Sound Bite / Celebrating Brotherhood & Joy: Beethoven's 9

MSO Chorus Director, Daniel R. Afonso Jr. joins MSO Music Director, Nicholas Hersh as they discuss the joys of uniting two musical forces: orchestra & chorus in Beethoven's masterpiece: Symphony No. 9!

They also provide insight about the challenges of singing in acapella and English for the Chorus' performance of Amy Beach's "Peace I Leave With You" (Don't get them started on diphthongs!)

See the MSO & MSO Chorus perform Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 live this May 10 & 11, 2024 at the Gallo Center for the Arts.

Sound Bite / Reinventing Baroque: How These 3 Composers Were Inspired by Bach

Music Director Nicholas Hersh explores how composers Astor Piazzolla, Louise Farrenc, and Felix Mendelssohn were inspired by studying Bach and the Baroque period, and created fresh and innovative compositions.

See the MSO perform the works of Farrenc, Mendelssohn, and Piazzolla live this April 12 & 13, 2024 at the Gallo Center for the Arts.

Sound Bite / Curating a Concert with MSO Musicans

Programming a concert by yourself can get lonely, but with musicians to help: it's a party! Music Director Nicholas Hersh along with MSO musicians, Don Grishaw, violin and Rob Patterson, clarinet, introduce a brand new symphony experience: Symphonic Soundtrack! This performance will be a relaxed & fun concert featuring shorter pieces curated by the MSO, followed by an after-party for our audiences to meet & mingle with our musicians & music lovers.

Sound Bite / Discovering the Artistic Voices of Dawson, Boulanger, & Gershwin

Music Director Nicholas Hersh takes us back to experience what it was like to be an artist and composer during the period between World War I and World War II, both at home in America and abroad in Paris. He deep dives into three composers of the time: George Gershwin, Lili Boulanger, and William L. Dawson, and explores the connections between them.

See the MSO perform the works of Gershwin, Boulanger, and Dawson this February 9 & 10, 2024 at the Gallo Center for the Arts.

Sound Bite /Celebrate 30 Years of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas with the MSO!

Principal Pops Conductor Ryan Murray invites you on a journey to Halloween Town when the Modesto Symphony Orchestra performs Danny Elfman's iconic score for Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, live to film!

See the MSO perform Tim Burton's The Nightmare before Christmas in Concert Live to Film this November 3 & 4, 2023 at the Gallo Center for the Arts.

Sound Bite / A Celebration of Music with Music Director Nicholas Hersh

Conductor Nicholas Hersh is excited for his debut as the MSO’s new Music Director! He has put together a program that celebrates not only the partnership of MSO and himself, but also this new era for the MSO and our community.

Hear the MSO perform the works of Mozart, Tchaikovsky, and Copland live this October 13 & 14, 2023!

Hear What's Next: MSO's 2023/24 Classics Series with Nicholas Hersh!

Music Director Nicholas Hersh invites you to Hear What's Next in this Modesto Symphony Orchestra's 2023/24 Classics Season!

Our 2023/24 Classics Series:

Capathia Jenkins pays tribute to Aretha Franklin at Picnic at the Pops!

Broadway star, Capathia Jenkins invites you to see her at this one-night-only unforgettable event! Pack your picnic and get ready to see Capathia perform the hits of Aretha Franklin and more!

Hear the music of Aretha Franklin and more performed live by the MSO this September 9, 2023!

Sound Bite / Picnic with Principal Pops Conductor Ryan Murray & The Queen of Soul!

Principal Pops Conductor Ryan Murray is ready to invite you back for another fun-filled night at Picnic at the Pops paying tribute to the Queen of Soul: Aretha Franklin!

Hear the music of Aretha Franklin and more performed live by the MSO this September 9, 2023!

The Saga Continues with Empire Strikes Back!

Behind the Podium / June 2 & 3: Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in Concert

The Saga Continues with The Empire Strikes Back!

This June 2nd & 3rd, the Modesto Symphony Orchestra returns to a galaxy far, far away when we perform Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in Concert, live to film!

Principal Pops Conductor Ryan Murray conducted many of the MSO’s film concerts, including last year’s Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert. This year, he will be leading 84 musicians in perfect time as Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back plays on a 26’ x 16’ screen (the equivalent of 36 60” TVs!). An impressive feat that is a result of only 5 total hours of rehearsal time together!

Read on as we interview Ryan for an exclusive look behind the stage to see what goes into preparing for a unique concert like this.

MSO: Now that you’ve done Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert, what did you learn from that experience and were there any surprises or challenges that come to mind?

RM: I think that the most interesting thing about performing the Star Wars movies in concert is how much freedom you have as a conductor. The score is written in such a symphonic way that you have the room to be slightly flexible with each performance- each performance is unique and exciting! Obviously, there are key moments where you have to make sure everything lines up exactly, but there are other places where you can let the orchestra be a little bit free and that makes for a really incredible musical experience.

MSO: John Williams’ scores are so iconic and each film he works on is distinctive, even when included in a franchise like Star Wars. Are there any differences to the overall musical tone for this movie, The Empire Strikes Back compared to A New Hope?

RM: There are a lot of similarities in the soundtrack including the overall size of the orchestra, the way the music is scored and the iconic opening credits music, but there is a little bit of a darker tone to this movie. The music is a bit more introspective, and I think emotionally a little bit deeper as well. We get introduced to some new characters in this film including Yoda, and the wonderful music that makes up Yoda’s theme. We also see a great character development arch happening with the main players from the first film and the music reflects that beautifully.

MSO: So, who is your favorite character from the franchise and what is your favorite theme to listen to and which is your favorite to conduct?

RM: It would be hard to pick a favorite character from the franchise, probably Yoda or Darth Vader –  talk about opposite ends of the spectrum! They both have such great music!

I really enjoy conducting the opening theme – that classic Star Wars melody. The opening ten minutes of every Star Wars movie features the entire orchestra and some really challenging music– it’s always a lot of fun! I always enjoy listening to the Imperial March – there is such intensity to that music – and such great brass writing!

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The Force is Strong with the MSO

Come join Ryan Murray & the MSO on a trip to a galaxy far, far away in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in Concert this June 2 & 3 at the Gallo Center for the Arts!

Sound Bite / The Mysterious Power of Mozart's Requiem

The mysterious history behind Mozart's Requiem is actually quite a simple story. MSO Chorus Director, Dr. Daniel R. Afonso Jr. helps demystify the Requiem's enigmatic past and uncovers the true power behind the music. Hear the works of Mozart and Price performed live by the MSO this May 12 & 13, 2023!

Swing with the Symphony & Ryan Silverman!

Broadway star, Ryan Silverman (Chicago, Phantom of the Opera), who last performed with the MSO in 2019, swings back into town this March 17th to croon your favorite jazz standards!

Hear the Great American Songbook performed live by the MSO this March 17, 2023!

Sound Bite / What Is the Great American Songbook?

Have you ever heard of The Great American Songbook? Even if you're not familiar with the name, you certainly have heard the classic pop songs that make up the genre. Join Principal Pops Conductor Ryan Murray as he explains why The Great American Songbook is considered to be "America's Classical Music."

Hear The Great American Songbook performed live by the MSO this March 17, 2023!

Barber's Violin Concert Will Make Your Heart Race! (feat. violinist Simone Porter)

Don't miss the "soul-shaking beauty and heart-racing excitement" of Barber's Violin Concert performed by violinist Simone Porter this February 10th & 11th!

Andrew Grams will conduct the MSO for the Barber & Brahms concerts with a program that will take our audiences on an emotional journey of love, loss, and the beauty of life. We’re also excited to have violinist Simone Porter to share her amazing energy and beautiful tone in Samuel Barber’s beloved Violin Concerto. The concert will conclude with Brahms’ Second Symphony, which will leave our audiences full of optimism.

Hear the works of Brouwer, Barber, and Brahms performed live by the MSO this February 10 & 11, 2023!

Sound Bite / The Heartfelt Emotions of Brouwer, Barber, & Brahms

Guest conductor Andrew Grams explores how music can tug at one's heartstrings in a way no other type of communication can.

Grams will conduct the MSO for the Barber & Brahms concerts with a program that will take our audiences on an emotional journey of love, loss, and the beauty of life. We’re also excited to have violinist Simone Porter to share her amazing energy and beautiful tone in Samuel Barber’s beloved Violin Concerto. The concert will conclude with Brahms’ Second Symphony, which will leave our audiences full of optimism.

Hear the works of Brouwer, Barber, and Brahms performed live by the MSO this February 10 & 11, 2023!

Sound Bite / Soaring Swan Songs

Guest conductor Nicholas Hersh explores the great mysteries of life and death through the works of Schubert, Rachmaninoff, and Sibelius.

Hersh will lead the MSO for the Rachmaninoff & Sibelius concerts. This program gives us the opportunity to hear Hersh’s arrangement of the second movement of Schubert’s famous string quartet, Death and the Maiden. Then pianist George Li will be featured on Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini and the program will finish with Sibelius’ Symphony No. 5. This breathtaking beauty captures 16 soaring swans when the strings mimic the fluttering of wings and a glorious, arching theme played by the French horns.

Hear the works of Schubert, Rachmaninoff, and Sibelius performed live by the MSO this November 11th & 12th, 2022!

Sound Bite / The Spiritual Beauty of Price's Concert Overture No. 2

To celebrate the "American Sound," guest conductor Christopher Dragon digs into the rediscovery of

Florence Price's long lost work and her rich legacy. Florence Price holds a significant place in American history as the first Black female American composer to have her symphony performed by a major symphony orchestra. However, her some of her work, including Concert Overture No.2, laid dormant for over 50 years in an abandoned home she once lived in until it was rediscovered in 2009 and brought back into the spotlight. Price's Concert Overture No. 2 reflects the expressive and distinctive sounds of Negro traditions, particularly the spirituals, ragtime, and folkdance rhythms whose origins trace back to Africa. This overture features the spirituals “Go Down, Moses,” “Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen,” and “Every Time I Feel the Spirit.”

Hear Price's Concert Overture No. 2 performed live by the MSO this October 21st & 22nd, 2022!

Behind the Podium / Star Wars in Concert with Conductor Ryan Murray

Behind the Podium / June 3 & 4: Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert

Conductor Ryan Murray Takes the MSO to a Galaxy Far, Far Away!

This June 3rd & 4th, the Modesto Symphony Orchestra travels to a galaxy far, far away when we perform Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert, live to film!

Previously MSO Associate Conductor Ryan Murray has conducted our past two film concerts: Pirates of the Caribbean in 2019, and Pixar in Concert in 2020. This time, he will be leading 81 musicians in perfect time as Star Wars: A New Hope plays on a 26’ x 16’ screen (the equivalent of 36 60” TVs!) at the Gallo Center for the Arts. An impressive feat that is a result of only 5 total hours of rehearsal time together!

Read on as we interview Ryan for an exclusive look behind the stage to see what goes into preparing for a unique concert like this.

MSO: How long does it take for you to prepare for a movie concert and is there any difference compared to preparing for a standard classics or other pops concerts?

Ryan Murray, conductor: It takes anywhere between four to six months to prepare for a movie concert and there are some major differences in how you prepare for these concerts compared to a standard classics or pops concert. The major difference in getting ready for one of these concerts is memorizing and internalizing the tempos of the original movie. Unlike in a traditional concert where the interpretation can vary from orchestra to orchestra and conductor to conductor, in the movie concerts you must play exactly in time with the film! And while I have a special screen in front of me with something called punches and streamers on it to help me line up with the film, the orchestra does not have that information, so it’s my job to really know the score inside and out so that we can make sure everything lines up just right!

Conductor Ryan Murray at the podium, with screen that provides film information in real-time.

MSO: Could you explain the how you use the screen in front of you to help line the orchestra up with what is on the big screen?
RM: Sure, while I’m conducting I have a click track and a special screen in front of me that I use to line everything up with the film. The orchestra does not have that information, so it is really the conductor’s job to make sure that all the tempos line up exactly with the film. Once the movie starts there is no margin for error, and we all must work very hard to make everything match! It is actually a very fun challenge and keeps you on your toes as a conductor!

MSO: Movie concerts are popular among audiences not only because hearing the music live is thrilling, but because the movies tend to be nostalgic for most of us. Does the nostalgia or being a fan of the movie, have an impact on you when you’re prepping or when rehearsing?

RM: There is a big nostalgia element when it comes to preparing a movie concert—especially Star Wars. I can’t think of any music that is more iconic than those opening few minutes of the score. I think we are all really excited about this music and for so many musicians we grew up loving this score—so to put it all together with the live movie and our fantastic audience it’s very exciting!

Conductor Ryan Murray leading the MSO in Pirates of the Carribean: The Curse of The Black Pearl, March 2019

MSO: What do you think makes this John Williams’ score is so iconic?

RM: To me John Williams’ music is so dramatic and the way he writes for the orchestra is absolutely brilliant. The score is full of wonderful melodies and much like an opera, each main character has their own theme. These themes are then developed and transformed throughout the film to help us understand the emotions and the drama of the scene and this element of the movie becomes even more powerful with a live orchestra on stage!

MSO: Are you a Star Wars fan and if so, what is your favorite Star Wars movie?

RM: Yes, definitely a Star Wars fan! I would say my favorite Star Wars movie is either A New Hope—which we are performing, or the Return of the Jedi. Although I didn’t know it at the time, because I didn’t start studying music until high school, I’m sure the symphonic score was one of the major things that made me such a fan of these movies!  

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The Force is Strong with the MSO

Come join Ryan Murray & the MSO on a trip to a galaxy far, far away in Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert this June 3 & 4 at the Gallo Center for the Arts!

Sound Bite / Fighting Fate with Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4

Tchaikovsky's fight with fate comes to life with his Symphony No. 4. Conductor Paul Haas dives deeper into Tchaikovsky’s ill-fated marriage and how he overcame his struggles with the help of his best friend, Nadezhda Von Meck.

Hear Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4 performed live by the MSO this May 6 & 7, 2022!

Sound Bite / Rising to the Top with Wijeratne's Concerto for Tabla

"History has a way of making sure that excellent music rises to the top." Hear from Conductor Paul Haas why Dinuk Wijeratne's Concerto For Tabla will surely rise to the top of orchestral music in our latest MSO Sound Bite!

Hear Wijeratne's Concerto for Tabla featuring Sandeep Das live this May 6 & 7, 2022!