MONTEREY COUNTY POPS! to present the first professional symphonic performance in Salinas since 2017
Monterey County Pops! and the Hartnell College Music department are very pleased to announce a special holiday free symphonic concert on the Hartnell Main Stage, December 17, 2022, at 7:30 p.m. The program titled “Concierto Navideño: Four Young Adult Soloists of Salinas” will feature the 40-piece fully professional orchestra of the Monterey County Pops!, the Hartnell College Choir, and four young adult soloists from Salinas who often perform with the Pops! and are currently studying music at major universities.
This concert will be the first professional symphonic performance in Salinas since 2017 when the Monterey Symphony last performed in Sherwood Hall and will serve as a showcase for the Pops! dedicated to mentoring young musicians.
In the words of conductor, Dr. Carl Christensen, “We have been growing into our name (Monterey County Pops!)." In 2022 alone we have performed live at Greenfield High School, the Greenfield Harvest Festival, Labor Day in Closter Park Salinas, National Steinbeck Center Block Party in Salinas, Day of the Dead with the Alisal Center for the Performing Arts in Sherwood Hall, and the Salinas Veterans Day Parade. All of this was in addition to performances on the Monterey Peninsula for First Night Monterey, Memorial Day Monterey City Hall, and 4th of July in Devendorf Park in Carmel. Finally, our small ensembles have been presenting “Peter and the Wolf” and “Tubby the Tuba” in elementary schools - live as well as via Zoom.
The December 17th program will feature holiday favorites such as “The Farandole or March of the Three Kings” by Bizet, Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride” and “Christmas Festival”, “Ding Dong Merrily on High”, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”, and “Channukah Medley” by Hartnell Music Department Chair, Steve Ettinger.
The four soloists include Tatiana Magdaleno (top left), soprano, currently a scholarship music student at San Jose State. A graduate of Hartnell College, she has sung at several performances with the Pops! Monica Mendoza (bottom left), flute, is a graduate of Hartnell and University of the Pacific and is currently a graduate student at the University of Wyoming. She will perform “The Sea Storm” by Vivaldi. Eliodoro Vallecillo (bottom right) plays the french horn. He is a graduate of San Jose State and was a national finalist on the NPR young musician showcase, “From the Top.” Pianist Noah Umamoto (top right), a Hartnell student and piano student of Lyn Bronson and James Neiman, will perform “Grande Polonaise Brillante” for piano and orchestra by Chopin.
Thank you to the sponsors of MCP!
Visit montereycountypops.org to learn more.
Comments