September 19 & 20, 2008

Body & Soul
David Lockington, conductor
Ingrid Fliter, piano

Join us in our opening night Gala as Music Director, David Lockington and the disorderly rebellious Tam O'Shanter take us on an adventure to the depths of the earth in a human struggle and spiritual journey leading into the city of angels with the finale of Saint-Saens Organ Symphony. Soloist Ingrid Fliter, who the LA Times describes as a pianistic force of nature, completes this triumphant trio delivering an evening of shear sonic power!

November 7 & 8, 2008

Shooting Daggers
David Lockington, conductor
Central West Ballet

En Garde! as the sword meets the bow when the Central West Ballet delivers swashbuckling fencing with plenty of fancy footwork. Maestro David Lockington parries with Mozart's Jupiter Symphony said to contain an energy with such expressive intensity that it's exhilarating, shocking and uplifting all at once. Don't miss this action packed concert that's just to die for.

January 9 & 10, 2009

Lasting Impressions
Laura Jackson, conductor
Manuel Barrueco, guitar

Written for a broadcast of Mexico’s Department of Education, Ocho por Radio opens this concert of musical mementos in a madcap scherzo with tongue so far in cheek that it virtually hangs out the composer’s ear!  Musical impressions from the Palace at Holyrood where Mary Queen of Scots lived and loved breathe special folk tones in Mendelssohn’s Scottish Symphony while guitarist extraordinaire, Manuel Barrueco performs one of the most familiar concertos of all time said to capture the fragrance of magnolias, singing of birds and gushing of fountains in the garden of Aranjuez.

February 6 & 7, 2009

Butterfly Lovers
David Lockington, conductor
Jessica Lee, violin

One of China’s most famous works, Butterfly Lovers takes through a beautiful ancient love story that ends tragically.  Borrowing music from his own comic opera The Stubborn Lovers, Dvorak completes the evening of romance which opens with the profoundly simple Pelleas et Melisande describing a bittersweet tale of youthful attraction.

April 17 & 18, 2009

In the Shadows
David Lockington, conductor
Norman Kreiger, piano

A tour de force of instrumental finesse, Ravel’s Le Tombeau serves as a musical memorial wreath placed on the tomb of a revered predecessor, Couperin, with which Ravel shared a passion for grace and ease.  Pianist Norman Krieger enlightens us with the music of Brahms, a composer who emerged out of Beethoven’s shadow to offer a concerto marked by the turmoil of his years filled with youthful awkwardness, Robert Schumann’s madness and death, as well as Brahms’ complicated love for Clara Schumann.  Phillip Sawyer’s American debut of Rhapsody for Orchestra opens this concert of epic proportions.

May 15 & 16, 2009

Ode to Joy
David Lockington, conductor
Esther Heideman, soprano
MSO Chorus
CSU Stanislaus Concert Chorale and Chamber Singers

Hailed as his most celebrated work, Poulenc’s Gloria envelopes us in a soundscape of magical musical whispers both ecstatic and ethereal in this concert featuring the MSO Chorus hosting the Concert Chorale of CSUS together taking us on a spiritual journey of humanity’s struggle to find meaning out of conflict moving to reconciliation in Beethoven’s Ode to Joy – this kiss to the whole world beyond the canopy of the stars!

December 5, 2008
Plus an Additional Holiday Matinee Concert on Saturday, December 6, 2008 at 2pm

Holiday Pops!
Steven Reineke, conductor
Young Idol 2008

A Holiday Hit that sold-out early last year so we have added a matinee as a second performance to accommodate the demand!  Don’t miss this concert of Christmas classics, carols and medleys led by Principal Pops conductor Steven Reineke.

March 27, 2009

Let's Go to the Movies
Steven Reineke, conductor

Kristine Reese and Billy Tighe, volcalists

Enjoy an evening of Hollywood’s greatest film music with projected clips.

June 5, 2009

Cirque de la Symphonic
Steven Reineke, conductor

Imagine the magic of some of the best cirque artists in the world performing on the same stage with your Modesto Symphony Orchestra!

October 26, 2008

Symphonic Spooktacular - The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Ming Luke, conductor

March 22, 2009

Casey at the Bat
Ming Luke, conductor

Turlock Community Auditorium

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Picnic at the Pops! - ABBA - A Tribute
Steven Reineke, conductor
Rajaton, ABBA Tribute Band from Finland

Finish vocal sensation Rajaton performs your favorite ABBA hits such as Mamma Mia, Dancing Queen and Waterloo.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Holiday Candlelight Concert
David Lockington, conductor
Modesto Symphony Orchestra & Chorus

St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, Modesto

Concert begins at 4:00 pm

Modesto Symphony Orchestra & Chorus will continue to host area choirs in our annual Holiday Candlelight Concert which will be performed this year in the magnificent newly built cathedral, St. Stanislaus Catholic Church.