Font ResizeWALNUT CREEK
Young People's Symphony Orhsestra performs Saturday
The Berkeley-based Young People's Symphony Orchestra will present its "Fall Concert 2012" at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3 at Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church, 1801 Lacassie Ave. in Walnut Creek.
This kickoff to the orchestra's 76th season will feature music director/conductor David Ramadanoff and YPSO's 95 young musicians in performances of Johannes Brahm's "A German Requiem" with the Oakland Symphony Chorus, directed by Lynne Morrow, and American composer Christopher Theophanidis' "Rainbow Body."
This season, the orchestra has eight musicians -- 11 percent of its ranks -- who reside in Walnut Creek. they are Wesley Denison, 15, violin, who attends the Athenian School; Hannah Edgar, violin, 16, who attend Las Lomas High School; Joel Herman, 14, violin, who attends Monte Vista High School; Arielle Herman, 15, viola, who attends Monte Vista High School; Joshua Herman, 17, cello, who attends Monte Vista High School; Rebecca Herman, 18, violin, who attends UC Berkeley; Rodger Pang, 16, violin, who attends Las Lomas High School; Sharon Yau, violin, 16, who attends Acalanes High School; and Aaron Yim, 17, bass, who attends Acalanes High School.
Admission is $20 general admission, and $15 for students and senior citizens at the door. To buy tickets, or for more information, call 510-849-YPSO (9776), email at
Free chamber music concert Nov. 13
The Contra Costa Performing Arts Society will perform a free evening concert of chamber music at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 13 at Grace Presbyterian Church, 2100 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek.
The concert will open with Nancy Amini, soprano, who will sing songs by English composer Roger Quilter and songs in Spanish by Argentine composer Carlos Guastavino. She will be accompanied by pianist Joellen Piskitel.
Ted Rust, oboe, and Viva Knight, piano, will perform the Mozart Sonata in F in three movements. The program will close with pianist Dennis Edwards playing a French traditional song, Sondheim's "Send in the Clowns" and several compositions of his own in a variety of styles.
The Contra Costa Performing Arts Society is a nonprofit organization founded in 1974. It offers free public concerts and workshops for adults and children. The free concerts are given at least twice a month most months. Everyone is welcome. For more information, go to www.ccpas.org.
Chamber Orchestra's 'Parts of the Whole'
The Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra will present Benjamin Britten's most famous work, "The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra," as part of its concert entitled "Parts of the Whole" at performances Saturday Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m. in the Los Medanos College Recital Hall in Pittsburg, and Sunday, Nov. 11 at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek.
As part of its commitment to community and families, the orchestra is offering half-price adult tickets with every youth ticket purchased for the Nov. 11 Lesher Center concert.
To add educational value to the program, conductor Timothy Smith will introduce each piece with insights into the composers' lives and work.
Pittsburg performance tickets are $5 ($10 at the door), and
Sunday November 11, 7:30 p.m., Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek. Tickets: $10-$30 at the door, by phone (925-943-SHOW), or online at www.LesherArtsCenter.org
Lafayette
'It's a Wonderful Life' performs at Town Hall
The stage production of "It's a Wonderful Life," adapted for the stage by James W. Rodgers from the holiday classic film by Frank Capra, will be performed by the Town Hall Theatre Nov. 29-Dec. 16.
Lisa Anne Porter ("Proof," "Picasso at the Lapin Agile") returns to direct the stage adaptation of this beloved Christmastime classic that tells the story of George Bailey who, his life and finances in ruin, decides the world will be better off without him -- until he is paid an unexpected visit.
Tickets range from $12 to $29. For showtimes and other information, call 925-283-1557 or go to http://www.townhalltheatre.com/
'Dr. Elmo brings his Christmas classic to town Dec. 8
"Dr. Elmo" Shropshire's allotted 15 minutes of fame should have run out when his song "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" received its first radio play in 1979. But 11 million copies later, it has long since replaced Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" as America's most requested Christmas carol.
And now, Dr. Elmo himself is bringing his Supersonic Reindeer Band to Lafayette for a Dec. 8 holiday concert at Mighty Fine Guitars, 85 Lafayette Circle in Lafayette.
Reservations are needed; email reindeershow@gmail.com to reserve a seat. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Suggested donation is $25 per adult, and $12 for kids under 12.
Orinda
'Quarter Moon' on International Showcase playlist
November's selection for the International Film Showcase is the German film "The Quarter Moon," which will show at the Orinda Theatre Nov. 16-20 at 1:30, 4 and 6:30 p.m., with additional screenings on Friday and Saturday at 8:45 p.m.
It's the story of cantankerous cabbie Hartmut, for whom stubbornness has driven a permanent wedge between the man and his most important relationships, those with his wife and adult daughter.
For more information, go to www.lfef.org or www.lamorindatheatres.com.
