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FORIMMEDIATERELEASEAugust23,2017MEDIACONTACTCarrieJonesMeadsDurket619-688-5248cjones@meadsdurket.com

SanDiegoSymphony’sThirdAnnualJanuaryFestival“It’sAboutTime:AFestivalofRhythm.Sound.

AndPlace.”WillMoveBeyondConcertHallToConnectCommunityInthespanof30days,festivalwillincludeover25eventshostedby13partners

SanDiego,Calif.–InJanuary2018,theSanDiegoSymphonywillholditsthirdannualfestivalandwillexploretheworldofrhythm,soundandplacethroughpercussioninamonth-longcelebrationentitled“It’sAboutTime,”whichiscuratedbypercussionist,conductor,authorandUniversityofCaliforniaSanDiegoprofessorStevenSchick.WorkingwithseveralofSanDiego’sperformingartsorganizations,thefestivalisaboutthemyriadofwayspercussionmusicconnectsustotheworldandtonature.PlanningisunderwayforthefestivaltomovebeyondtheconcerthallincludinganoutdoorperformanceattheUS/MexicoborderofJohnLutherAdams’sInuksuit.“Thisfestivalisabouttherichworldofrhythmandthewaywehearmusicaltime.It’saboutlisteningtothesoundsoftheoutsideworld,toourownheartbeats,tonoisesofcontemporarylife.It’sabouttimeinthe21stcentury,”saidSchick.“Over30excitingdays,ourfestivalwillshowourgueststhroughover25performances,installations,conversationsandencounters,demonstratinghowsoundcanconveyemotionanddeepentheconnectionsamongusallandhowitbindsustooneanother.We’llgettoshowourguestswhatafertileandinterconnectedwebofmusicalpartners—musicians,audiences,andinstitutions—thatspanallofSanDiego.”It’sAboutTime:AFestivalofRhythm.Sound.AndPlace.startsonJanuary11andrunsthroughFebruary11,2018.TheSymphony’sfirstconcertofthefestivalisJanuary13withPuertoRico-bornAmericancomposerRobertoSierra’spercussionconcerto,ConMadera,Metal,yCuero,aCaribbeanmash-upofrhythmandenergyinwhichfestivalcuratorSchickwillperformonanarrayofpercussioninstrumentsstretchingacrossthefrontofthestage.AudienceswillhaveachancetoadmiretheexcellentpercussionsectionoftheSanDiegoSymphonyconsistingofGregoryCohen,RyanDiLisi,ErinDouglasDowreyandAndrewWatkins,onfulldisplayinRimsky-Korsakov’slivelyCapriccioespagnol.AlsoonthestageofCopleySymphonyHallwillbearareperformanceofToruTakemitsu’sgloriousFrommeflowswhatyoucallTime,forfivesolopercussionistsandlargeorchestra—anessayoftranscendentalbeauty,featuringpercussioninstrumentsfromfivecontinents.PlanningisunderwaytoperformaconcertonJanuary27,wherethefestivalwillmovebeyondtheconfinesoftheconcerthallinanoutdoorperformanceofJohnLutherAdams’sInuksuit,attheUS/MexicoborderforaUS/Mexicanbi-nationalpercussiongroupofmorethan50players.Eachwillperformonitsownsideoftheborderwall,usingtheinternationallanguageofsoundtoreflectalandscapeofbeautifulsounds,fascinatingculturesandcloseneighbors.Thepiecewillrevealnotjustthesoniclandscapeoftheborder,butalsoqualitiesofitsculturalandsocialtopography.

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“CollaboratingwithStevetodevelop“It’sAboutTime”hasbeenatremendousexperience.IameagerforaudiencesinSanDiegoandbeyondtoexperiencethewiderangeofworksbeingpresentedandhowatthecoreofitallisthetensionbetweenourdesiretocontroltimeandthefactthatwearecontrolledbyit,”saidMarthaGilmer,SanDiegoSymphonyCEO.“Alsoattheheartofthisfestivalistheexpressionofconnectedness,sowhatanhonorandopportunityitistobringtogethersomanyoftheperformingartsorganizationsinSanDiegoforthefirsttimeindecades.”FestivalpartnersincludelocalorganizationsArtPoweratUCSanDiego,AthenaeumMusic&ArtsLibrary,FreshSound,HelenEdisonLectureSeries,kallistiensemble,LaJollaMusicSociety,LaJollaSymphonyandChorus,LuxBorealDanceCompany,redfishbluefish,SanDiegoOpera,StuartCollectionandUCSanDiegoMusicDepartment.“TheJanuaryFestivalwascreatedtoengagethelocalcommunitywhilealsomakingSanDiegoadestinationforoutoftownvisitors.During“It’sAboutTime”we’vedesignedaphenomenalweekend,January25-28,wherewehavemultipleperformanceshappeningaroundtownandatthebordermakingittheperfecttimeforatriptoSanDiego,”addedGilmer.Theweekend’sperformancesinclude:

• PERCUSSIONLOVEFESTpresentedbyFreshSoundJanuary25at7:30p.m.

• STORIESINTIMEpresentedbytheSanDiegoSymphonyJanuary26at8p.m.andJanuary28at2p.m.

• MARIADEBUENOSAIRES,BYASTORPIAZZOLLApresentedbytheSanDiegoOperaJanuary26at7p.m.,January27at7and10p.m.,andJanuary28at2p.m.

• INUKSUIT–ACROSS-BORDERPRESENTATIONbytheSanDiegoSymphonyincludingpercussionistsfromMexicoJanuary27at1p.m.

• THEROOTSOFRHYTHMpresentedbytheSanDiegoSymphony,Jazz@theJacobsJanuary27at8p.m.

• THERITEOFSPRINGATTHEMUSICBOXpresentedbytheSanDiegoSymphonyJanuary27at10p.m.

Festivaleventsincludedrop-inconcerts,informalconversations,hands-onexperiments,andup-closeencounterswithartiststhroughoutthemonth.Inadditiontotheformalprogrammingbeingofferedinconcertsthroughoutthefestival,emphasiswillbeplacedoncommunityengagementactivitiesthatcelebratepercussionthroughoutSanDiego,includingfreeactivitiesforthecommunity.TheSanDiegoSymphonylooksforwardtoexploringboththediversityandsimilarityofthisinstrumentfamilythroughdrumcircles,craftworkshops,andperformancesincommunityvenues.Three“PercussionLoveFests,”hostedatBread&Salt,willshowcaseadisplayoflocalpercussiontalent,risingstarsandestablishedlegends,fromjazzandrockdrummerstoBrazilian,AfricanandLatinpercussionists.Foranimmersive,“surround-sound”experience,audienceswillbeofferedarareperformanceofMichaelPisaro’sAsleep,Forest,Melody,Path.Over50performerswillengagetheaudienceinanimmersivesoundenvironmentincludingsixfieldrecordingsmadethroughoutSanDiegoCounty.Theentirefestivallineupwithdetailsoneachpartner’sprogramming,plusaninteractivemap,canbefoundatwww.sandiegosymphony.org/itsabouttime.

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TicketsarecurrentlyonsaleforSanDiegoSymphonyperformances.Otherticketinformationcanbefoundateachpartnerorganization’swebsite.Formorefestivalinformationortopurchasetickets,visitwww.sandiegosymphony.org/itsabouttimeorcalltheboxofficeat619.235.0804.GuestsmayalsovisittheSanDiegoSymphonyJacobsMusicCenterCopleySymphonyHallboxofficeat750BStreet,SanDiego,CA92101.

2018FESTIVALSCHEDULEPERCUSSIONLOVEFESTpresentedbyFreshSoundThursdays,January11,18,and25at7:30p.m.BreadandSalt$20/$10StudentsSanDiegosurfsonwavesofrhythm!Asaninternationalcity,itspercussionistsareasvariedasitscitizens.JoinusforthreespecialThursdayeventsatBreadandSaltasBonnieWright’sFreshSoundseriesshowcaseslocalpercussiontalentfromjazzdrummerstosymphonicmusicianstoold-stylemarchingmusic;fromBraziltoAfricatotheAmericas.It’sgoingtobeaPercussionLovefest!CuratedbyDuncanMooreandStevenSchick.FASCINATINGRHYTHMpresentedbytheSanDiegoSymphonyJanuary13at8p.m.andJanuary14at2p.m.CopleySymphonyHallattheJacobsMusicCenter$20-$98“It’sAboutTime”openswithaprogramofworkssuffusedwithorchestralcolorandrhythm.HectorBerlioz’sboisterousRomanCarnivalcontainstheItaliansaltarellodanceatitscore.SergeProkofiev’sSymphonyNo.5bristleswithenergy,oftendrivenbyinexorable“tick-tocks”comingfromthepercussionsection.GuestsoloistandfestivalcuratorStevenSchickwillbeatthecenterofavirtualmenagerieofwood,metalandskininRobertoSierra’sPercussionConcerto.PERCUSSION:ALISTENER’SGUIDEpresentedbytheSanDiegoSymphonyJanuary16at7:30p.m.CopleySymphonyHallattheJacobsMusicCenter$35Worldpercussiontraditionsmightbemillenniaold,butthebigbangthatstartedpercussionchambermusicintheconcerthallwasmuchmorerecent.In1931,EdgardVarèse—recentlyarrivedimmigrant,inveterateexperimenterandthegodfatherofmodernpercussionmusic—composedhis6-minutelongIonisation.Nothingwaseverthesameagain!We’llstartwithIonisationandthenleadyouonatourofrhythm,soundandenergyinworksbyCarlosChavez,AnnaThorvaldsdottir,IannisXenakisandSteveReich.ThepercussionistsoftheSanDiegoSymphonyjoinforceswiththeUCSanDiego’sowncutting-edgepercussiongroup,redfishbluefish.STUARTCOLLECTIONAUDIOTOURpresentedbyStuartCollection,GuidedbyStevenSchickJanuary20at11a.m.ConradPrebysMusicCenter,UCSanDiegoFree

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JoinStevenSchickandtheStuartCollection’sMaryBeebeinawalkingdiscussionofthesoundsoftheStuartCollection.FromTerryAllen’s“SilentTree”totheSunGodtoworksbyRobertIrwinandfinallyJohnLutherAdams,let’sfindoutwhatsculpturesoundslike.ThefinalstoponthetourwillbeJohnLutherAdams’s2017installation“TheWindGarden,”aninteractivesoundenvironmentthatreactstothetopographyandweatherofitssiteintheTheatreDistrictatUCSanDiego.CHARLESMINGUS:TIJUANAMOODSpresentedbyUCSanDiegoHelenEdisonLectureSeriesJanuary20at2p.m.MorganAuditoriumatSanDiegoCentralLibraryFree,pre-registeronlineathelenedison.ucsd.eduJoin“It’sAboutTime”festivalcuratorStevenSchickforadiscussionofthelegacyofAfrican-AmericancomposerCharlesMingusandhishistoric“TijuanaMoods”project,whichwillbeperformedonJanuary22ontheAthenaeumJazzseries.PanelistswillincludealtosaxophonistCharlesMcPherson,oneofthemostlongstandingmembersofCharlesMingus’band;AnthonyDavis,notedcomposer,pianist,improviser,andUCSanDiegoprofessorofMusic;andotherstba.EventispresentedwithgrantsupportfromtheWesternStatesArtsFederation(WESTAF)andtheNationalEndowmentfortheArts(NEA).PAULTAYLORDANCECOMPANYpresentedbyLaJollaMusicSocietyJanuary20at8p.m.SpreckelsTheatre$20-$75CombinethefluidgraceofPaulTaylorDanceCompanyandthekineticenergyofpercussionmusicperformedbyredfishbluefishandyougetanunforgettableeveningofsoundsandsights.“ClovenKingdom,”asignatureworkoftheTaylorCompanyfeaturesMalloyMiller’sPreludeforPercussion,anearlyworkforpercussionensemble.Seethecompanyperformtheentireworkwithrecordedmusic.Thenafterintermission,redfishbluefishjoinsthedancersforaversionwithliveperformers!PLACESINTIMEpresentedbytheSanDiegoSymphonyJanuary20at8p.m.andJanuary21at2p.m.CopleySymphonyHallatJacobsMusicCenter$20-$98RhythmsofItalianmusicpervadethisconcertasour“It’sAboutTime”festivalcontinues.GioacchinoRossini’sFrenchoperaabouttheSwissfightingAustrianoppressionwastransformedintothesignaturemusicofAmericanpopcultureiconTheLoneRangerduetoitsperfectlypropulsive,“Hi-HoSilver!”beat.GiuseppeMartucciprovidesaperfectsampleofItaliannightmusic,andOttorinoRespighigloriouslytrampsghostlegionsdowntheAppianWayinThePinesofRome.ItalianconductorJaderBignaminileadstheprogram.MINGUSDYNASTY:TIJUANAMOODSpresentedbyAthenaeumMusic&ArtsLibraryJanuary22at7:30p.m.AuditoriumatTSRI$35general,$30memberTicketsandinformation:ljathenaeum.org/jazz-at-tsri

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Aseminalfigurein20thcenturyAmericanmusic,CharlesMingusisconsideredalongsideDukeEllingtonasoneofthemostimportantcomposersinjazzhistory.TheMingusDynastyband,comprisedofsevenleadingjazzartistsfromNewYorkCity,performsarevivalofCharlesMingus'historic1957album"TijuanaMoods."Mingus’musicdocumentshislivelyimpressionsofourneighboringcityofTijuana.WhilebasedmostofhiscareerinNewYorkCity,MinguswasbornalongtheborderinNogales,Arizona,andwasraisedinWattsinLosAngeles.SothismusicreflectsMingus’earlyrootsandhisprofoundconnectionwithourregion.EventispresentedwithgrantsupportfromtheWesternStatesArtsFederation(WESTAF)andtheNationalEndowmentfortheArts(NEA)withsupportfromtheCityofSanDiegoCommissionforArtsandCultureandtheCountyofSanDiego. STORIESINTIMEpresentedbytheSanDiegoSymphonyJanuary26at8p.m.andJanuary28at2p.m.CopleySymphonyHallatJacobsMusicCenter$20-$98WhenHeraclitussaid,“Everythingflows;nothingstays,”hemayhavehadthisconcertinmind.Twoverydifferentviewsoftimedominatethismusic.Inthefirst,wetrytocontroltime.Thisistheworldofclocks,machines,andiPhones;itisdriven,rhythmic,andsometimesfrantic.Intheotherview,wearecontrolled:bytheagelessrhythmsofnature,ofriversandtides,ofthephasesofthemoon.TheurbanlandscapeofBartokandtheautofactoryofMissyMazzolirepresenttheformer.ThelattercanbeheardintheetherealstreamofToruTakemitsu’sFrommeflowswhatyoucallTimeandthetimelesschildren’stalesofRavel’sgentlesuitefromMotherGoose.FromHeraclitusagain:“Eternityisachildplaying.”MARIADEBUENOSAIRES,BYASTORPIAZZOLLApresentedbytheSanDiegoOperaJanuary26at7p.m.(soldout);January27at7p.m.and10p.m.;andJanuary28at2p.m.(soldout)LyceumTheater$35-$160ThesensualpulseofArgentinetangosetsthestageforthissurrealandcaptivatingworkbycomposerÁstorPiazzollaandlibrettistHoracioFerrer.FilledwiththepassionatepulseofthetangoandBuenosAiresitself,MariadeBuenosAiresgripsyoufromthefirstnoteandwillnotletgo.JOHNLUTHERADAMS:INUKSUIT–ACROSS-BORDERPRESENTATIONJanuary27at1p.m.U.S./Mexicoborder,ExactLocationTBAFreePremieredintheCanadianRockies,JohnLutherAdams’soutdoormasterpiece,Inuksuit—scoredforbetween9and99percussionists—isamirrorofthelandscapeinwhichitisperformed.We’llplaythepieceattheUS/Mexicoborderandhopetorevealnotjustthesoniclandscapeoftheborder,butalsoqualitiesofitsculturalandsocialtopography.Abi-nationalgroupofMexicanandAmericanpercussionists,eachperformingonitsownsideoftheborderwall,willusetheinternationallanguageofsoundtoreflectalandscapeofbeautifulsounds,fascinatingculturesandcloseneighbors.BasedonthestonesentinelsbuiltbyInuitpeopleofthecircumpolarArctic,Inuksuitremindsusthattheclimateischanging,theiceretreatingandtheseasrising. THEROOTSOFRHYTHMpresentedbytheSanDiegoSymphony,Jazz@theJacobsJanuary27at8p.m.CopleySymphonyHallatJacobsMusicCenter

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$25-$68ThisconcertwillexploretheoriginsandevolutionofthevariousrhythmicstylesthatmadetheirwayfromallovertheworldtoAmerica,becomingpartofthemodernjazzidiom.JohnSantos,oneoftheforemostexponentsofAfro-Latinmusicintheworldtoday(asbothmusicianandhistorian),willsurveyjazz’s“rootsystem”bywayofhisremarkablepersonalcollectionofpercussioninstrumentsinperformancewithseveralspecialguests.*SanDiegoSymphonyOrchestradoesnotappearaspartofthisconcert.THERITEOFSPRINGATTHEMUSICBOXpresentedbytheSanDiegoSymphonyJanuary27at10p.m.TheMusicBoxLeSacreduPrintempsexplodedwithatorrentofrhythm,color;choreographyandenergy,capturing,morethananyotherpieceofmusic,theenergyandanimaofthebrand-new20thcentury.InanarrangementbyCliffColnotfor12players,we’llexplorethisriotouspieceinaspecialmulti-mediapresentation.ROLANDAUZETpresentedbyArtPoweratUCSanDiegoJanuary31at7:30p.m.MandevilleAuditorium,UCSanDiego$15-$25Frenchcomposer,percussionist,andtheaterdirectorRolandAuzetdefineshimselfasastagewriter.Auzet’snewwork,Ineverlistened,nosoundwithoutlove,startswithacaronanemptystage,buthequicklyfillstheroomwithsomuchmore.Employinggesture,movement,anddrummingheanswersfundamentalquestionsabouthumannature,solitude,power,knowledge,strength,virtuosity,anddoubt.Throughhisinventivepercussionandvisuals,poetryandmusicwillemergeandcreatemagicandillusionthataresuretodazzletheaudience.SponsorsarePhyllisandDanielEpstein.LUISURREApresentedbyUCSanDiegoHelenEdisonLectureSeriesFebruary1at7p.m.SanDiegoCentralLibrary,MorganAuditoriumFree,pre-registeronlineathelenedison.ucsd.eduHailedbyNPRasa"masterstorytellerwitharockandrollheart,"LuisUrreaisaprolificwriterwhouseshisdual-culturelifeexperiencestoexploregreaterthemesoflove,lossandtriumph.BorninTijuanatoaMexicanfatherandAmericanmother,Urreaisthecriticallyacclaimedandbest-sellingauthorof16books,includingTheHummingbird’sDaughterandIntoTheBeautifulNorth.Join“It’sAboutTime”curatorStevenSchickforaconversationwithLuisUrreaabouthislifeandworkandtheircollaborationonanewversionofStravinsky’sL’histoiredusoldatwithtextsfromUrrea’swritings.MICHAELPISARO’Sasleep,forest,melody,pathpresentedbyUCSanDiegoDepartmentofMusicFebruary2at7:30p.m.MandevilleAuditorium,UCSanDiego$15.50general,studentsfreeMichaelPisaro’s“asleep,forest,melody,path”isarichandresonantworkscoredfor6fieldrecordings—madeinsixspeciallychosensitesinSanDiego—alargeensembleofinstrumentalistsand

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twosoloists.Aworkofbothgreatintimacyandextraordinaryemotionalandsonicpower“asleep,forest,melody,path,”sketchesasonicportraitofourcityandthepeoplewhocallithome.PercussionistGregStuartreturnstoUCSanDiegotoleadthemusicandjoinsviolinistErikCarlsonassoloist.REEDFAMILYCONCERT–IGORSTRAVINSKY’SL’HISTOIREDUSOLDATpresentedbyUCSanDiegoDepartmentofMusicFebruary3at7:30p.m.MandevilleAuditorium,UCSanDiego$15.50general,studentsfreeWecelebratethecentennialofStravinsky’smasterpieceL’HistoireduSoldatwithanewsettingfeaturingtextsbytheextraordinarywriterLuisUrrea,thecutting-edgeTijuanadancecollective,LuxBoreal,andUCSanDiego’sdynamicnewfluteprofessorWilfridoTerrazas.Musicfrom100yearsagoalongwithtext,dance,andimprovisedmusicfromtoday,combinetoexplorereal-lifeproblemsandjoysofMexicansandAmericansastheycrosstheinternationalborderbetweenSanDiegoandtheUnitedStates.CROSSWINDSpresentedbyLaJollaSymphonyandChorusFebruary10at7:30p.m.andFebruary11at2:00p.m.MandevilleAuditorium,UCSanDiego$15-$35IthasbeenatoughfewyearsinFrance–atimeofstrongcrosswindsfromeverydirection.Paris-basedcomposer,circusartistandpercussionistRolandAuzetfightsbackinanewtheatricalpercussionconcertowrittenforandco-commissionedbyFionaDigney.Improvisationandnotionsofstrength,power,virtuosity,gesture,andisolationwillbeexploredandexpressedtocreateapercussionconcertolikenoother.Theworkcallsintoquestiontheconventionalideaofwhatitmeanstobeapercussionist,narrator,dancer,andactor,utilizingtraditionalpercussioninstruments,‘found’instrumentssuchaschairsandothereverydayobjects,andmultimediatechnology(Go-Procameras).ThisconcertoisbeingwrittenspecificallyforFionaDigneytoshowcasethestrength,subtlety,artistry,andvirtuosityofoneofthenewwaveofexperimentalpercussionists.TheprogrambeginswithMahler’sFourthSymphony.StevenSchickwillbeconducting.Pre-concertlecture:Onehourbeforeconcerttimes,givenbytheconductorAbouttheSanDiegoSymphonyFoundedin1910,theSanDiegoSymphonyistheoldestorchestrainCaliforniaandoneofthelargestandmostsignificantculturalorganizationsinSanDiego.TheOrchestraperformsforover250,000peopleeachseason,offeringawidevarietyofprogrammingatitstwomuchlovedvenues,CopleySymphonyHallindowntownSanDiegoandtheEmbarcaderoMarinaParkSouthonSanDiegoBay.Theorchestra’s82full-timemusicians,graduatesofthefinestandmostcelebratedmusicschoolsintheUnitedStatesandabroad,alsoserveastheorchestrafortheSanDiegoOperaeachseason,aswellasperformingatseveralregionalperformingartscenters.Forover30years,theSanDiegoSymphonyhasprovidedcomprehensivemusiceducationandcommunityengagementprogramsreachingmorethan65,000studentsannuallyandbringinginnovativeprogrammingtoSanDiego’sdiverseneighborhoodsandschools.Formoreinformation,visitwww.sandiegosymphony.org.

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