MODESTO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Contact:
Caroline Nickel
cnickel@modestosymphony.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / April 3, 2024
Click to download high-resolution photos. (Pictured from left to right: top row: Nicholas Hersh, music director; Branford Marsalis, saxophone; Audrey Wright, violin; bottom row: MSO Chorus; Picnic at the Pops, Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark™ in Concert)
Modesto Symphony Orchestra Brings New Energy To 2024-2025 Season
The MSO’s 94th season features outstanding programming, world-renown guest artists, and the MSO Chorus.
The season opens with a special one-night-only event, featuring Branford Marsalis!
The Classics Series will feature the works of Vivaldi, Saint-Saëns, Modesto’s own Andrew Norman, and Verdi. It also includes Disney’s Fantasia Live in Concert!
The Pops Series will feature the hits of Aretha Franklin sung by Broadway star, Capathia Jenkins and Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost ArkTM in Concert.
Picnic at the Pops! returns with Dancing in the Street: The Music of Motown.
MODESTO, CA – The Modesto Symphony Orchestra (MSO) presents their 94th season led by MSO Music Director Nicholas Hersh. The MSO’s season will kick off with Picnic at the Pops! Dancing in the Street: The Music of Motown, featuring the music of Marvin Gaye, The Four Tops, Michael Jackson, and Diana Ross.
The MSO’s first concert at the Gallo Center for the Arts will be in October with a special one-night-only Opening Night concert featuring Grammy Award-winning jazz saxophonist Branford Marsalis, performing Darius Milhaud’s Scaramouche and John Williams’ Escapades from Steven Spielberg’s 2002 comedy, Catch Me If You Can.
This year there will be four Classics concerts with performances on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 PM at the Gallo Center for the Arts. The Classics Series will feature the works of Vivaldi, Saint-Saëns, Modesto’s own Grammy-nominated composer Andrew Norman, and Verdi. The Classics Series also welcomes the addition of a live-to-film performance of Disney’s Fantasia Live in Concert.
In addition to the Classics Series, the MSO also offers a three-concert Pops Series led by Principal Pops Conductor Ryan Murray, which includes Aretha: A Tribute featuring Broadway star Capathia Jenkins, and Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost ArkTM in Concert.
"I am overjoyed to welcome the Modesto community to our '24-25 season! My collaboration with the MSO in our first year working together has been beyond rewarding, and I am honored to continue deepening our relationship in the year to come,” said Music Director Nicholas Hersh. “There is a wonderful sense of energy in each concert program we will offer, from the virtuosity of guest artists like Branford Marsalis, to the beloved marriage of animation and orchestra in Fantasia, to simply the music leaping off the page of masterworks like Verdi's timeless Requiem. There is truly something for everyone in our community to enjoy, and I look forward to welcoming audiences of all ages back to the Gallo Center next season!”
MODESTO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 2024-25 SEASON OVERVIEW
Opening Night Concert
The MSO’s 94th Season opens with Branford Marsalis and Symphonic Dances. This special one-night-only concert features Grammy Award-winning jazz saxophonist Branford Marsalis, performing Darius Milhaud’s Scaramouche and John Williams’ Escapades from Steven Spielberg’s 2002 comedy, Catch Me If You Can. The evening will conclude with Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances.
Classics Series
4 concerts performed on both Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM in the Mary Stuart Rogers Theater at Gallo Center for the Arts
The MSO begins the Classics Series on November 1 & 2, 2024 with The Four Seasons Mixtape. The evening will start with Mendelssohn’s romantic Overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Ortiz’s La Calaca which features driving rhythms and stirring melodies inspired by the traditions of Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) that celebrate the afterlife in Mexican culture. The MSO will dive deeper into each season with a “mixtape” from Hersh featuring one movement each from Vivaldi, Richter, Ysaÿe, and Piazzolla to create an exploration not only of the seasons, but of each of their cultures.
The Classics Series welcomes the addition of a live-to-film performance of Disney’s Fantasia Live in Concert on February 7 & 8, 2025. Families of all ages will enjoy iconic scenes from the original 1940 film and Fantasia 2000 paired with orchestral masterpieces like Dukas' The Sorcerer's Apprentice and Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, performed live by the MSO and conductor Ryan Murray.
On April 11 & 12, 2025, the MSO performs Camille Saint-Saëns’ Carnival of the Animals, as well as a piece by Modesto’s own and two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, composer Andrew Norman. The evening concludes with the MSO performing Copland’s Four Dance Episodes from Rodeo, with the young musicians of the Modesto Symphony Youth Orchestra playing side-by-side on Hoedown.
The Classics Series concludes on May 9 & 10, 2025 with the MSO and MSO Chorus performing Verdi’s Requiem.
Pops Series
Three concerts on Fridays at 7:30 pm and two Saturday matinee performances at 2 pm, performed in the Mary Stuart Rogers Theater at the Gallo Center for the Arts conducted by Principal Pops Conductor Ryan Murray.
The Pops Series begins with a celebration of the Holiday Season with the ever-popular Holiday Pops concert. The MSO will be joined by the MSO Chorus on December 6, 2024 at 7:30 pm and December 7, 2024 at 2pm.
The second concert in the Pops Series will be on March 14, 2025 with Aretha: A Tribute. This high-energy, glittering tribute to the Queen of Soul features your Modesto Symphony Orchestra with Broadway star Capathia Jenkins! The evening will feature Aretha Franklin’s iconic hits like “Respect,” “Think,” “You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman,” “Chain of Fools,” “Amazing Grace,” and many more.
The Pops Series will close with Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost ArkTM in Concert. Fans will be able to experience the full movie with the MSO performing the full score live to film on May 30 & 31, 2025.
Special Community concerts:
Picnic at the Pops on September 7, 2024 and the Holiday Candlelight Concert on December 17, 2024.
The Modesto Symphony Orchestra will present their 28th Annual Picnic at the Pops! on September 7, 2024 with Dancing in the Street: The Music of Motown. Grounds open at 5 pm and the concert begins at 7:30 pm at the E. & J. Gallo Winery.
MSO Chorus Director Dr. Daniel R. Afonso Jr. once again leads the Modesto Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, plus the Opus Handbell Ensemble in a special concert that has become a treasured community tradition, the Holiday Candlelight Concert on December 17, 2024 at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church.
Tickets
Subscription packages and single tickets for the MSO’s 2024-25 season will be on sale starting June 3, 2024 online, by phone, and at the Gallo Center Ticket Office. Visit ModestoSymphony.org for full details.
Gallo Center Ticket Office
1000 I Street, Modesto CA 95354
Hours: Monday through Friday 10:00am to 6:00pm and Saturdays 12:00pm to 6:00pm.
Phone: 209.338.2100
FULL MSO 2024-25 SEASON LISTING
Nicholas Hersh, Music Director
SEASON OPENER:
Branford Marsalis & Symphonic Dances
October 5, 2024 at 7:00 pm
Nicholas Hersh, conductor
Branford Marsalis, saxophone
Program:
Alexander Borodin: Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor
Darius Milhaud: Scaramouche
John Williams: Escapades from Catch Me If You Can
Sergei Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances
CLASSICS SERIES
The Four Seasons Mixtape
November 1 & 2, 2024 at 7:30 pm
Nicholas Hersh, conductor
Audrey Wright, violin
Program:
Felix Mendelssohn: Overture from Midsummer Night's Dream, Op. 21
Gabriela Ortiz: La Calaca for String Orchestra
The Four Seasons Mixtape:
Antonio Vivaldi: L'estate (Summer)
Max Richter: Autumn from The Four Seasons Recomposed
Eugène Ysaÿe: Chant d'hiver (Wintersong)
Astor Piazzolla: Primavera porteña (Buenos Aires Spring)
Disney’s Fantasia Live in Concert
February 7 & 8, 2025 at 7:30 pm
Ryan Murray, conductor
Presentation licensed by Disney Concerts. © All rights reserved.
Carnival of the Animals
April 11 & 12, 2025 at 7:30 pm
Nicholas Hersh, conductor
Modesto Symphony Youth Orchestra, side-by-side
Program:
George Gershwin (arr. Nicholas Hersh): Three Preludes
Camille Saint-Saëns: Carnival of the Animals
Andrew Norman: Drip Blip Sparkle Spin Glint Glide Glow Float Flop Chop Pop Shatter Splash
Aaron Copland: Four Dance Episodes from Rodeo
Verdi’s Requiem
May 9 & 10, 2025 at 7:30 pm
Nicholas Hersh, conductor
MSO Chorus, Daniel R. Afonso Jr., chorus director
Program:
Guiseppe Verdi: Requiem
POPS SERIES
Ryan Murray, Principal Pops Conductor
Holiday Pops!
December 6, 2024 at 7:30 pm
December 7, 2024 at 2:00 pm
Ryan Murray, conductor
MSO Chorus, Daniel R. Afonso Jr., chorus director
To Be Announced, guest vocalist
Aretha: A Tribute
March 14, 2025 at 7:30 pm
Ryan Murray, conductor
Capathia Jenkins, guest vocalist
Ryan Shaw, guest vocalist
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost ArkTM in Concert
Live Orchestra with Full Length Film
May 30, 2025 at 7:30 pm
May 31, 2025 at 2:00 pm
Ryan Murray, conductor
Motion Picture & Artwork © 1981 Lucasfilm Ltd. Concert performed under license from Disney Concerts. Disney Concerts under license from Lucasfilm Ltd and Paramount Pictures.
Special Community Concerts
Picnic at the Pops! Dancing in the Street: The Music of Motown
September 7, 2024
E. & J. Gallo Winery Grounds
Grounds open at 5:00 pm
Concert starts at 7:30 pm
Ryan Murray, conductor
Chester Gregory, guest vocalist
Shayna Steele, guest vocalist
Terron Brooks, guest vocalist
Holiday Candlelight Concert
December 17, 2024 at 8:00 pm
St. Stanislaus Catholic Church
Daniel R. Afonso Jr., conductor
MSO Chorus, Daniel R. Afonso Jr., chorus director
Opus Handbell Ensemble, Richard Colla, Opus Handbell Ensemble director
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The Modesto Symphony Orchestra is a Resident Company of The Gallo Center for the Arts. The DoubleTree Hotel is the official hotel of the MSO.
