Santa Rosa Symphony Family Series, in its 7th year, features music, mystery and magic

The Santa Rosa Symphony presents its 7th Family Concert Season, comprising three Sunday afternoon, interactive orchestral concerts geared to small children and families filled with fun, mystery and magic. Also returning are the free photo booth for the fall concert and the free Instrument Petting Zoo for all three concerts. New SRS Music Director Francesco Lecce-Chong conducts the spring concert. Subscriptions for this affordable, family-friendly concert series may be purchased beginning September 4.

The first family concert of the season, "The Conductor's Spellbook," written and narrated by Paul Dooley, is on Sunday, October 28, 2018 at Weill Hall, Green Music Center. Dooley also wrote the SRS-commissioned Sonoma Strong, which receives its second (and second SRS) performance at the opening 2018-2019 Classical Series concert earlier in October. Young Tony Stradivarius finds a powerful book of spells and uses it to control the orchestra. For this concert only, there will be a free photo booth available before and after the concert and children are encouraged to dress up – even in their Halloween costumes.

Classical Kids Live! joins the orchestra again on Sunday, January 27, for "Vivaldi's Ring of Mystery." Katarina, a young violinist who is sent to study violin in an orphanage with Antonio Vivaldi in 17-century Venice, searches for clues to her identity and to a vanishing Stradivarius violin. Her search takes her through Carnivale and the Island of the Dead. This highly-acclaimed theatrical symphony concert is an imaginative way to introduce young audiences and their families to the life and music of Antonio Lucio Vivaldi in a live performance venue. Audiences will enjoy recognizable excerpts from Vivaldi's major works, including his Four Seasons, Violin Concerto in A minor and Guitar Concerto.

For "The Conductor's Spellbook" and "Vivaldi's Ring of Mystery," the orchestra will be led by Bobby Rogers, who is the new conductor for the Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra, following seven years conducting SRS' Repertory (now SRS Aspirante Youth Orchestra). Rogers is also the music director at Pioneer High School in Woodland, Calif. and Adjunct Professor of Band at Woodland Community College and Artistic Director of the Yolo Community Band.

On Sunday, April 7, "The Composer is Dead" will be conducted by new SRS Music Director Francesco Lecce-Chong. All the suspects are musical instruments, and they all seem to have a motive – and an alibi. So who killed the composer? This murder mystery was commissioned by the San Francisco Symphony and composed by one of its Youth Orchestra alumns, Nathaniel Stookey. The narration for the piece (and the corresponding children's book) was written by the popular children's author Lemony Snicket (A Series of Unfortunate Events). For more information about the program and their collaboration, see this YouTube video.

Family Series subscriptions are available for purchase beginning September 4 and single tickets may be purchased beginning September 25. Subscription and single tickets may be purchased at srsymphony.org, by phone at 54-MUSIC (707) 546-8742, or in person Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM at the Symphony Patron Services Office, 50 Santa Rosa Avenue (north entrance, first floor).

Three-concert subscription packages are $48 for adults and $33 for children (12 and under). Family packages start at $138 and must include two child subscriptions. Single tickets are $18 for adults and $12 for children age 12 and under.