Pacific Symphony’s 8th Annual Lunar New Year Spectacular Welcomes the Year of the Snake with a Colorful Celebration of Eastern and Western Music and Dance on February 1

Lunar New Year with the Pacific Symphony with conductor, Carl St. Clair and Pacific Chorale at the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa, California on February 10, 2024. Photos Courtesy of Pacific Symphony

ORANGE COUNTY- Pacific Symphony welcomes the Year of the Snake with its annually sold-out Lunar New Year concert, a grand celebration of the rich traditions of Asian cultures brought to life through dynamic dance performances, soulful vocals, and a blend of Eastern and Western instrumentation. One of the largest Lunar New Year events in the area, the concert brings together more than 200 community performers and highly acclaimed guest artists in performance with the orchestra, led by Music Director Carl St.Clair. The concert takes place on Saturday, February 1, at 8 p.m. in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. For more information or to purchase tickets, call (714) 858-0945 or visit pacificsymphony.org.

The Pacific Symphony Lunar New Year Dinner was held in the Jewel Court at South Coast Plaza and Concert was performed at the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa, California on January 28, 2023. Photos Courtesy of Pacific Symphony

“Our purpose at Pacific Symphony is to bring people together through the transformative power of music, presenting a diverse array of music that can be enjoyed by all,” said Maestro St.Clair. “This Lunar New Year, we’re honored to highlight the vibrant traditions of pan-Asian music and dance with a rich showcase of talented performers from both near and far—a vision made possible by the inspiration and dedication of our board member, Charlie Zhang.”

Lunar New Year with the Pacific Symphony with conductor, Carl St. Clair and Pacific Chorale at the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa, California on February 10, 2024.Photos Courtesy of Pacific Symphony

Filled with awe-inspiring moments, concert highlights include Bei Bei Monter, one of the world’s premier guzheng musicians performing the ancient 21-string instrument alongside children from the Lotus Bud Guzheng Academy. Plus, Grammy-nominated pianist and local virtuoso Joyce Yang (Irvine resident born in South Korea) shows off her dazzling talents in Rachmaninoff’s popular Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. Other guest artists include erhu player Yang Liu, the Yaya Dance Academy, Violin Studio of Wendy Castille, long time artistic partner Pacific Chorale, the American Feel Young Chorus, led by Sam Wei-Chih Sun, and more.

Lunar New Year with the Pacific Symphony with conductor, Carl St. Clair and Pacific Chorale at the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa, California on February 10, 2024. Photos Courtesy of Pacific Symphony

A number of Eastern traditional and classic folk songs are featured on the program, including Huanzhi Li’s “Spring Festival Overture,” “Yi Dance” and Yaxing Chen’s “Galloping Horses.” Western favorites include “The Swan” from Camille Sain-Saëns “Carnival of the Animals,” and music from John Williams and Leonard Bernstein.

Charlie and Ling Zhang. Photos Courtesy of Pacific Symphony

“My wife Ling and I are deeply honored to have helped bring Pacific Symphony’s Lunar New Year concert to life each year for almost a decade,” said Charlie Zhang. “This concert serves as a bridge using the universal language of music to connect the cultures of East and West and be united in celebration. Our commitment is to nurture this cross-cultural exchange and foster an inclusive society rooted in the spirit of community.”

Bei Bei Monter, one of the world’s premier guzheng musicians. Photos Courtesy of Pacific Symphony
Grammy-nominated pianist and local virtuoso Joyce Yang. Photos Courtesy of Pacific Symphony
erhu player Yang Liu. Photos Courtesy of Pacific Symphony

Pacific Symphony extends its gratitude to esteemed sponsors of the Lunar New Year concert to Charlie and Ling Zhang, and Exclusive Corporate Partner Tiffany & Co., as well as Hoag Foundation and Hoag Hospital as the official Box Circle Partner.

About Pacific Symphony

Pacific Symphony, under the dynamic leadership of Music Director Carl St.Clair since 1990, has been the resident orchestra of Orange County’s Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall for over 15 years. Founded in 1978, the Symphony is the largest orchestra formed in the U.S. in the last 50 years and is not only a fixture of musical life in Southern California but is also recognized as an outstanding ensemble making strides on both the national and international scenes. The orchestra presents more than 100 concerts and events each year and a rich array of education and community engagement programs, reaching more than 300,000 residents of all ages.

Pacific Symphony made its debut at Carnegie Hall in 2018, where it was invited to perform as part of a yearlong celebration of composer Philip Glass’ 80th birthday. The Symphony made its first-ever tour to China the same year, with performances in five cities, including Shanghai and Beijing. The Symphony has been recognized with multiple ASCAP Awards for Adventurous Programming and included among the country’s five most innovative orchestras by the League of American Orchestras.

Pacific Symphony’s discography comprises 15 recordings, mostly of 20th- and 21st-century music by such American composers as William Bolcom, John Corigliano and Richard Danielpour. In 2012 for Naxos, St.Clair and the orchestra recorded Philip Glass’s “The Passion of Ramakrishna,” a Pacific Symphony commission that appeared on the Carnegie Hall program. In 2023, it released “Fiat Lux” by Sir James MacMillan, a choral work performed with Pacific Chorale. The Symphony has also recorded for Harmonia Mundi, Koch International Classics, Reference Recordings, and Sony Classical, among other labels. The Symphony has been recognized with multiple ASCAP Awards for Adventurous Programming and included among the country’s five most innovative orchestras by the League of American Orchestras. The Symphony’s education and community engagement activities have also been recognized by the League, as well as the National Endowment for the Arts.

LUNAR NEW YEAR CONCERT

Dates: Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, at 8 p.m.

Location: Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall located at 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Tickets:
Tickets for Pacific Symphony can be purchased via PacificSymphony.org or by calling the box office at (714) 755-5799.

ARTISTS
Carl St.Clair, conductor
Joyce Yang, piano
Bei Bei Monter, guzheng
Yang Liu, erhu
Chelsea Chaves, soprano
Tom Li, tenor

Verena Lo, cello
Lotus Bud Guzheng Academy
Yaya Dance Academy
Violin Studio of Wendy Castille
American Feel Young Chorus—Sam Wei-Chi Sun, Director
Pacific Chorale—Robert Istad, Artistic Director

PROGRAM
HUANZHI LISpring Festival Overture
Yaya Dance Academy
HUIRAN WANG, Orch. Adam Giberti: Yi Dance
Bei Bei Monter, Lotus Bud Guzheng Academy
SAUNDER CHOI: Blossom
CAMILLE SAINT-SAËNS: “The Swan” from Carnival of the Animals
Verena Lo, Yaya Dance Academy
SERGEI RACHMANINOFF: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
Joyce Yang, Piano

~ Intermission ~

Arr. Ying Tang: Happy Valley
Yaya Dance Academy
American Feel Young Chorus
Pacific Chorale
JIANG LIU, Arr. Shizhe WangEchoes of the Earth: A Musical Odyssey
Violin Studio of Wendy Castillo
YAOXING CHEN: Galloping Horses
Yang Liu
Arr. Ying Tang:  Red Coral
  Yaya Dance Academy
American Feel Young Chorus
Pacific Chorale
QIGANG CHEN Arr. David Dunford: You and Me
Chelsea Chaves
Tom Li
American Feel Young Chorus
Pacific Chorale
JOHN WILLIAMS: “Exsultate Justi” from Empire of the Sun
American Feel Young Chorus
Pacific Chorale
LEONARD BERNSTEIN:  “Make Our Garden Grow” from Candide
American Feel Young Chorus
Pacific Chorale
SAMUEL WARD Arr. Greg Prechel, Lyricist Katherine Lee Bates: “America the Beautiful”
American Feel Young Chorus
Pacific Chorale

Programs and artists subject to change.

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