Press Release: Modesto Symphony Orchestra Celebrates the Holidays with Tony DeSare
MODESTO, CA - The Modesto Symphony Orchestra’s (MSO) holiday concerts offer fun for the entire family. Complete with holiday décor and your favorite carols, the MSO’s holiday concerts have become community favorites. The first of the MSO’s two holiday concerts is Holiday Pops! on Friday, December 6, 2024 at 7:30 pm and Saturday, December 7, 2024 at 2:00 pm at the Gallo Center for the Arts. Conducted by Principal Pops Conductor Ryan Murray, this lively and festive concert features Broadway star Nikki Renée Daniels and the MSO Chorus. The Holiday Candlelight Concert is a more intimate concert and is returning to St. Stanislaus Catholic Church on December 17, 2024 at 8 pm. Led by MSO Chorus Director, Daniel R. Afonso Jr., this traditional holiday concert that will also feature the MSO Chorus and the Opus Handbell Ensemble.
MODESTO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Contact:
Caroline Nickel
cnickel@modestosymphony.org
For Immediate Release: November 11, 2025
(Pictured from left to right: Ryan Murray, conductor; Tony DeSare, guest artist; Daniel R. Afonso Jr., chorus director, MSO Chorus, Modesto Symphony Orchestra)
Modesto Symphony Orchestra Celebrates the Holidays with Tony DeSare
Plus, the Holiday Candlelight Concert at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church
December 5 & 6, 2025 – Modesto Symphony Orchestra presents Holiday Pops! with Tony DeSare
December 16, 2025 – Modesto Symphony Orchestra presents Holiday Candlelight Concert at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church
MODESTO, CA - The Modesto Symphony Orchestra’s (MSO) holiday concerts offer fun for the entire family. Complete with holiday décor and your favorite carols, the MSO’s holiday concerts have become community favorites. The first of the MSO’s two holiday concerts is Holiday Pops! on Friday, December 6, 2025 at 7:30 pm and Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 2:00 pm at the Gallo Center for the Arts. Conducted by Principal Pops Conductor Ryan Murray, this lively and festive concert features Tony DeSare and the MSO Chorus. The Holiday Candlelight Concert is a more intimate concert held at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church on December 16, 2025 at 8 pm. Led by MSO Chorus Director, Daniel R. Afonso Jr., this traditional holiday concert that will also feature the MSO Chorus and the Opus Handbell Ensemble.
“I'm really looking forward to another Holiday Pops this year! It's one of my favorite concerts of the year and it’s always a great pleasure to share the stage with our amazing Modesto Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and to celebrate the Holiday season with our wonderful community!” says Ryan Murray, Principal Pops Conductor for the Modesto Symphony Orchestra. “I’m really excited to welcome Tony DeSare back to Modesto. He was the guest artist for my first ever Holiday Pops with the MSO! Named a rising star by Downbeat magazine, he’ll be bringing his unique jazz and blues style to our Holiday Pops this year. In addition to singing he’ll be performing at the piano as well, and I’m really excited for us all to experience his incredible musical style! As always, we’ll have a mix of new arrangements and traditional favorites and several fantastic features for our amazing Modesto Symphony Chorus. And of course we’ll have our wonderful MSO traditions like Sleigh Ride, our Sing-A-Long, and O Holy Night. I’m so excited for you all to hear the amazing program and I can't wait to see you there!”
Tony DeSare is a singer, pianist, and composer known for his infectious joy, wry playfulness and robust musicality. He has been a featured guest artist with over 100 symphony orchestras including the Cleveland Orchestra, The New York Pops, The San Francisco Symphony, The Houston Symphony, the Chicago Symphony. DeSare has four top ten Billboard jazz albums and has been featured on the CBS Early Show, NPR, A Prairie Home Companion, and the Today Show.
“We hope that both our Holiday Pops and Holiday Candlelight Concert can bring a little extra warmth and joy to our community,” says Caroline Nickel, President and CEO of the Modesto Symphony Orchestra. “It’s a special feeling being able to take the time to slow down and spend time with friends and family during the holiday season and we are honored to be part of people’s holiday festivities and traditions.”
Modesto Symphony Orchestra presents Holiday Pops!
Friday, December 5, 2025 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 2 pm
Ryan Murray, conductor
Tony DeSare, guest artist
Modesto Symphony Orchestra
Modesto Symphony Orchestra Chorus, Daniel R. Afonso Jr., chorus director
Gallo Center for the Arts, Mary Stuart Rogers Theater
1000 I Street, Modesto
tICKETS
Pricing: Tickets start at $23
Ticketing Information:
Tickets are available online through ModestoSymphony.org or through the Gallo Center for the Arts Ticket Office at (209) 338-2100.
Gallo Center Ticket Office Hours: Monday through Friday 10:00am-6:00pm / Saturday 12:00pm-6:00pm
Group Prices available: Groups of 10+ receive a 15% discount on tickets. Call (209) 338-5064 for more information.
Modesto Symphony Orchestra presents Holiday Candlelight Concert
Tuesday, December 16, 2025 at 8:00 pm
Daniel R. Afonso Jr., conductor
Modesto Symphony Orchestra
Modesto Symphony Orchestra Chorus, Daniel R. Afonso Jr., director
Opus Handbell Ensemble, Lisa Traughber, director
St. Stanislaus Catholic Church
1200 Maze Blvd, Modesto
Tickets:
Pricing:
Adult ticket pricing starts at $40
Youth ticket pricing starts at $10
Ticketing Information:
Tickets are available online through ModestoSymphony.org or through the Gallo Center for the Arts Ticket Office at (209) 338-2100.
Gallo Center Ticket Office Hours: Monday through Friday 10:00am-6:00pm / Saturday 12:00pm-6:00pm
Group Prices available: Groups of 10+ receive a 15% discount Standard Adult tickets. Call (209) 338-5064 for more information.
Artist Bios
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The Modesto Symphony Orchestra is a Resident Company of The Gallo Center for the Arts. The DoubleTree Hotel is the official hotel of the MSO.
Press Release: Modesto Symphony Orchestra Welcomes Stephanie Rawls as Youth Orchestra Conductor
MODESTO, CA – The Modesto Symphony Orchestra (MSO) and Modesto Symphony Youth Orchestra (MSYO) welcome Stephanie Rawls as the MSYO’s new Concert Orchestra conductor. This appointment comes after the retirement of the Youth Orchestra’s Concert Orchestra conductor, Donald Grishaw, this past May.
MODESTO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Contact:
Caroline Nickel
cnickel@modestosymphony.org
For Immediate Release: July 15, 2025
(Pictured: MSYO Concert Orchestra Conductor Stephanie Rawls, MSYO Concert Orchestra)
Modesto Symphony Orchestra Welcomes Stephanie Rawls as Youth Orchestra Conductor
MODESTO, CA – The Modesto Symphony Orchestra (MSO) and Modesto Symphony Youth Orchestra (MSYO) welcome Stephanie Rawls as the MSYO’s new Concert Orchestra conductor. This appointment comes after the retirement of the Youth Orchestra’s Concert Orchestra conductor, Donald Grishaw, this past May.
“Don Grishaw established a standard of excellence among the Concert Orchestra and was instrumental in the success of MSYO,” says Elisha Wells MSYO Music Director. “He and I worked together to find the perfect person to step in and continue this legacy of excellence, and we are thrilled that Stephanie Rawls is joining the MSYO team. She brings a depth of knowledge and experience, coupled with a strong tie to the community, and is even a former member of the MSYO. The MSYO has a bright future and I'm excited about what is to come!”
Stephanie Rawls brings a wealth of experience to the MSOA. Rawls currently teaches orchestra at James C. Enochs High School and is a graduate of Modesto Junior College and the University of the Pacific. Before returning to Modesto, she thought award winning orchestras, Mariachi, band, and general music in San Jose, Stockton, and Manteca.
“I am so excited to join the Modesto Symphony Youth Orchestra team,” says Stephanie Rawls, newly appointed MSYO Concert Orchestra conductor. “I look forward to working with the amazing students to create beautiful music and the wonderful adults that make it happen!”
Rawls will work with MSYO Music Director Elisha Wells to continue to grow the MSYO program, which will be starting its 50th season this fall. As a program within the Modesto Symphony Orchestra Association, members have the invaluable experience of interacting with professional orchestral musicians, conductors, and visiting guest artists through workshops, side-by-side performances, and clinics. The MSYO is comprised of two full-orchestra (strings, winds, and percussion): Concert Orchestra (grades 5-9) and Symphony Orchestra (grades 9-12). Both orchestras perform a three-concert series at the Gallo Center for the Arts throughout the season.
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The Modesto Symphony Orchestra is a Resident Company of The Gallo Center for the Arts. The DoubleTree Hotel is the official hotel of the MSO.
Press Release: Modesto Symphony Orchestra Celebrates the Holidays with Broadway Star Nikki Renee Daniels
MODESTO, CA - The Modesto Symphony Orchestra’s (MSO) holiday concerts offer fun for the entire family. Complete with holiday décor and your favorite carols, the MSO’s holiday concerts have become community favorites. The first of the MSO’s two holiday concerts is Holiday Pops! on Friday, December 6, 2024 at 7:30 pm and Saturday, December 7, 2024 at 2:00 pm at the Gallo Center for the Arts. Conducted by Principal Pops Conductor Ryan Murray, this lively and festive concert features Broadway star Nikki Renée Daniels and the MSO Chorus. The Holiday Candlelight Concert is a more intimate concert and is returning to St. Stanislaus Catholic Church on December 17, 2024 at 8 pm. Led by MSO Chorus Director, Daniel R. Afonso Jr., this traditional holiday concert that will also feature the MSO Chorus and the Opus Handbell Ensemble.
MODESTO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Contact:
Caroline Nickel
cnickel@modestosymphony.org
For Immediate Release: October 29, 2024
(Pictured from left to right: Ryan Murray, conductor; Nikki Renee Daniels, Broadway Star; Daniel R. Afonso Jr., chorus director, MSO Chorus, Modesto Symphony Orchestra)
Modesto Symphony Orchestra Celebrates the Holidays with Broadway Star Nikki Renee Daniels
Holiday Candlelight Concert Returns to St. Stanislaus Catholic Church
December 6 & 7, 2024 – Modesto Symphony Orchestra presents Holiday Pops! with Broadway star Nikki Renee Daniels
December 17, 2024 – Modesto Symphony Orchestra presents Holiday Candlelight Concert at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church
MODESTO, CA - The Modesto Symphony Orchestra’s (MSO) holiday concerts offer fun for the entire family. Complete with holiday décor and your favorite carols, the MSO’s holiday concerts have become community favorites. The first of the MSO’s two holiday concerts is Holiday Pops! on Friday, December 6, 2024 at 7:30 pm and Saturday, December 7, 2024 at 2:00 pm at the Gallo Center for the Arts. Conducted by Principal Pops Conductor Ryan Murray, this lively and festive concert features Broadway star Nikki Renée Daniels and the MSO Chorus. The Holiday Candlelight Concert is a more intimate concert and is returning to St. Stanislaus Catholic Church on December 17, 2024 at 8 pm. Led by MSO Chorus Director, Daniel R. Afonso Jr., this traditional holiday concert that will also feature the MSO Chorus and the Opus Handbell Ensemble.
“I'm really excited about Holiday Pops this year! It's always a great pleasure to share the stage with our wonderful Modesto Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and to celebrate the Holiday season the community!” says Ryan Murray, Principal Pops Conductor for the Modesto Symphony Orchestra. “I'm so excited to introduce Broadway star Nikki Renée Daniels to Modesto and to hear her amazing voice. I'm also excited to be bringing some brand-new pieces to this concert this year. Nikki has some new and interesting arrangements of our favorite holiday songs and we've added in some new orchestra showpieces as well. I'm also very excited to be performing a piece by Dr. Daniel Afonso, our incredible MSO Chorus director. And we will still have all of our wonderful MSO traditions like Sleigh Ride, our sing-a-long, and O Holy Night. We've had a great time putting the program together and we’re really looking forward to performing for our wonderful Modesto audience!”
Holiday Pops headliner, Nikki Renée Daniels, recently starred in Once Upon a Mattress (Lady Larken), and in the Tony Award-winning revival of Company (Jenny) on Broadway. Nikki has performed as a soloist with many symphony orchestras worldwide, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Toronto Symphony Orchestra, The Capetown Philharmonic, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Pops, the Philly Pops, the New York Pops, Indianapolis Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, and the Houston Symphony.
“We hope that both our Holiday Pops and Holiday Candlelight Concert can bring a little extra warmth and joy to our community,” says Caroline Nickel, President and CEO of the Modesto Symphony Orchestra. “It’s a special feeling being able to take the time to slow down and spend time with friends and family during the holiday season and each year we look forward to extending that feeling to our audiences.”
Modesto Symphony Orchestra presents Holiday Pops!
Friday, December 6, 2024 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, December 7, 2024 at 2 pm
Ryan Murray, conductor
Nikki Renee Daniels, guest artist
Modesto Symphony Orchestra
Modesto Symphony Orchestra Chorus, Daniel R. Afonso Jr., chorus director
Gallo Center for the Arts, Mary Stuart Rogers Theater
1000 I Street, Modesto
tICKETS
Pricing: Tickets start at $23
Ticketing Information:
Tickets are available online through ModestoSymphony.org or through the Gallo Center for the Arts Ticket Office at (209) 338-2100.
Gallo Center Ticket Office Hours: Monday through Friday 10:00am-6:00pm / Saturday 12:00pm-6:00pm
Group Prices available: Groups of 10+ receive a 15% discount on tickets. Call (209) 338-5064 for more information.
Modesto Symphony Orchestra presents Holiday Candlelight Concert
Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at 8:00 pm
Daniel R. Afonso Jr., conductor
Modesto Symphony Orchestra
Modesto Symphony Orchestra Chorus, Daniel R. Afonso Jr., director
Opus Handbell Ensemble, Lisa Traughber, director
St. Stanislaus Catholic Church
1200 Maze Blvd, Modesto
Tickets:
Pricing:
Adult ticket pricing starts at $39
Youth ticket pricing starts at $10
Ticketing Information:
Tickets are available online through ModestoSymphony.org or through the Gallo Center for the Arts Ticket Office at (209) 338-2100.
Gallo Center Ticket Office Hours: Monday through Friday 10:00am-6:00pm / Saturday 12:00pm-6:00pm
Group Prices available: Groups of 10+ receive a 15% discount Standard Adult tickets. Call (209) 338-5064 for more information.
Artist Bios
###
The Modesto Symphony Orchestra is a Resident Company of The Gallo Center for the Arts. The DoubleTree Hotel is the official hotel of the MSO.
Press Release: Modesto Symphony Orchestra Reinvents Vivaldi’s Four Seasons
MODESTO, CA – The Modesto Symphony Orchestra (MSO) proudly presents The Four Seasons Mixtape led by Music Director Nicholas Hersh this November 1 & 2, 2024 at 7:30 pm at the Gallo Center for the Arts. The evening’s program features music by Mendelssohn, Mexican-composer Gabriela Ortiz, and Hersh’s own “mixtape” interpretation of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons featuring the works by Vivaldi, Richter, Ysaÿe, and Piazzolla featuring violinist, Audrey Wright.
MODESTO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Contact:
Caroline Nickel
cnickel@modestosymphony.org
For Immediate Release: October 1, 2024
(Pictured from left to right: Nicholas Hersh, conductor; Audrey Wright, violin; Modesto Symphony Orchestra)
Modesto Symphony Orchestra Reinvents Vivaldi’s Four Seasons
Featuring the music of Mendelssohn, Vivaldi, Max Richter, and Gabriela Ortiz
November 1 & 2, 2024 – Modesto Symphony Orchestra performs the works of Mendelssohn, Vivaldi, and more at The Four Seasons Mixtape concerts.
November 2, 2024 – The Modesto Symphony Youth Orchestra to perform Saint-Saëns, Tchaikovsky, Wagner, and more in Season Opening Concerts.
MODESTO, CA – The Modesto Symphony Orchestra (MSO) proudly presents The Four Seasons Mixtape led by Music Director Nicholas Hersh this November 1 & 2, 2024 at 7:30 pm at the Gallo Center for the Arts. The evening’s program features music by Mendelssohn, Mexican-composer Gabriela Ortiz, and Hersh’s own “mixtape” interpretation of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons featuring the works by Vivaldi, Richter, Ysaÿe, and Piazzolla featuring violinist, Audrey Wright.
This concert will not have an intermission and will include an afterparty where audience members are invited to join Hersh and the MSO in the Gallo Center for the Arts lobby for refreshments, appetizers, and the opportunity to mingle and celebrate the love of music.
"I've recently been fascinated by the concept of a live orchestral 'mixtape,' just as you might have recorded a tape from the radio, burned a CD, or put together a streaming playlist of different songs to evoke a certain mood or feeling," says Music Director Nicholas Hersh. "Our 'Four Seasons Mixtape' features four voices from different cultures and periods each interpreting their own season with a short selection of music, with Vivaldi's original ‘Summer’ as a perfect jumping-off point for a kaleidoscopic survey of our natural world, all played live by the MSO and our soloist Audrey Wright."
The evening will begin with Mendelssohn’s Overture from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Gabriela Ortiz’s La Calaca for String Orchestra, which has rhythms and melodies inspired by the traditions of Día de los Muertos that celebrate the afterlife in Mexican culture. “The Four Seasons Mixtape” will feature Vivaldi’s L’estate (Summer), Max Richter’s Autumn from The Four Seasons Recomposed, Eugène Ysaÿe’s Chant d’hiver (Wintersong) and Astor Piazzolla’s Primavera porteña (Buenos Aires Spring) performed by guest violinist, Audrey Wright.
Audrey Wright joined the New York Philharmonic in 2022 and is currently the concertmaster for the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra. She has previously served as the associate concertmaster of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Wright has performed across the globe in venues such as Carnegie Hall, London’s Royal Albert Hall, and the Vatican.
"When we developed the idea for 'Mixtape,' I immediately thought of Audrey for our soloist," continues Hersh. "It's no easy task to move seamlessly from one virtuoso musical style to another, and I knew not just any violinist could take on this crazy idea with us, but I had a feeling Audrey would be game for the challenge. Put something on her stand and she'll play it with confidence, passion, and style—I can't wait to work with her in Modesto!"
This weekend also includes the Modesto Symphony Youth Orchestra (MSYO) in their 49th Season Opening Concert on November 2, 2024 at 2 pm at the Gallo Center for the Arts. The MSYO comprises of two orchestras with students grades 5 through 12 from schools in the Central Valley and is led by MSYO Music Director Elisha Wells and a deeply engaged leadership team. This concert will be Wells’ first concert as MSYO Music Director and features works by Saint-Saëns, Tchaikovsky, Wagner, and more. Learn more about the MSYO at ModestoSymphony.org/about-msyo.
Friday, November 1, 2024 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, November 2, 2024 at 7:30 pm
Nicholas Hersh, conductor
Audrey Wright, violin
Program:
Felix Mendelssohn: Overture from A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op. 21
Gabriela Ortiz: La Calaca for String Orchestra
The Four Seasons Mixtape:
Antonio Vivaldi: L'estate, RV315 G minor (Summer)
Max Richter: Autumn from The Four Seasons Recomposed
Eugène Ysaÿe: Chant d'hiver, Op. 15 (Winter)
Astor Piazzolla: Primavera Porteña from Cuatro Estaciones Porteñas (Spring)
This concert does not have an intermission and will be followed by an afterparty with food and drinks in the Gallo Center for the Arts lobby.
Gallo Center for the Arts, Mary Stuart Rogers Theater
1000 I Street, Modesto
tICKETS
Pricing: Tickets start at $23
Ticketing Information:
Tickets are available online through ModestoSymphony.org or through the Gallo Center for the Arts Ticket Office at (209) 338-2100.
Gallo Center Ticket Office Hours: Monday through Friday 10:00am-6:00pm / Saturday 12:00pm-6:00pm
Student Tickets available: $15 Student Tickets are available by visiting the Gallo Center Ticket Office with a valid student ID. Students may purchase two $15 tickets per order.
Group Prices available: Groups of 10+ receive a 15% discount on tickets. Call (209) 338-5064 for more information.
Modesto Symphony Youth Orchestra presents Season Opening Concert
Saturday, November 2, 2024 at 2 pm
Modesto Symphony Youth Orchestra
Elisha Wells, MSYO Music Director & Symphony Orchestra Conductor
Don Grishaw, Concert Orchestra Conductor
Program to include works by Saint-Saëns, Tchaikovsky, Wagner, and more!
Gallo Center for the Arts, Mary Stuart Rogers Theater
1000 I Street, Modesto
Tickets:
Pricing:
Adult ticket pricing starts at $17
Youth ticket pricing starts at $8
Ticketing Information:
Tickets are available online through ModestoSymphony.org or through the Gallo Center for the Arts Ticket Office at (209) 338-2100.
Gallo Center Ticket Office Hours: Monday through Friday 10:00am-6:00pm / Saturday 12:00pm-6:00pm
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The Modesto Symphony Orchestra is a Resident Company of The Gallo Center for the Arts. The DoubleTree Hotel is the official hotel of the MSO.
Press Release: Modesto Symphony Youth Orchestra Appoints Elisha Wells as New Music Director
MODESTO, CA – The Modesto Symphony Orchestra (MSO) and the Modesto Symphony Youth Orchestra (MSYO) welcome Elisha Wells as the MSYO’s new Music Director. Wells will continue to serve as the MSYO’s Symphony Conductor.
MODESTO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Contact:
Caroline Nickel
cnickel@modestosymphony.org
For Immediate Release: September 24, 2024
(Pictured: Elisha Wells, MSYO Music Director)
Modesto Symphony Youth Orchestra Appoints Elisha Wells as New Music Director
MODESTO, CA – The Modesto Symphony Orchestra (MSO) and the Modesto Symphony Youth Orchestra (MSYO) welcome Elisha Wells as the MSYO’s new Music Director. Wells will continue to serve as the MSYO’s Symphony Conductor.
“We are thrilled to have Elisha as the MSYO’s new music director!” said Nicholas Hersh, MSO Music Director. “In addition to a wealth of experience, Elisha brings a passion for music and education that is palpable in every rehearsal and interaction with our students. She was whole-heartedly endorsed by MSYO families and staff alike, and I look forward to working together to secure a bright future for the young musicians of Modesto and beyond.”
Wells is an active patron, supporter, educator, and adjudicator within the California Central Valley’s music education community. She currently serves as the Director Bands, Brass, and Music Theory at Fresno City College and performs regularly as Principal Horn in Sequoia Symphony and Wind Symphony of Clovis, and as Acting Principal with Fresno Philharmonic. Wells holds a Bachelor and Master of Arts with an emphasis in Horn Performance from California State University, Fresno. Her professional conducting career began in 2012, conducting several operas, as well as several junior high and high school honor bands in California. Recently, Elisha was chosen to Guest Conduct the 2022 Fresno-Madera County Music Educators Association FMCMEA High School Honor Band.
“The MSYO has a long-standing history of excellence, and I'm thrilled to work with such a supportive staff and administration team that is committed to serving the students in our area through quality music education,” says Elisha Wells, MSYO Music Director. “When asked, ‘What is the best thing about the MSYO?’ I immediately think of the students. It is an honor and a privilege to work with such wonderful young musicians each week. I greet them by name at rehearsals, asking how their week or weekend was, and genuinely enjoy getting to know each and every student!”
Wells and the MSYO Artistic Team are working together to continue to grow the MSYO program, now in its 49th season. In addition to two full orchestras with students grades 5 through 12, the MSYO hosts an annual Concerto Competition and has a Chamber Ensemble program for Strings, Woodwind, Brass, and Percussion. For the future, the MSYO plans to expand its Chamber Ensemble program, participate in regional festivals, and tour again which will provide an opportunity for students to perform not just locally, but internationally.
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The Modesto Symphony Orchestra is a Resident Company of The Gallo Center for the Arts. The DoubleTree Hotel is the official hotel of the MSO.
