Stanford Symphony Orchestra returns for Holiday Symphony Concert

AVALON – The Catalina Island Museum’s second annual Holiday Symphony Concert will welcome the Stanford Symphony Orchestra back to the stage of the Avalon Casino Theatre on Friday, Dec.12. The Holiday Symphony Concert is free for members of the museum and all children 17 years of age and younger.

“The Holiday Symphony Concert is a great new tradition in Avalon,” said Steve Mandel, president of the Catalina Island Museum’s Board of Trustees. “This event has helped usher in a new era where the Catalina Island Museum is not just thought of as the steward of our local history, but also as the center of other cultural events and exhibitions.”

This year’s program will showcase compositions by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Anna Wittstruck will return to conduct an ensemble of the prestigious Stanford Symphony Orchestra and a special guest from the San Francisco Symphony, violin soloist Chen Zhao.

“We are truly excited about the opportunity to host an outstanding violin soloist like Chen Zhao for this year’s Holiday Symphony Concert program,” said Michael De Marsche, executive director of the Catalina Island Museum. “His exceptional musical talent and rich touring history will bring a new experience for the local audience, especially children, most of whom will experience the magnificent sound of violin for the first time.”

Due to its remote location, access to arts education on Catalina Island is limited. The museum’s annual Holiday Symphony Concert not only offers classical music to the Avalon community, it also presents a unique opportunity for Avalon’s youth.

Partnering with Avalon Public Schools, the museum has organized a presentation in which members of the Stanford Symphony Orchestra will introduce their musical instruments, share their personal experiences and explain the role of each instrument in creating the synergy of a distinctive sound in a symphony orchestra.

The second annual Catalina Island Museum Holiday Symphony Concert is scheduled for 7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 12 in the Avalon Casino Theatre. Tickets are free for members of the museum and all children 17 years of age and younger. The general public may purchase tickets for $5. Tickets are required for entry. For more information and to request or purchase tickets, call (310) 510-2414, or visit CatalinaMuseum.org.