California Symphony is among one of the greatest orchestras in the state, and it is right in our neighborhood!
By James Quinn
Living in the Bay Area, we are at the heart of the art community in California, particularly surrounded by great, professional music organizations and events that are among the “local happenings” that we take pride in (in this magazine). Earlier this year, for the Vallejo Chamber of Commerce’s Vallejo Magazine, I wrote an article about the Vallejo Symphony and another on the Empress Theatre (both in Vallejo), and I am now delighted to share with you more about the cool music scene with California Symphony—because they are among the greatest in the entire state!
If you are like me, you oftentimes forget that you live in a place where we have great music right under our noses. In fact, the California Symphony is a full orchestra team of top-tier, professional musicians—but do not be intimidated by that, because the symphony can be for everyone (i.e., jeans and a T-shirt are fine), and the company sure knows how to keep prices affordable for quality performances; California Symphony certainly breaks the—in what I will call “orchestra-culture”—mold, as they expand their audiences for a much more inclusive environment so that everyone, of all socioeconomic classes, can enjoy.
“The mission of the California Symphony is to enhance the lives of those it serves in Contra Costa County and the extended San Francisco Bay Area by performing the full range of orchestral repertoire of the highest quality with special attention to the work of American composers, presenting talented young performers in their first professional concert appearances, featuring performances by world-class artists, and providing education outreach programs for the children and adults of our community,” the symphony’s website says.
California Symphony has had a powerful orchestra to back up such a powerful name (one that represents the entire state, that is)—where they now play mostly at their main concert hall at the Lesher Center for the Arts in downtown Walnut Creek (1601 Civic Drive) as well as in Napa Valley, Concord (Concord Pavilion), Oakland, Berkeley, Livermore, and other cities around the Bay Area—and I naturally needed to know more about it.
To get the origin story and more, I met with Executive Director Aubrey Bergauer, who is now starting her fifth year with California Symphony. A little about Bergauer: she is driven and passionate, has a background as a serious musician (breaking gender stereotypes by playing tuba growing up) and has both business education and experience. Of course, I asked her about the history of the California Symphony and its name. “The orchestra was founded in 1986 as the New Contra Costa Symphony, and in 1988, they changed the name to California Symphony Orchestra so as not to limit operations and performances to only the Diablo Valley,” Bergauer said. “The organization is now 32 years old.
At San Francisco Symphony,” she continued, “the principal timpanist, back in the 80’s, Barry Jekowsky—who was considered one of the best timpanists in the world—decided to be a conductor [becoming music director for what is now called California Symphony] and assembled an orchestra with amazing players … Long story short, it was this glorious phoenix rising from the ashes, rebranded as the California Symphony.”
Today, going on his sixth season, the music director (the conductor) is Donato Cabrera, who is alongside Bergauer at the helm of the California Symphony, and whereas music director can come off as “dictators,” he is actually described by many as a very likable guy. “He has a deep knowledge of classical music,” Bergauer explained. “He played instruments growing up, a French horn player. And in college, he took on conducting and leading orchestras, which he started doing [on stage] at 19 years old.”
Quickly a rising star, Cabrera clearly has a lot of passion for what he does, and he gained a lot of his experience and recognition when he served as resident conductor for the San Francisco Symphony; he was also music director of the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra (SFSYO), which is “recognized as one of the finest youth orchestras in the world,” its website says.
In addition to conducting for the California Symphony, Cabrera also conducts for the Las Vegas Philharmonic, so he has dedicated his life to classical music, and it is noticed. “The orchestra has always been good,” Bergauer said, “but he [Cabrera] has really taken it to the next level.”
Cabrera and Bergauer are doing an amazing job leading the California Symphony, “distinguished by vibrant concert programs that combine classics alongside American repertoire and works by living composers, and for bringing music to people in new and unconventional settings,” the symphony’s website says.
One of those unconventional settings was a rooftop concert on a high-rise in Oakland with Postmodern Jukebox, which is something I know I would not expect at all from an orchestra—doing something remarkably memorable, like the Beatles’ famous rooftop concert. California Symphony also was the first orchestra to have ever performed with Postmodern Jukebox, and that group has then since headlined last New Year’s Eve with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
California Symphony is a growing orchestra company that has had some impressive accomplishments; with recent efforts to connect with the community, they have made their presence known with audiences that extend past the classical music concertgoers. For instance, you can sometimes catch California Symphony represented on “First Wednesdays” in downtown Walnut Creek (from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Cypress Street, between Locust & N. Main Streets).
More notably, to name only some of the California Symphony’s community involvement, they have launched a new education program for adults called Fresh Look: The Symphony Exposed, and have various programs for all ages in the community (e.g., Sound Minds, Young American Composer-in-Residence, and Music in the Community). They work closely with the Sound Minds program (developing young musicians and overall music appreciation). They also read to children at the Walnut Creek Public Library (Contra Costa County Library, where they, for example, read the children’s book The Snowman before performing the soundtrack to the movie adaptation at their holiday show in December (information below).
The California Symphony does five concert sets during the year, and its 2018-2019 season started recently at the Lesher Theater on Sunday, September 23rd, with the sold-out show “Beethoven & Bernstein,” which was opened by the piano virtuoso Charlie Albright, who the Washington Post called, “among the most gifted musicians of his generation.”
You definitely need to catch the symphony’s next concert—it’s a popular holiday show for the whole family! The show is called “Tis the Symphony,” coming to the Lesher Center on Saturday, December 22, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Expect “a screening of The Snowman and an audience sing-along” in your comfortable seats in the Lesher. Prior to show time and during intermission, they will have activities for families in the lobby, such as the CSO Instrument Petting Zoo (where you can touch, hold, and even play various instruments in the orchestra), photo booth, and hot cocoa for purchase. Frosty the Snowman also made an appearance last year.
The California Symphony is worth going back to again and again—“We want to create an experience that is so enriching,” Bergauer noted, “that you can’t wait to come back for more.” I personally recommend getting season tickets, which are on sale now, because they are a bargain deal—in fact, you will save up to $147. They also have other great deals on their website, and it is worth subscribing to their mailing and email list for discounts and updates (quickly done on their website).
Conveniently purchase tickets by calling (925) 943-SHOW (7469), at californiasymphony.org by clicking on the “Ticket” tab, or by going to the Lesher Center Ticket Office during business hours (open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.). Call the Lesher Center at (925) 295-1400. For additional information, check out their website at californiasymphony.org, and follow California Symphony on Instagram and on Facebook (by liking their page) to receive great updates and see their inspiring involvement in the community.
James Quinn lives in Benicia and teaches at Elmer Cave Language Academy in Vallejo. A UC Davis alumnus in English, he now studies education as part of Touro University’s Masters in Education program. Along with teaching, he tutors and writes often. He is working on a novel that takes place in Benicia. See his website at mrquinnj.weebly.com.
