27 musicians performed the first Symphony of the Redwoods back in 1983 when it was founded and has grown to include 45 - 50 amateur and professional musicians from Mendocino, Humboldt, Lake and Sonoma counties and the Bay area. Visitors and newcomers to the Symphony of the Redwoods are often amazed to discover the high calibre of the orchestra which is inspired and guided by the effervescent Allan Pollack.

Between September and May the orchestra plays three or four “sets” of two concerts, the first on Saturday night, the second on Sunday afternoon in Fort Bragg. The Symphony also sponsors The Opus Chamber Music Series on Sunday afternoons at Preston Hall in nearby Mendocino.

In addition to concerts and Opus chamber music performances, orchestra members contribute their talents throughout the year to Symphony fundraisers, musical salons held in private homes, the annual Ledford House Dinner and Silent Auction, and Pops concert, as well as to other local musical performances such as the Mendocino Music Festival, Opera Fresca, Fort Bragg Center for the Arts Chamber Music Series, The Mendocino Art Center, and Gloriana Opera Company.

The Opus Chamber Music Concert Series was founded in 1988 by members of the Symphony of the Redwoods to provide local and visiting musicians opportunities for small-group performances. Concerts are presented on Sundays at 3 pm in Preston Hall, Mendocino. Check out there website http://www.symphonyoftheredwoods.org/ for concert dates and tickets.

This entry was posted on Saturday, January 13th, 2007 at 5:02 am and is filed under Mendocino News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.