daniel R. Afonso Jr., chorus director
Fri. Dec 6, 2024 at 7:30pm
Sat. Dec 7, 2024 at 2:00pm
Ryan Murray, conductor
Capathia Jenkins, guest artist
Ryan Shaw, guest artist
Fri. Mar 14, 2025 at 7:30pm
Nicholas Hersh, conductor
Modesto Symphony Youth Orchestra, side-by-side
Fri. April 11, 2025 at 7:30pm
Sat. April 12, 2025 at 7:30pm
Nicholas Hersh, conductor
MSO Chorus, Daniel R. Afonso Jr., chorus director
Fri. May 9, 2025 at 7:30pm
Sat. May 10, 2025 at 7:30pm
Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 is not only one of the Beethoven’s greatest compositions, but possibly one of the greatest classical music compositions of all time. A piece full of bombastic sounds and joyous energy, it was completely revolutionary for the time. It’s also the first example of a major composer scoring vocal parts in a symphony.
The story goes that, at the premiere of the symphony, either during the second movement or near the end of the finale, the audience erupted into applause. Beethoven, who was still conducting, was turned around by one of the vocalists to accept the cheers from the audience members. The audience took part in a standing ovation, throwing hats and waving hands, so Beethoven (who was profoundly deaf at this point in his life) could understand the celebration of the audience.
Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 not only impacted the classical music sphere, but pop culture entirely. His symphony has been referenced time and time again, across many forms of media. We’ve complied a list below; see if you can recognize your favorite films or tv shows!
European Anthem - In 1972, the Council of Europe adopted Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” theme as it’s anthem, and became official in 1985. There are no lyrics to the anthem, as the universal language of music expresses the ideals of freedom, peace, and solidarity.
Die Hard (1988) - “Ode to Joy” has a surprising feature in the hit 80’s action film (and Christmas movie!) , during the scene in which the building’s vault is broken into. It seems a strange choice for the genre of film, but director John McTiernan wanted to include it as a reference to the following Kubrick film:
A Clockwork Orange (1971) - Symphony No. 9 is featured in bits and fragments throughout the film, a favorite symphony of the anti-hero protagonist, that is turned against him in the end.
NBA ‘I Love this Game’ Campaign (1990s) - ‘Ode to Joy’ was featured in NBA’s commercial campaign, serving as a soundtrack to describe all the emotional highs and lows on the court.
Muppet’s “Ode to Joy” cover - Another fantastic example in the Muppet’s cover repertoire, featuring Beaker on every part.
The Compact Disc- It was rumored that the CD was specifically designed to accommodate 74 minutes of music so it could accommodate Beethoven’s symphony.
These are just a few of the many examples of Beethoven’s impact. Whether you’re a long time music fan, or just starting to listen, we hope that this list illustrates just how important music can be to all different aspects of culture.
Sources:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_No._9_(Beethoven)#Influencehttps://www.kdfc.com/articles/the-many-lives-of-beethovens-ninth-symphonyNicholas Hersh, Music Director of Modesto Symphony Orchestra, talks with co-host Linda Scheller about becoming a conductor, music in education, balancing the canon, a music director's responsibilities, and the significance of live musical performances.
MSO Chorus Director, Daniel R. Afonso Jr. joins MSO Music Director, Nicholas Hersh as they discuss the joys of uniting two musical forces: orchestra & chorus in Beethoven's masterpiece: Symphony No. 9!
They also provide insight about the challenges of singing in acapella and English for the Chorus' performance of Amy Beach's "Peace I Leave With You" (Don't get them started on diphthongs!)
See the MSO & MSO Chorus perform Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 live this May 10 & 11, 2024 at the Gallo Center for the Arts.
Nicholas Hersh, conductor
MSO Chorus
Daniel R. Afonso Jr., chorus director
Music Director Nicholas Hersh explores how composers Astor Piazzolla, Louise Farrenc, and Felix Mendelssohn were inspired by studying Bach and the Baroque period, and created fresh and innovative compositions.
See the MSO perform the works of Farrenc, Mendelssohn, and Piazzolla live this April 12 & 13, 2024 at the Gallo Center for the Arts.
Nicholas Hersh, conductor
Tai Murray, violin
Fri. April 12, 2024 at 7:30 pm
Sat. April 13, 2024 at 7:30 pm
We’re bringing the stage to you! We asked Rob Patterson, clarinet for the MSO, a few questions about his experience with the Modesto Symphony Orchestra thus far, what he’s looking forward to and more about himself: from his favorite school subject, and his answer to the question: dogs or cats? Read on and learn more about your Modesto Symphony Orchestra!
MSO: Tell us about yourself, and how you came to play with the Modesto Symphony Orchestra?
I came to Modesto in a very round about way. I met Matthew Oshida, the orchestra’s personnel manager, while we were both playing with the Huntsville (AL) Symphony. We both were from out of town and needed rides so we bonded quickly. After that Matthew started asking me to come out to Modesto. It seemed crazy (I was living in Washington DC at the time) but I figured it would be a fun adventure and I’d get to also visit my older brother in San Francisco. I had so much fun that I’ve been coming back ever since!
Rob Patterson (back left), clarinet. circa 2018
MSO: What is your favorite memory playing with the MSO so far?
My favorite memory so far was playing basset horn on the Mozart Requiem last season. I had never played a basset horn before and it was a great adventure. The guy playing second basset horn with me is now in the New York Philharmonic, so it really was a great experience!
MSO: What are you most looking forward to for the rest of the 2023/2024 season?
The Copland Concerto will be a season highlight for me, what a treat to play such a beautiful piece of music with my friends.
Nicholas Hersh, conductor
Rob Patterson, clarinet
Fri. March 15, 2024 at 7:30 pm
Sat. March 16, 2024 at 7:30 pm
Besides music, what was your favorite subject in school?
I love languages, I finished the Spanish program in my high school early so I started up French as well! I have several of Chinese speaking students and am currently working on my Chinese with DuoLingo, boy is that hard…
What sport would you play in the Olympics? I would compete in Squash, which will officially become an Olympic sport in 2028!
Olive, calico cat and Dewey, beagle
Dogs or cats?
Both. I have a beagle named Dewey and a calico named Olive.
Go to the beach, or go to the mountains?
Sorry to dodge the question again, but both! I have a lot of family in Colorado and I love hiking there. When I go to the beach though I love just completely letting go and basking in the sun. If I’m in a good spot for it, I do love to go snorkeling.
Come see Rob play on stage, and meet him along with the rest of the orchestra at Symphonic Soundtrack this March 15th and 16th at the Gallo Center for the Arts!
Nicholas Hersh, conductor
Rob Patterson, clarinet
Fri. March 15, 2024 at 7:30 pm
Sat. March 16, 2024 at 7:30 pm
Programming a concert by yourself can get lonely, but with musicians to help: it's a party! Music Director Nicholas Hersh along with MSO musicians, Don Grishaw, violin and Rob Patterson, clarinet, introduce a brand new symphony experience: Symphonic Soundtrack! This performance will be a relaxed & fun concert featuring shorter pieces curated by the MSO, followed by an after-party for our audiences to meet & mingle with our musicians & music lovers.
Nicholas Hersh, conductor
Rob Patterson, clarinet
Fri. March 15, 2024 at 7:30 pm
Sat. March 16, 2024 at 7:30 pm
We’re bringing the stage to you! We asked Don Grishaw, violinist for the MSO and MSYO Concert Orchestra conductor, a few questions about his experience with the Modesto Symphony Orchestra thus far, what he’s looking forward to and more about himself: from his secret talent to his own ‘theme music’. Read on and learn more about your Modesto Symphony Orchestra!
MSO: Tell us about yourself, and how you came to play with the Modesto Symphony Orchestra?
Don Grishaw (circled), violinist, circa 1990s.
I auditioned for the Modesto Symphony when I arrived in Turlock in 1982. The conductor at that time was Sandor Salgo. I have been a member of the violin section ever since. I also conduct the Concert Orchestra division of the Modesto Symphony Youth Orchestra. I am a retired public-school educator. I taught Music and Spanish at the secondary level and bilingual education classes at the elementary level. I am married to my beautiful wife, Angelica, and I have two grown children, Elizabeth and Andrew. We are all musicians.
Don (center), pictured with (left-to-right) daughter-in-law Paige & son, Andrew; wife, Angelica; and daughter, Elizabeth
MSO: What is your favorite memory playing with the MSO so far?
I have many favorite memories of playing with the Modesto Symphony, but I think my favorite memory is when my son Andrew Grishaw performed as a viola soloist with the symphony in 2019. He played the Violet Viola Concerto composed and conducted by David Lockington. It was heartwarming to hear my son play so passionately and to be on stage with him.
MSO: What are you most looking forward to for the rest of the 2023/2024 season?
I enjoy every concert. I enjoy performing new pieces and I enjoy performing pieces that I have played many times before. This season I am most looking forward to performing Beethoven’s 9th Symphony in May. This work amazes me more and more every time I perform it! Beethoven truly speaks to us through music in this great masterpiece.
If you weren’t a conductor/musician, what would you want to be?
I have been an educator all my life, so I would choose teaching.
What instrument(s) do you play? Violin, viola, and piano
What would be the theme music to your life? “Gema” sung by Los Dandys. It is a beautiful love song in Spanish that my wife and I call “our song”.
What are you binge-watching right now? I like crime dramas. S.W.A.T. is my favorite.
Do you have a secret talent? Horses. In my younger days, I worked at a horse pack station in the Sierras guiding summer pack trips.
If you had a time machine, would you go back in time or into the future?
I would go back in time so I could relive the days of the Old West.
Go to the beach, or go to the mountains?
Hard choice, but I would pick the mountains. I love the smell of the mountains and the scenery is always gorgeous.
Come see Don play on stage, and meet him along with the rest of the orchestra at Symphonic Soundtrack this March 15th and 16th at the Gallo Center for the Arts!
Nicholas Hersh, conductor
Rob Patterson, clarinet
Fri. March 15, 2024 at 7:30 pm
Sat. March 16, 2024 at 7:30 pm
William L. Dawson, composer
Born on September 26, 1899, in Anniston, Alabama, William Levi Dawson emerged as a prominent composer, conductor, and educator, contributing significantly to the cultural landscape of the 20th century. Among his notable works, the Negro Folk Symphony stands as a testament to his artistry and commitment to celebrating Black American musical traditions.
Dawson’s journey in music began at an early age, and he quickly became a skilled trombonist. As a teenager, he ran away from home to pursue a musical education at the Tuskegee Institute, now known as the Tuskegee University. After graduating with honors in 1921, Dawson went on to pursue a Bachelors of Music from Horner Institute of Fine Arts, and a Masters Degree in Composition from the American Conservatory of Music. Dawson’s exposure to the rich heritage of Black American folk music during this time laid the foundation for what would become one of his most celebrated compositions.
After completing his studies, he was given tenure from the Tuskegee Institute, where he conducted the 100-member choir in several nationally recognized broadcasts and performances, including performances at the White House and Constitution Hall. Dawson also went on an international tour with the Tuskegee Choir to the British Isles, Europe, and the Soviet Union under the sponsorship of President Franklin. D. Roosevelt. Beyond his many achievements and honors, Dawson’s symphony is what gave him the most notoriety in the sphere of musical arts.
Composed in 1934, Dawson’s Negro Folk Symphony is a groundbreaking work that masterfully blends classical forms with the vibrant rhythms and melodies of Black American folk music. Dawson drew inspiration from spirituals, work songs, and other traditional tunes, infusing the symphony with a unique cultural resonance. In a 1932 interview, Dawson said: “I’ve tried not to imitate Beethoven or Brahms, Franck or Ravel…the finest compliment that could be paid to my symphony when it has its premiere that it unmistakably is not the work of a white man.”
Negro Folk Symphony had its world premiere on November 14, 1934 by the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra, under direction of Leopold Stokowski, at Carnegie Hall. It was an instant, but fleeting success at first before falling into obscurity until 18 years later. After a several-week tour in West Africa in 1952, Dawson was inspired to revise his symphony and integrate the unique rhythms and musical experiences from his trip. This revised symphony is what is commonly heard today.
The Negro Folk Symphony not only showcases Dawson's compositional prowess but also serves as a significant cultural statement. It is a shining example of the excellence of Black American musicians and composers, once lost to time, getting the recognition that they deserve in the modern orchestral sphere. . In a time when racial inequality and discrimination were pervasive, Dawson's work highlighted the beauty and strength inherent in Black American musical heritage. This symphony has endured as a symbol of resilience and cultural pride, continuing to be performed and celebrated by orchestras around the world.
Come hear William Dawson’s Symphony No. 3 this February 9th & 10th at the Gallo Center for the Arts!
Learn more about Dawson (Reference):Biography. Alabama Music Hall of Fame. (n.d.). https://www.alamhof.org/williamldawsonBrown, G. K. (n.d.). Negro folk symphony. BSO.
https://www.bso.org/works/negro-folk-symphony Schwartz, E. (n.d.). Negro Folk Symphony, William Dawson. LA Phil. https://www.laphil.com/musicdb/pieces/6227/negro-folk-symphony Wikimedia Foundation. (2024, January 5). William L. Dawson (composer). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_L._Dawson_(composer) Stay connected with the MSO by subscribing to our newsletter where we deliver news, updates, and fun behind the scenes content!
