Broadway star, Capathia Jenkins invites you to see her at this one-night-only unforgettable event! Pack your picnic and get ready to see Capathia perform the hits of Aretha Franklin and more!
Hear the music of Aretha Franklin and more performed live by the MSO this September 9, 2023!
Principal Pops Conductor Ryan Murray is ready to invite you back for another fun-filled night at Picnic at the Pops paying tribute to the Queen of Soul: Aretha Franklin!
Hear the music of Aretha Franklin and more performed live by the MSO this September 9, 2023!
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.
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 The Village Butcher to have ready on-site for you to enjoy.
Wine generously donated by the E. & J. Gallo Winery will be available to purchase on-site. 100% of wine sales proceeds benefit the Modesto Symphony Orchestra. For the full wine & beverage list, click here.
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
The Village Butcher:
1700 McHenry Ave #65, Modesto, CA 95350
Tuesday – Friday: 10 am to 7 pm
Saturday: 9 am to 4 pm
www.thevillagebutcher209.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!
Come watch Capathia Jenkins and Darryl J. Williams, conducted by Ryan Murray, perform Aretha: A Tribute alongside the Modesto Symphony Orchestra this September 9th at the E. & J. Gallo Winery Grounds!
Aretha Franklin, 1968
Aretha Franklin (born March 25, 1942, died August 16, 2018) was an American singer who was a pioneer of music, and defined the golden age of soul in the 1960s. Her mother was a gospel singer, and her father was a minister, allowing Aretha to perform gospel programs around the country as a young teenager. At age 18, she began recording secular music. While stunningly taleneted, she intially struggled to reach audiences until her 1967 single “I Never Loved a Man (the Way I Love You)” became her first million-seller. Success continued to follow with her albums "Aretha Arrives" (1967) and "Soul '69" (1969), to name a few. She was a highly awarded artist: receiving a Hollywood Star in 1979, being the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, a Kennedy Center Honor in 1994, a National Medal of Arts in 1999, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005. Aretha was a dedicated activist, using her platform to promote civil and women's rights, often covering payroll for activist groups, and performing at various benefits. Aretha Franklin was a pioneer in music for Black women, an icon in soul music, and had a major impact on social justice. Her legacy has and will continue to impact the world of music and the arts.
In celebration for our Picnic theme this year and Aretha Franklin’s impact on music, the MSO has selected our top 5 Aretha Franklin songs:
Aretha Franklin’s soulful lyrics and the high rock tempo provide the perfect storm for this R&B classic about being unable to leave an unfaithful lover.
Already an iconic Dionne Warwick song, Aretha’s version is a transformative version that stands out as not only a classic for her music, but considered one of the top 500 songs of all time, according to Rolling Stones.
While the original song was written by Otis Redding, Aretha’s cover is a staple of music and pop culture. Her version revamps the original song into a strong declaration from a confident woman that she deserves respect from her man. Show some R ● E● S ● P ● E ● C ● T!
A legendary song from a legendary performer, which is the expression of finding someone who makes you feel like you can be yourself.
Allegedly written about Franklin’s troubled marriage to Ted White, the song rapidly became a protest song for civil rights and women’s liberation movements, and is known today as a feminist anthem.
Come hear your favorite Aretha Franklin hits this September 9th at the E. & J. Gallo Winery Grounds!
Ryan Murray, conductor
Capathia Jenkins, guest vocalist
Darryl J. Williams, guest vocalist
Sat. Sept. 9, 2023 at 7:30 pm
E. & J. Gallo Winery Grounds
Learn more about Aretha Franklin (Reference):A&E Networks Television. (2021, September 15). Aretha Franklin. Biography.com. https://www.biography.com/musicians/aretha-franklin Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (2023, July 12). Aretha Franklin. Encyclopaedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Aretha-Franklin
Peterson, K. (2023, June 2). 17 best Aretha Franklin songs: The queen of soul’s greatest. Music In Minnesota. https://www.musicinminnesota.com/aretha-franklin-songs/
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