11th St. John Chamber Orchestra Festival
Opens Jan. 22 Featuring Winds, Brass and Percussion
Historic St. John’s Church in downtown Stockton will vibrate with
the sounds of winds, brass and percussion during the opening night
concert of the 11th annual St. John’s Chamber Orchestra Festival at
5 p.m., Jan. 22.
Music Director and Conductor Paul Kimball will lead an unusual
program that features works by Gershwin (Porgy and Bess),
Shostakovich(Folk Festival), Copland (Outdoor Overture), Bach
(Toccata and Fugue) and Bernstein (West Side Story) and 16 top
professional musicians that each fulfill solo roles.
“This concert of all winds, brass and percussion is an acoustical
marvel played in St. John’s Church, where the sounds surround the
audience and puts them at the center of the music,” Kimball said.
“This special experience, reminiscent of the great European
churches, is unique. The festival and its repertoire is the only one
of its kind in northern California.”
Founded in 2002 by George Buckbee and Peter Ottesen, the festival
has received the Mayor’s Award for bringing the arts to downtown
Stockton.
The three-concert festival continues at 7:30 p.m., Jan 27 with the
50-voice St. John’s Pops Choir performing, “That’s Entertainment,”
with pianist Jim Coleman, who conducted and directed on Broadway.
Kimball will conduct music from “The Lion King,” “Sweeney Todd,”
“Mary Poppins,” and “What a Wonderful World” – plus a few surprises.
The festival concludes at 5 p.m., Jan. 29 when the St. John’s
Chamber Orchestra is joined by guest artist -- violinist soloist Ann
Miller -- in the classic Four Seasons by Vivaldi, with narration in
English and Italian. Rounding out the all-strings and harpsichord
concert are works selected by Kimball that include Grieg (Asa’s
Death from Peer Gynt), Balmage (Ice Sculptures), Rahman (Slumdog
Millionaire) and Brahms (Hungarian Dance No 5).
Season tickets cost $45 for all three concerts, which represent no
price increase since the festival began 11 years ago. Individual
concert tickets are $20. All seats are unreserved.
St. John’s Chamber Orchestra Festival 2-2-2-2-2-2
Tickets are available from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Monday-Friday at St.
John’s Church office, 316 N. El Dorado Street and at the door 30
minutes before each concert. Cash or check only.
Tickets may also be purchased by using Pay Pal on line at
www.stjohnsstockton.org and clicking on “concert series.”