Thursday, 18 April 2024

Mother’s Day comes early this year for Lake County Symphony

Trumpet soloist and Lake County’s “trumpet master,” Gary Miller, will play a medley of songs in salute to Louis Armstrong during the Pre-Mother’s Day Concert on Sunday, May 7, 2023, in Lakeport, California. Photo courtesy of the Lake County Symphony.

LAKEPORT, Calif. — Fans of the Lake County Symphony should get ready for a magical day at the upcoming Mother’s Day performance by the Lake County Symphony Orchestra even though it will not take place on the actual Mother’s Day — as has been done since the concerts began.

Instead, due to a scheduling conflict with the Ukiah Symphony which is playing its concert on Mother’s Day this year, Lake County Symphony’s performance will be on May 7, one week earlier than usual.

Conductor and Music Director John Parkinson will lead the orchestra in another unforgettable program featuring well-known, popular music from hit movies and live theater that should bring back good memories and spark the imagination.

The “Pre-Mother’s Day Concert,” as it is being called, will feature selections from “The Wizard of Oz," “Chicago,” “Rocky Broadway” and “Mission Impossible.”

The concert begins with the “warm-up band,” the Lake County Community & Youth Orchestra, playing several pieces in keeping with the theme of the day.

The main concert opens with “Curtain Up!” — a medley of tunes that includes music from a variety of shows, including “Annie Get Your Gun” and “Funny Girl.”

Then we hear two pieces from the “Wizard of Oz,” followed by several selections from “Pan,” based on the story of “Peter Pan.”

Next, the orchestra plays selections from “Hook” and “The Empire Strikes Back Medley” before intermission.

Following the break, the audience will hear the “Mission: Impossible Theme” based on the original TV series, followed by “SATCHMO!” a tribute to Louis Armstrong.

Featured trumpet soloist and Lake County’s “trumpet master,” Gary Miller, will play a medley that includes “What a Wonderful World,” “When the Saints Come Marching In,” “Saint Louis Blues,” and “Hello Dolly.”

Miller has been with the Lake County Symphony since it began in 1978, making him one of its original musicians — along with Andi Skelton and Nick Biondo.

Miller, who also plays with the Ukiah Symphony and with the Symphony of the Redwoods, said, “The saying goes, ‘There are too many directors for the number of musicians,’ so audiences see many of us in all three symphonies.”

This talented and versatile musician is also a part of the Brasstastics Brass Quintet and The Funky Dozen dance band.

Parkinson then leads the symphony in a “Chicago” medley, followed by the Orchestral Suite from “The Star Wars Epic-Part II,” and music from “Pirates of the Caribbean.”

The final musical selection is from “Rocky Broadway,” the Broadway version of the 1976 movie, “Rocky,” featuring a medley of the most recognizable tunes from the show: “Gonna Fly Now,” “Fight from the Heart,” and “Eye of the Tiger.”

Tickets for the concert are $25 for general seating and $30 for premium; they are available for purchase on the Soper Reese website. LCSA members receive a $5 discount.

Please arrive 30 minutes early when buying tickets at the door for the regular 2 p.m. concert.

There is also an 11 a.m. dress rehearsal performance which costs $5 for adults and is free for those for those under 18. Please arrive extra early for this rehearsal concert to ensure a seat.

Debra Fredrickson writes for the Lake County Symphony Association.

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