Contact: Rebecca Madigan For Immediate Release
rmadigan@newwestsymphony.org  September 11, 2017
805-435-2779   Photos Included

New West Symphony Announces Sunday Matinee Concerts at Oxnard Performing Arts Center

(THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – September 11, 2017) —  In a desire to make classical music more assessable and convenient for the community, the New West Symphony announced today that its Masterpiece Concert Series in Oxnard will be moving to Sunday afternoons rather than its traditional Friday evenings.  The performances will again be held at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center.

“We have had many requests over the years to move our Oxnard performances to Sunday matinees so as to better accommodate the shifting activities and tastes of our audience,” Natalia Staneva, executive director of the New West Symphony. “We are very excited to be making this change and to launch our 23rd season with these Sunday concerts!”

The Grand Season Opening concert on Sunday, October 8 will feature guest conductor Grant Cooper and flamenco dancer Siudy Garrido. The program features Spanish Flamenco ballet El Amor Brujo by Manuel de Falla, and classics from Piazzolla, Mozart and Beethoven. Prior to the concerts guests can enjoy a fiesta with Mexican food available for sale and tango dancing open to public.

As with all six concerts on the season, musicologist and UCLA professor David Ravetch will enrich the concert experience by conducting a free 30-minute pre-concert talk providing insights and entertaining backgrounds about the music and guest artists on the program.

“Moving New West Symphony concerts to Sunday matinees makes perfect sense to reach new audiences,” said Oxnard Mayor Tim Flynn. “All the activities in Downtown Oxnard, and the surrounding parks around the Performing Arts Center, make going to New West Symphony concerts a wonderful, rich community experience. Families can picnic or enjoy brunch at local restaurants before the concerts.”

Other highlights of the Symphony’s 23rd season include appearances by famed Hollywood bowl music director John Mauceri who will lead the New West Symphony in a November celebration of Leonard Bernstein’s 100th birthday, and violin superstar Pinchas Zukerman who will conduct and perform with the orchestra in March, 2018.

Chelsea Reynolds, manager of Oxnard Performing Arts & Convention Center, supported to change to Sundays, saying that “as a resident company of Oxnard Performing Arts Center, the New West Symphony has been an important member of this community for 23 years. We agree that matinees will be very well received and we look forward to welcoming the Symphony audiences on Sunday afternoons.”

“Having Sunday matinee concerts gives New West Symphony patrons even more opportunities to experience all the fine eateries we have in downtown Oxnard,” said Abel Ramirez Magana, executive director of the Oxnard Downtown Improvement District. “Many of our restaurants serve delicious brunch, which can be enjoyed before the concerts, and equally delicious dinners, to be enjoyed after the concerts.”

The New West Symphony 2017/2018 Masterpiece Series season will include the following performances at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center:

Sunday October 8, 2017 at 3:00pm – Grand Season Opening
With guest conductor Grant Cooper and flamenco dancer Siudy Garrido. The program features Spanish ballet, El Amor Brujo by Manuel de Falla, and classics from Piazzolla, Mozart and Beethoven.

Sunday November 19, 2017 at 3:00pm – Mauceri & Bernstein’s 100th
With guest conductor, former Hollywood Bowl conductor John Mauceri. This very special concert celebrates Leonard Bernstein’s 100th birthday, led by his long-time protégé and collaborator, John Mauceri.

Sunday January 27, 2018 at 3:00pm – Tchaikovsky Pathetique
With guest conductor Kynan Johns and Lyris Quartet. In addition to featuring romantic Russian composers, this concert includes a world premiere commission by EMMY® Award-winning composer Bruce Broughton for the Lyris Quartet.

Sunday March 11, 2018 at 3:00pm – Zukerman & Forsyth
Violin superstar Pinchas Zukerman will return for his second appearance with the New West Symphony to conduct the orchestra in a program that includes Vivaldi, Couperin, Haydn, Mozart and Schubert.

Friday April 13, 2018 at 8:00pm* – Classical Vienna
With guest conductor Andrew Grams and Austrian pianist Till Fellner. Viennese music is on display with Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 22 in E- at Major, plus Brahms and Beethoven. *Note day and time change for this one concert.

Sunday May 13, 2018 at 3:00pm – Virtuoso Tour de Force
With guest conductor Tania Miller and Van Cliburn gold medal winning pianist Haochen Zhang. This romantic program closes the season with favorites from Liszt, Wagner and Dvorak.

About the New West Symphony

Founded in 1995, the New West Symphony is a professional orchestra that draws its players from the rich talent pool of professional Los Angeles-area musicians. The Symphony is the resident company of the Oxnard Performing Arts Center, the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, and Barnum Hall in Santa Monica.  It presents six Masterpiece Series concerts annually, performing major works from the symphonic repertoire with internationally-acclaimed artists as guest soloists.  It also provides quality outreach and educational opportunities for the communities it serves through its annual Symphonic Adventures concert programs for youth, its traveling Music Van, and its New West Symphony Harmony Project of Ventura. More information is available at www.newwestsymphony.org or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/newwestsymphony