The San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra (SFSYO)
In Review

2010-2011 Season Highlights include

Keypoints
  • Franck’s Symphony in D minor
  • Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1 featuring Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition Winner Nathan Chan
  • Britten’s Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra
  • Holst’s The Planets, holiday performances of Peter and the Wolf
  • Bay Area Youth Orchestra Festival
Review by Monica Turner

The San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra (SFSYO) opens its 30th Anniversary Season on Sunday, October 31, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. in Davies Symphony Hall. Wattis Foundation Music Director Donato Cabrera will lead the Orchestra in a program that includes Ginastera’s Estancia Suite, Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1 featuring SFSYO 2010 Concerto Competition Winner Nathan Chan, and Franck’s Symphony in D minor. The season also includes two other subscription series concerts, including the 30th anniversary concert, special holiday performances of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, and the Bay Area Youth Orchestra Festival.

Nathan Chan
Nathan Chan

Nathan Chan, 16, made his performance debut at age three conducting the San Jose Chamber Orchestra. Since then, he has appeared as cello soloist with the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra, the UK Northern Sinfonia, the Peninsula Symphony Orchestra, and with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Barbican. He has also performed with the San Francisco Symphony (SFS) at the Shoreline Amphitheater and in SFS education concerts. Nathan has also performed in numerous benefit concerts, and been featured in several documentaries about young musical prodigies.

The annual holiday performances of Peter and the Wolf with a special celebrity narrator will take place on Saturday, December 11 at 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. in Davies Symphony Hall. The SFSYO will also perform this program on Sunday, December 12 at 3:00 p.m. at the Flint Center in Cupertino.

On Sunday, January 16 at 3:00 p.m, Donato Cabrera will conduct the SFSYO in the Bay Area Youth Orchestra Festival, alongside five of the Bay Area’s most talented orchestral ensembles of young musicians. Following the tremendous success of the 2009 festival, the California Youth Symphony, Oakland Youth Orchestra, Peninsula Youth Orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra, Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra, and the Young People’s Symphony Orchestra come together to perform in one concert. Proceeds from the concert benefit six organizations, one within each orchestra’s local community, that provide resources to underserved and homeless youth.

On Sunday, March 13 at 2:00 p.m., Donato Cabrera and the SFSYO will perform Honegger’s Pacific 231, Haydn’s Symphony No. 84 in E-flat major, Webern’s Im Sommerwind, and Britten’s The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra.

On Sunday, May 15 at 2:00 p.m., the SFSYO will perform a special 30th anniversary concert. Led by Donato Cabrera, the program will include Divertimento by Bartók and The Planets by Holst.

SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY YOUTH ORCHESTRA

DONATO CABRERA / WATTIS FOUNDATION MUSIC DIRECTOR
2010-2011 SEASON

SFSYOSunday, October 31 at 2:00 p.m.
Davies Symphony Hall
201 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

Donato Cabrera, conductor
Nathan Chan, cello
San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra

PROGRAM:
Ginastera/Estancia Suite, Opus 8a
Shostakovich/Cello Concerto No. 1, Opus 107
Franck/Symphony in D minor

TICKETS: $45 reserved, $12 general. Tickets are available at sfsymphony, by phone at 415-864-6000, and at the Davies Symphony Hall Box Office, on Grove Street between Van Ness Avenue and Franklin Street in San Francisco.

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Saturday, December 11 at 1:00 and 4:00 p.m.
Davies Symphony Hall
201 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

Sunday, December 12 at 3:00 p.m.
Flint Center
21250 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino

Donato Cabrera, conductor
narrator TBA
San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra

PROGRAM:
Prokofiev/Peter and the Wolf
Holiday music and carol sing-alongs

TICKETS: Davies Symphony Hall concerts $15-$57; Flint Center concert $15-$48; children 17 and under half-price. Tickets are available at sfsymphony, by phone at 415-864-6000, and at the Davies Symphony Hall Box Office, on Grove Street between Van Ness Avenue and Franklin Street in San Francisco. “Wolf Packs,” which include concert seating and a pre-concert party with arts and crafts, are available for the 12/12 Flint Center performance. Call the Volunteer Council for details at (415) 503-5500.
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Sunday, January 16 at 3:00 p.m.
Bay Area Youth Orchestra Festival
Davies Symphony Hall
201 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

California Youth Symphony
Oakland Youth Symphony
Peninsula Youth Orchestra
San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra
Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra
Young People’s Symphony Orchestra

PROGRAM:
Join six of the Bay Area’s Youth Orchestras as they come together for a celebration of music in our vibrant community with a special concert at Davies Symphony Hall. Proceeds from the concert will benefit six organizations, one within each orchestra’s local community, that provide resources to underserved and homeless youth.

TICKETS: $30-$60. Tickets are available at sfsymphony, by phone at 415-864-6000, and at the Davies Symphony Hall Box Office, on Grove Street between Van Ness Avenue and Franklin Street in San Francisco.

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Sunday, March 13 at 2:00 p.m.
Davies Symphony Hall
201 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

Donato Cabrera, conductor
San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra

PROGRAM:
Honegger/Pacific 231
Haydn/Symphony No. 84 in E-flat major
Webern/Im Sommerwind
Britten/The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, Opus 34

TICKETS: $45 reserved, $12 general. Tickets are available at sfsymphony, by phone at 415-864-6000, and at the Davies Symphony Hall Box Office, on Grove Street between Van Ness Avenue and Franklin Street in San Francisco.
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Sunday, May 15 at 2:00 p.m.
30th ANNIVERSARY CONCERT
Davies Symphony Hall
201 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

Donato Cabrera, conductor
San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra

PROGRAM:
Bartók/Divertimento
Holst/The Planets

TICKETS: $45 reserved, $12 general. Tickets are available at sfsymphony, by phone at 415-864-6000, and at the Davies Symphony Hall Box Office, on Grove Street between Van Ness Avenue and Franklin Street in San Francisco.

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