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During this adventurous and audacious evening, the audience will feel as if it is traveling through rhythmic habaneras, bluegrass dances, and classical symphonies, covering an expansive landscape of musical and cultural terrain. The program, carefully curated to elicit joy and celebration, invites contemplation on the whimsical delight of bluegrass and the classics playing alongside each other. Indeed, the concert emerges as a testament to the transformative power of music that transcends boundaries and converges diverse traditions into an enjoyable and harmonious event.

This evening includes a curated ensemble of award-winning musical masterpieces, genres, and influences. Commencing the program is Arturo Marquez’s “Danzon No. 2,” a resplendent fusion of Contradance and Cuban habanera steeped in the cultural heritage of Mexico. Marquez, a luminary hailing from a lineage of folk musicians, deftly intertwines traditional Mexican musical forms into this composition that resonates with the rhythmic allure of ballrooms in bustling Mexico City. The composition exudes an infectious energy, captivating the audience with its catchy rhythms and toe-tapping quality. Marquez’s composition unfolds as a vivacious dance, wherein sultry, passionate melodies intermingle seamlessly with an underlying drive, creating an experience that is both easy on the ears and exuberantly invigorating for both performers and listeners alike.

Following this rhythmic odyssey is Michael Torke’s “Sky”, a virtuosic composition tailor-made for the prodigious Tessa Lark. The concerto, a manifestation of Torke’s Pulitzer Prize-winning genius, weaves together the classical prowess of a renowned violinist with the rich heritage of Kentucky’s fiddling tradition. Lark, nominated for a GRAMMY in the Best Classical Instrumental Solo category and recipient Lincoln Center’s prestigious Emerging Artist Awards, effortlessly navigates the intricate complexities of the concerto, seamlessly transitioning between her classical prowess and her roots in bluegrass. Torke’s creation, though challenging, unfolds as a lighthearted, evocative homage to the bluegrass idiom, a musical journey that is both technically demanding and artistically rewarding.

The concert expands into Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1, a composition that resonates with the effervescence of dance. Beethoven, often perceived through the lens of sternness, here reveals a facet of exuberance, challenging the notion that he was solely a solemn maestro. The symphony, imbued with an upbeat character, weaves together a diverse range of influences, mirroring the theme of the entire program.

READ THE EVENING’S PROGRAM NOTES HERE.

Get in the mood! Tessa Lark as seen with West Michigan Symphony:

Audiences will enjoy the Classical Series fun and elegant evening surrounded by the Terrace Theater’s dazzling fountains and fire pits, live ensemble in the lobby, 6:30 PM Pre-Concert Talk to gain greater knowledge regarding the evening programming, and the ability to “Sip & Enjoy” in the concert hall.  Doors open at 6PM.

There’s still time to Subscribe and get all the PERKS:  Choose the Subscription that’s right for YOU.

There’s still time to Subscribe and get all the Perks! Choose the Subscription that’s right for YOU!

Embark upon an evening that pays homage to the rich tapestry of American music with an exquisite celebration of diverse musical cultures, influences, identities, and expressive forms where the melodies echo the origins and spirit of America in a harmonious and colorful celebration of past and present.

We open with Coincident Dances, the work from contemporary composer Jessie Montgomery as she channels her profound reflections on the dynamic rhythms of New York City into an innovative musical composition. This piece, a convergence of simultaneous sounds, contrasting times, and diverse cultural ideas, unfolds as a rhythmic masterpiece that elicits an immediate response of understanding and appreciation.

William Grant Still’s Symphony No. 5, “Western Hemisphere” is an opulent composition exuding a late romantic sensibility. Filled with lush and melodic passages, the symphony pulsates with rhythmic vitality, reminiscent of the blue scale. Its cinematic quality carries a positive message of American goodwill and prosperity, exploring the vigorous life-sustaining forces of the hemisphere and focusing on the beauty of nature.

With the timeless genius of George Gershwin, whose signature fusion of jazz and classical music takes center stage, this piano concerto was written a year after “Rhapsody in Blue,” promising an even more ambitious and expansive musical journey. This concerto, performed by the extraordinary pianist Clayton Stephenson, elevates the evening to unparalleled heights. Stephenson, a trailblazing talent and the first black finalist of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2022, lends his remarkable artistry to this symphonic spectacle.

The program seamlessly weaves together the threads of American identity, from Montgomery’s contemporary reflections to Still’s lush romanticism and Gershwin’s groundbreaking fusion of genres. Join us on this transcendent journey, where the melodies echo the vibrant spirit of America, past and present, in a harmonious celebration of musical innovation and brilliance.

Enjoy here Clayton Stephenson’s performance of Gershwin’s Piano Concerto 

Enjoy the evening’s PROGRAM NOTES

Audiences will enjoy the Classical https://longbeachsymphony.org/2024-11-9-concert-program-notes/ ‎Series fun and elegant evening surrounded by the Terrace Theater’s dazzling fountains and fire pits, live ensemble in the lobby, 6:30 PM Pre-Concert Talk to gain greater knowledge regarding the evening programming, and the ability to “Sip & Enjoy” in the concert hall.  Doors open at 6PM.

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Welcome to this celebratory affair as we open the 2024-2025 Season and 90th anniversary of Long Beach Symphony. Beethoven’s Egmont Overture opens our 90^th Anniversary Season which was the first piece the Symphony performed in 1934. It will be followed by the West Coast Premiere of Anna Clyne’s Quarter Days and Dvořák’s “Goin’ Home” and Symphony No. 9 “From the New World.”

Egmont Overture, Op. 84, the jubilant opus that inaugurated the Long Beach Symphony in 1934, encapsulates the quintessence of Beethoven’s artistry. Revered as the “Victory Symphony,” its power and thunderous beginning emanates with an almost excessive virtuosic jubilation. Beethoven had a deeply rooted belief in humanistic freedom. He was drawn to protagonists who fought against repressive forces. In this emotional overture – which is part of incidental music composed to accompany Goethe’s play “Egmont” – he depicts the struggle of count Egmont fighting for freedom and liberty. From thunderous chords of oppression to fanfares of victory, with its dramatic turn from tragedy into triumph, Beethoven unleashes some of his most powerful music. This overture showcases the power and virtuosity of music and represents the philosophical and musical ideals of this orchestra.

Cultivating new beginnings, we present the West Coast Premiere of “Quarter Days, a new concerto for solo string quartet and orchestra by the distinguished British violinist, composer, and Emmy nominee Anna Clyne. Her cello concerto DANCE – performed by the Long Beach Symphony in 2022 – has garnered over 10 million plays on Spotify. We are proud to be part of the consortium that commissioned “Quarter Days”. This concerto will be a great opportunity to showcase the principal string players of the orchestra as soloists, featuring Concertmaster Roger Wilke, Chloé Tardif (Violin II, Principal), Andrew Duckles (Viola, Principal), and Cécilia Tsan (Cello, Principal). Quarter Days is a reflection on the passing of time – both within a minute, a day, and through the seasons of the year. Anna Clyne’s music has an instant appeal – full of lyricism, colors, and emotion.

The evening concludes with Antonin Dvořák’s Ninth Symphony “From the New World”, composed during Antonin Dvořák’s early days in the United States. It is not only one of quintessential symphonies of the entire orchestral repertoire, but it also stands as a testament to his encouragement of American composers to cultivate a national identity in their music. This tour-de-force for the orchestra includes influences of Native-American melodies, spirituals – and of course his indomitable “Czech spirit.” The performance of the “New World” Symphony will be preceded by a presentation of “Goin’ Home”, a song based on the famous melody of the second movement, with a text by William Arms Fisher.

Be inspired by these works:

Be inspired by the backstories: Enjoy the Program Notes for this concert, by Susan Swinburne.

Audiences will enjoy the Classical Series fun and elegant evening surrounded by the Terrace Theater’s dazzling fountains and fire pits, live ensemble in the lobby, 6:30 PM Pre-Concert Talk to gain greater knowledge regarding the evening programming, and the ability to “Sip & Enjoy” in the concert hall.  Doors open at 6PM. Celebrate the inaguration of the 90th Season with us after the concert.

Get all the PERKS:  Purchase a NEW SUBSCRIPTION

We can’t go back in time, but what if in one evening we could relive all the youthful energy and sonic celebration that was 1980s New Wave & FM Radio Pop: right here, right now? Every sound.  Every nuance.  Every time.

Join the ultimate 80’s celebration that will have you singing and dancing to music by Kenny Loggins, Tears for Fears, the Police, The Cars, George Michael, Soft Cell, Simple Minds, Bryan Adams, Queen, Lionel Richie, Phil Collins, and Bruce Springsteen ~ LIVE (far better than the tunes we remember from our cassettes and boom boxes!). Enjoy hits like Danger Zone – Kenny Loggins; Head Over Heels – Tears For Fears; Take on Me – A-ha; Always Something There – Naked Eyes; Faith – George Michael; Broken Wings – Mr Mister; Power of Love – Huey Lewis & the News; Dancing in The Dark – Bruce Springsteen; Let’s Dance – David Bowie; Let’s Go Crazy – Prince; Against All Odds – Phil Collins;   Summer of 69 – Bryan Adams …… and so much more!

“If you close your eyes it’s 1985. This band is unbelievable.” – Christine Murphy, Manchester, CT

“Incredible! Every song was as good as the original, or better.” – Michael Collins, San Diego, CA

Watch the videos and judge for yourself!

Shout – Tears For Fears cover – (Live in our private rehearsal studio) (youtube.com)

Radio Gaga – Queen Cover (youtube.com)

Head Over Heels – Tears For Fears (Cover) (youtube.com)

No One Is To Blame – Howard Jones Cover (youtube.com)

June 12, 2021: ELECTRIC AVENUE (80s MTV Experience) LIVE at 37 Main (youtube.com)

SOMETHING ABOUT YOU – Level 42 (Cover) – Electric Avenue (youtube.com)

Another Brick in the Wall St Electric Avenue The 80s MTV Experience in Akron (youtube.com)

Electric Avenue in Nashville (youtube.com)

KYRIE – Electric Avenue covering Mr Mister (youtube.com)

DRIVE – The Cars – Cover (youtube.com)

WHIP IT! by Electric Avenue (DEVO cover – Live 12/31/20) (youtube.com)

SOMETHING ABOUT YOU – Level 42 (Cover) – Electric Avenue (youtube.com)

One More Try – (George Michael Cover) (youtube.com)

Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree (youtube.com)

June 12, 2021: ELECTRIC AVENUE (80s MTV Experience) LIVE at 37 Main (youtube.com)

SOMETHING ABOUT YOU – Level 42 (Cover) – Electric Avenue (youtube.com)

Electric Avenue in Nashville (youtube.com)

KYRIE – Electric Avenue covering Mr Mister (youtube.com)

Radio Gaga – Queen Cover (youtube.com)

DRIVE – The Cars – Cover (youtube.com)

Shout – Tears For Fears cover – (Live in our private rehearsal studio) (youtube.com)

WHIP IT! by Electric Avenue (DEVO cover – Live 12/31/20) (youtube.com)

KYRIE – Electric Avenue covering Mr Mister (youtube.com)

SOMETHING ABOUT YOU – Level 42 (Cover) – Electric Avenue (youtube.com)

One More Try – (George Michael Cover) (youtube.com)

Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree (youtube.com)

Doors open at 6:00pm for indoor picnicking. Bring your baskets with food, sweets, libations, and even costumes and table decorations. You may also pre-order catering from these pre-approved vendors.

Doors open at 6:00pm for indoor picnicking. Bring your baskets with food, sweets, libations, and even costumes and table decorations. You may also pre-order catering from these pre-approved vendors.

There’s still time to Subscribe and get all the PERKS:  Choose the Subscription that’s right for YOU.

There’s still time to Subscribe and get all the Perks! Choose the Subscription that’s right for YOU!

Dance the night away to the music of Tina Turner, Pat Benatar, Heart, Carole King, Janis Joplin, Holly Knight, Aretha Franklin, Joni Mitchell and Joan Jett. Women Rock honors powerful female singers and songwriters who changed Pop and Rock & Roll forever.  Featured songs include I Feel the Earth Move, What’s Love Got to Do With it, Proud Mary, Hit Me With Your Best Shot, Freeway of Love, and You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman.

Get in the mood here!

Doors open at 6:00pm for indoor picnicking. Bring your baskets with food, sweets, libations, and even costumes and table decorations. You may also pre-order catering from these pre-approved vendors.

There’s still time to Subscribe and get all the PERKS:  Choose the Subscription that’s right for YOU.

There’s still time to Subscribe and get all the Perks! Choose the Subscription that’s right for YOU!

Honoring the true “Kings” of classic soul, celebrate the music of legendary artists Marvin Gaye, Jackie Wilson, James Brown, Otis Redding, The Temptations, Al Green, Barry White, Smokey Robinson and Curtis Mayfield. Sing along to soul’s greatest hits, such as Soul Man, Shop Around, Get Ready, Try a Little Tenderness, Stand By Me, and Lonely Teardrops.

Doors open at 6:00pm for indoor picnicking. Bring your baskets with food, sweets, libations, and even costumes and table decorations. You may also pre-order catering from these pre-approved vendors.

There’s still time to Subscribe and get all the PERKS:  Choose the Subscription that’s right for YOU.

RENEW your Subscription here

Purchase a NEW SUBSCRIPTION starting at just $104.

Get ready to be transported back to the golden era of surf music with this incredible tribute to The Beach Boys!

**Endless Summer** is the ultimate Beach Boys tribute band, recreating the iconic sound and energy that made the original band legendary. With their authentic harmonies, vibrant stage presence, and a setlist packed with all the hits, this is a show you don’t want to miss!

**America’s Beach Boys Experience** will take you on a nostalgic journey, playing all-time favorites like “Surfin’ USA,” “Good Vibrations,” and “California Girls.” From the sunny beaches of California to the heart of Texas, this event promises to bring the spirit of summer alive, no matter the season!

So grab your friends, put on your favorite Hawaiian shirt, and get ready to sing along to the timeless classics that defined an era. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or simply looking for a fun-filled evening, **Endless Summer – America’s Beach Boys Experience** guarantees an unforgettable night of good vibrations and endless fun!

From the first notes of California Girls to the last notes of Kokomo, you know the beach party is about to start! Get ready to have “Fun Fun Fun” and “Good Vibrations” for a night to remember! “

Doors open at 6:00pm for indoor picnicking. Bring your baskets with food, sweets, libations, and even costumes and table decorations. You may also pre-order catering from these pre-approved vendors.

Get all the PERKS: RENEW your Subscription here, or Purchase a NEW SUBSCRIPTION

BENEFITING

Win a Once-in-a-Lifetime $10,000 Golf Experience — with a $100 ticket*

Only 150 tickets will be sold

Win the chance to play a twosome in the exclusive

2025 LEXUS Champions for Charity National Championship

a 54-hole, 3-day event that includes the exclusive

PEBBLE BEACH GOLF LINKS

THE LINKS AT SPANISH BAY

SPYGLASS HILL GOLF COURSE

*Buy 1 ticket for $100; 6 tickets for $500; 13 tickets for $1,000!

Tickets may be purchased by phone (562-436-3203) or by U.S. Mail (download form HERE). Drawing will take place on Thursday, October 31, 2025. Ticket holder need not be present to win. The winner will be contacted no later than November 3rd, 2025.

GOLF DATES: December 10-14, 2025

LOCATION:
• Pebble Beach Golf Links
• The Links at Spanish Bay
• Spyglass Hill Golf Course

TOURNAMENT FORMAT:
• 54-hole event, three days of play, 18 holes per day
• Two-person better ball, Amateurs Only
• All players must have USGA certified handicap indexes to compete in the Net Division; a maximum of 80% of a player’s handicap index will be used

PRIZES:
• 1st–5th place (NET DIVISION)
• 1st–5th place (GROSS DIVISION)
• Daily hole-in-one opportunities to win Lexus automobiles

HOSPITALITY PACKAGE:
• Food & Beverage package that includes:
• Daily Breakfast (Thurs. – Sat.)
• Group dinners on Wednesday and Saturday
• Local Ground Transportation
• Airport transfers from Monterey Peninsula Airport to The Inn at Spanish Bay
• Daily shuttles to event locations
• The Inn at Spanish Bay is the host hotel for the event. All arrangements at The Inn must be made through the Lexus Champions for Charity National Championship registration system or     LCFC representative
• Participants are responsible for their own airfare and accommodations unless otherwise added by their local charity event

INFORMATION
•For more information, contact Mark Hilmar: [email protected] or (562) 436-3203, ext. 226

___________________________

Purchase your Opportunity Tickets!

Download the form here to include with your payment

Or Order By Phone @ 562-436-3203

**Tickets will be mailed to you once your order is placed**

2025 LEXUS CHAMPIONS FOR CHARITY NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Those with a passion for golf can appreciate the qualities of balance, grace, and precision – words that aptly describe Lexus automobiles. Those who play the game also appreciate the virtues of competition, generosity and charity – all of which can be found in the Lexus Champions for Charity Program. Beginning with 63 events in 1989, Lexus Champions for Charity has helped raise over $550 million for worthy causes throughout the country. This year, the program hopes to support charitable organizations at 100 events nationwide. Lexus Champions for Charity pairs great golf with philanthropy, as amateur golfers participate in events held at the finest golf and country clubs throughout the United States. Lexus supports the local charity events by offering competitors the opportunity to win a Lexus and represent their charity in the annual Lexus Champions for Charity National Championship at Pebble Beach Resorts in December. The charities represented by the Top 5 Net Division and Top 5 Gross Division teams will be awarded a portion of the charity purse.

Join us for the Symphony’s annual Golf Classic and support our vast music education programs in partnership with the Long Beach Unified School District.

9:00am                  Check-In Opens with light Breakfast and Driving Range Available
9:15-10:00am        Putt for Vino 🍷 Contest 
10:30am                 Shotgun Start

Golf Classic Guidelines

1. Pace of play set at 4.5 hours
2. Format is a Shamble – everyone tees off then best ball.
3. All putts “inside the leather” (24” maximum) are good.
4. Double bogey is the stroke maximum. If you play to a double bogey, pick up your ball and record your score.  
5. Maximum of two Mulligans and one Throw if Player Packet (wristband) was purchased.
6. Two best scores of the foursome count towards the team Net & Gross scores.
7. Team Prizes include both Low Net and Low Gross winners.

Golf Classic Contests with Prizes

• Closest to the Conductor
• Closest to the Pin
• South Bay Lexus Hole-in-One Contest — Win a 2023 Lexus NX 250*
• Beat the Pro’s Par 3 Tee Shot
• Straightest Drive
  *Lexus model subject to change                                                                

10:30am                Boxed Lunch To Go
3:15pm                  Hosted Bar & Silent Auction
4:15pm                  Dinner & Dessert
5:00pm                 Live Auction, Prizes, & Awards

2023 GRAND PRIZE – TaylorMade Golf Club Fitting

Win $1,250 toward a TaylorMade fitting and your choice of a full set of irons or three woods including 1 driver and 2 fairway woods. Every golfer is entered but you must be present at post-tournament drawing to win!

WHERE:

Virginia Country Club
4602 N. Virginia Road
Long Beach, CA 90807

WHEN:

Monday, December 4, 2023

WHY:

All proceeds from the 25th Annual Long Beach Symphony Golf Classic support the artistic, educational and community engagement programs of the Long Beach Symphony. Long Beach Symphony is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Non-profit tax ID#: 95-6004958.