Santa Rosa Symphony announces next season lineup new Music Director Francesco Lecce-Chong
The Santa Rosa Symphony's 91st season begins a new era with its new Music Director Francesco Lecce-Chong, who is also Music Director for the Eugene (Ore.) Symphony. Lecce-Chong won the position with a unanimous vote by the Board of Directors after making a lasting impression when he conducted the orchestra for its opening set last fall, in spite of the last concert being cancelled due to the wildfires. He plans to maintain a residence in Eugene, while also establishing a Sonoma County residence before the 2019-2020 season.
Lecce-Chong, a San Francisco-born, Boulder, Colorado native, concludes his position as Associate Conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and Principal Conductor of the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra this summer. The 31-year-old conductor has garnered acclaim for his dynamic performances, commitment to innovative programming and passion for community engagement. Lecce-Chong has appeared with orchestras around the world, including the National, Atlanta, Toronto, Milwaukee and St. Louis symphony orchestras and Hong Kong Philharmonic.
“Next season will be particularly special to me as I get to know my new colleagues in the orchestra and the community,” says Lecce-Chong. “I look forward to building our relationship through some of the most iconic works in the repertoire, as well as exploring the fresh, innovative sounds of today.”
Lecce-Chong will conduct three of the seven 2018-2019 Classical Series concert sets: October 6-8, November 3-5 and January 12-14.
Santa Rosa Symphony President and CEO Alan Silow says, "The coming season celebrates the beginning of what we expect will be a highly beneficial and meaningful relationship with our new music director, Francesco Lecce-Chong, who will bring new insights, passion and strength to our orchestra and organization. At the same time, we have a roster of stellar guest artists and excellent programming for our Classical Series and outreach and education programs that continue to grow and touch more young lives every season."
Conductor Emeritus Jeffrey Kahane and Conductor Laureate Bruno Ferrandis return to conduct the orchestra for the last two sets, in March and May, respectively. Jayce Ogren, Artistic Director of Orchestra 2001 in Philadelphia, will conduct the December 1-3 set and Sarah Ioannides, Music Director of Symphony Tacoma (Wash.), conducts for the February 9-11 concerts.
Esteemed guest artists for Lecce-Chong's inaugural season include the return of phenomenal guitarist Sharon Isbin, who boasts an awe-inspiring list of credits, including national radio, television and magazine exposure and the return of piano sensation Olga Kern.
Programming for the 2018-2019 Classical Series season begins in October with Beethoven's 5th symphony and includes an American tribute featuring Bernstein, Gershwin and Copland, and masterworks by Mozart, Mahler and Mendelssohn.
The Symphony begins the season with a gala celebration introducing its new Music Director Francesco Lecce-Chong on Friday, October 5, 2018. This traditional, invitation-only, fundraising event includes a reception, private recital and dinner at the Green Music Center. The gala is the largest fundraising event of the season and raises money for the Symphony's music education programs.
The Santa Rosa Symphony Pops Series, now entering its 14th year, has an exciting line-up for four concerts, beginning on October 14, 2018. These Sunday afternoon performances at the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts are conducted by SRS Principal Pops conductor Michael Berkowitz. This season, the SRS Pops pays tribute to Judy Garland and Liza Minelli's famous 1964 concert at the Palladium, four stellar – and knighted – songwriters, Ray Charles, and for the holidays, favorite holiday movie soundtracks. Guests include Ellis Hall, Ambassador of Soul; vocalists Joan Ellison and Carolann Sanita.
New lower ticket prices for the Saturday and Monday evening performances of the 2018-2019 Classical Series. Prices have been reduced to encourage more patrons to attend in the evenings. In addition, those performances begin one half hour earlier, as follows: Saturday 7:30 PM, Monday 7:30 PM. The corresponding pre-concert talks will also happen earlier: Saturday 6:30 PM and Monday 6:30 PM. Sunday Classical Series concerts remain at
3 PM.
Be here from the beginning! Season Overview: Performances Saturdays and Mondays at 7:30 PM, Sundays at 3:00 PM, Discovery Rehearsals Saturdays at 2:00 PM
For more information, visit https://www.srsymphony.org/Events-Tickets/Season-Overview-2018-2019