Carnival of Kibble: Pet Food Drive & Raffle & Dog Adoptions

It’s a Carnival of Kibble!

Help feed our furry friends in need & enter to win tickets to Verdi’s Requiem!

We're collaborating with Stanislaus Animal Services Agency and hosting a Pet Food Drive at our Carnival of the Animals concerts. Donate and enter a raffle to win 2 tickets to Verdi's Requiem!

Suggested Donations to Enter:

• 1 can of kitten or puppy formula

• 4 cans of cat or dog wet food

• 5 lb bag of cat or dog dry food

Donations will be accepted before the start of each concert on April 11 & 12 starting from 6:30 pm until 7:15 pm. A winner from from each concert will be chosen. The winners will be contacted by April 18, 2025.

Dog Adoptions in Gallo Center for the Arts Lobby

We will have Stanislaus Animal Services Agency (SASA) holding dog adoptions in the lobby before our Carnival of the Animals concerts! 🐶😍

Please bring a Valid ID to adopt!

Adoption fees may apply. Fees range from $112 - $120, fees are due at the time of spay/neuter, unless the dog is already altered.

All dogs have age-appropriate vaccines, microchips, and will be altered before the adoption is finalized.

The SASA Team will be there to answer questions and help you take your new best friend home! See you there! 👋

Read / Creating Magic in the Music Room

Meet MSYO Music Director Elisha Wells

Creating Magic in the Music Room

From discovering her own passion for music as a student to now creating a warm and supportive space for others, MSYO Music Director Elisha Wells’ approach goes beyond teaching the notes on the page. She fosters an environment where young musicians not only grow their musical skills but also gain important life lessons along the way.

MSO: How did music impact your life and what inspired you to be a music educator?

Elisha Wells (EW): Growing up, I was a church pianist at the age of nine. My mother drove me to church services, weddings, funerals, and other events until I could drive myself. As a teenager, I also sang in a country/rock/polka band while playing the piano and trumpet. We were called “Broken Promise” (not the best wedding band name…) and we traveled far and wide to play for weddings and parties. I also was the drum major of my high school marching band and sang in the church choir from ages five to 18. These rural Texas musical opportunities were wonderful and impactful, but I always knew there was more music to experience. So, while I didn’t have elite musical training in Texas, I strived for my personal best at everything and said “yes” to a variety of musical experiences that each shaped me to be the person I am today.

My life completely changed after hearing the sound of an orchestra and the inspiration for becoming a music educator came from a deep connection to “the magic in the room.” I never played in an orchestra until I was 18 years old and attending college. As a young child, I thought that I was going to be a concert pianist, but over the years, I began to play horn and fell in love with the experience of playing in orchestras. I knew that this was the music I’d been missing all my life. I realized how impactful my orchestra conductors were, so I studied and observed everything they did, hoping to be like them someday. My love for achieving my personal best as a performer is what inspired me to be a music educator. There is nothing better than encouraging young people to do their best, and seeing them reach and exceed their goals

MSO: What do you most enjoy about making music with an orchestra?

EW: I often think of a concert set from start to finish, like a large Rand McNally paper road map, the ones we all used before iMaps. I think of it as a journey, from the very first thought I have when thinking of repertoire, to the very first rehearsal, all the way to the last note of the performance. Sometimes the journey takes us through steep mountains and over bumpy roads. The most important time during that process is the journey, or the rehearsals. The concert is a gift, both to the audience and to the performers. I guess the answer to that question is: I enjoy every second that I’m able to make music with an orchestra. At the end of each concert, I feel as though we have all accomplished a great task together, and it’s the greatest feeling!

MSO: What is the value of music education and how does the MSYO impact our community?

EW: The Modesto area and regional cities offer a first-class music education experience in the school districts. We encourage and support MSYO students to participate in their school music programs, and we believe that MSYO is an enhancement to what they are already receiving in their school programs. When our school music programs succeed, we also succeed! Music education teaches the whole individual, not just academically or physically. An orchestra is a place where students learn self-discipline, how to multi-task like experts, how to be vulnerable and brave, how to care for others and be good citizens, and so much more. These students go out into society having finer social skills, critical thinking capabilities, and are able to function as productive members of any community.

When we hear a professional symphony play beautiful music, we enjoy listening, but most of us don’t think, “Wow, they must have worked so hard to sound that great!” When students play a successful performance, it’s all the more inspiring because they’ve worked to achieve that goal while learning their instruments and growing their musicianship, and that’s what makes it also 1,000 times more rewarding! Music education is desperately needed in our society. The appreciation and understanding of the arts, in general, produce humans that are more understanding, empathic, and compassionate toward others. We need that more than ever in the world!

“The concert is a gift, both to the audience and to the performers…

…I enjoy every second that I’m able to make music with an orchestra. At the end of each concert, I feel as though we have all accomplished a great task together, and it’s the greatest feeling!”

MSO: What do you hope students will take away from being in the MSYO?

I hope our students take so many things from their experiences with MSYO. A few of them are musical excellence, a deep love for music making, a sense of gratitude and appreciation for the gift of music making, and a sense of how important it is to nurture our music community, be good citizens, work hard, and be kind.

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LEarn more about Elisha

Prelude Paint Night: A Classical Music-inspired Art Experience

PRELUDE PAINT NIGHT: A CLASSICAL MUSIC ART EXPERIENCE

Tuesday, February 4, 2025 at 7 pm at The Dragonfly Art for Life Gallery & Studio

$40 a person

Join us for a unique and inspiring evening as we collaborate with The Dragonfly Art For Life Art Gallery & Studio to present Prelude Paint Night: a classical music-inspired art experience! Just as Disney animators drew inspiration from iconic classical pieces like Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice to create the magical world of Fantasia, you’ll have the chance to let the music fuel your own artistic vision.

Before we start painting, artist Patrick Barr, resident artist of The Dragonfly Art for Life will talk about his experience as a Disney animator. We’ll then play selections from our concert and let your imagination go wild! Whether you're an experienced artist or a beginner, this event is sure to be a night of inspiration and fun!

Cost includes supplies & support from the artists of The Dragonfly Art for Life. Ticket to the concert is not required or included.

Sound Bite / Reimagine Vivaldi's Four Seasons with Audrey Wright!

This November 1st & 2nd, Music Director Nicholas Hersh has put together a fun and exciting program that reimagines the Classics-favorite, Vivaldi's Four Seasons with The Four Seasons Mixtape! Who better to take on the challenge of four different composers for each of the seasons than New York Philharmonic violinist Audrey Wright.

See Audrey & the MSO perform The Four Seasons Mixtape this November 1st & 2nd, 2024 at the Gallo Center for the Arts.

Sensory-Friendly Open Rehearsal: The Four Seasons Mixtape

SENSORY-FRIENDLY OPEN REHEARSAL OF MODESTO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA’S THE FOUR SEASONS MIXTAPE

As part of our values to create a warm and welcoming environment for everyone, the Modesto Symphony Orchestra will have a sensory-friendly rehearsal of The Four Seasons Mixtape on November 1, 2024.

A Sensory-Friendly Open Rehearsal is designed to create a welcoming symphonic experience for people with autism, sensory input disorders, sensory sensitivities, or other physical, cognitive, or developmental disabilities, and their families and caretakers. The rehearsal is adapted for persons with light and audio sensitivities, and to allow for patron movement and talking. A sensory-friendly rehearsal is also a great way for young ones to experience the symphony for the first time. All are welcome to experience the MSO in a safe, non-judgmental environment.

• Rehearsal attendees are invited to come and be themselves. Etiquette expectations will be relaxed, talking or vocalizing is accepted. Patrons may move freely in their seats and the aisles, within appropriate safety parameters.

• House lights will remain on throughout the rehearsal.

• Some loud sounds and notes will be modified for this performance.

• Seating is general admission, and wheelchair spaces are available. Please let us know if a wheelchair space is needed.

Sensory-Friendly Open Rehearsal: The Four Seasons Mixtape

$5.00

November 1, 2024
3:30 pm to 5 pm

Gallo Center for the Arts

$5 price is per seat.

Quantity:

Purchase

Post / MSO Chorus Summer Sings 2024!

MSOC SUMMER SINGS

A BRAND NEW CHORUS SUMMER PROGRAM!

MSOC Summer Sings will have three consecutive meetings during the month of June. This opportunity is available to anyone who is interested in singing, no audition or previous experience required!

Time: Mondays from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm
Location: First United Presbyterian Church (1600 Carver Road, Modesto)

The price (or suggested donation) is $5 per person, per meeting (cash or check only).

Each meeting will have a theme that explores different repertoire:

• June 10, 2024 – Music from the United States:

  We will explore works by mostly 20th and 21st Century American composers, with music in different genres and styles, including works by some California composers.

• June 17, 2024 – Music from the Romantic Period:

  We will sing works from the Romantic period, including compositions from different parts of the world and by lesser-known composers.

• June 24, 2024 – Music from Latin America:

  We will take a brief “tour” of Latin America through works from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Venezuela, and more! (Yes, there will be an Afonso piece in this session).

Please register before attending by filling out our form here.

REGISTER FOR MSOC SUMMER SINGS →

For any questions, please contact our Chorus Director, Daniel Afonso Jr. at dafonso@csustan.edu.

Modesto Symphony's 2024/25 Season of Energy!

Welcome to a season of Energy! The MSO has a fantastic season of concerts that run the gamut of emotions: from Picnic at the Pops! Dancing in the Streets to a new spin on Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons to bringing Walt Disney’s beloved animated Fantasia to life on screen and stage! You’re guaranteed to move and be moved this season at the Modesto Symphony Orchestra.

Our 2024/25 Series:

Listen / Arts of the San Joaquin Valley: Nicholas Hersh Interview

Arts of the San Joaquin Valley

Episode 48: Nicholas Hersh

Nicholas Hersh, Music Director of Modesto Symphony Orchestra, talks with co-host Linda Scheller about becoming a conductor, music in education, balancing the canon, a music director's responsibilities, and the significance of live musical performances.

Get to Know MSO's New Music Director Nicholas Hersh!

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Get to know Nicholas Hersh!

We are so excited for Nicholas Hersh’s to join our Modesto community, and we can’t wait for you to meet him. We asked him to share a bit about himself from what instrument he plays to his favorite pizza topping. Keep reading to learn more about Nicholas!

If you weren’t a conductor/musician, what would you want to be?

Probably an astronomer—I’m fascinated by space and celestial bodies!

Star Wars or Star Trek? Lifelong Star Wars nerd, reporting in

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What instrument do you play?

Cello.

What was the first concert you went to? The first I really remember is The Magic Flute at the Chicago Lyric Opera when I was about 6 or 7.

Besides music, what was your favorite subject in school?
My high school had a fantastic curriculum called Chem-Phys, where you took Chemistry and Physics jointly. I wasn’t great with the Chem, but absolutely loved the Phys!

Dogs or cats?
Love them all, but seeing as I have two cats at home...

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Describe yourself in three words. Curious. Creative. Committed.

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A post shared by Nicholas Hersh (@nicholashersh)

Do you have a secret talent?
Not too secret (see Instagram), but I make sourdough bread.

What is your favorite pizza topping?
Cheese, cheese and more cheese!

What would be the theme music to your life?
John Williams’ “Adventures on Earth” from E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial

Go to the beach, or go to the mountains?
First one, then the other! But I just went skiing for the first time, and I LOVED it.

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Nicholas on joining the MSOA:

“I am beyond thrilled that my first music directorship will be in such a vibrant, music-loving city as Modesto. There was a certain electricity in the Gallo Center when the MSO musicians and I collaborated last year, shared not only onstage but with the audience as well; together we’ll grow that energy, creating bespoke artistic experiences for the entire Modesto community and cementing the role of music education for all ages as a driver of social good.

Orchestral music has endured, and I believe symphonies will continue to serve as a vehicle for great music. You have gathered onstage a group of virtuoso musicians working together toward a unified musical vision, and an audience gathered in the house to take it in. It’s a bit of an odd ritual—this mysterious congregation! But it’s the sense of community the orchestra creates, with every musician and concertgoer participating, that gives an orchestra concert its staying power: when the lights go down and the sound of some eighty acoustic instruments envelops you and those around you...well, there are few words to describe that sensation.”

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Sound Bite / A Celebration of Music with Music Director Nicholas Hersh

Conductor Nicholas Hersh is excited for his debut as the MSO’s new Music Director! He has put together a program that celebrates not only the partnership of MSO and himself, but also this new era for the MSO and our community.

Hear the MSO perform the works of Mozart, Tchaikovsky, and Copland live this October 13 & 14, 2023!

Hear What's Next: MSO's 2023/24 Classics Series with Nicholas Hersh!

Music Director Nicholas Hersh invites you to Hear What's Next in this Modesto Symphony Orchestra's 2023/24 Classics Season!

Our 2023/24 Classics Series:

Behind The Podium / The Force Is Strong With The MSO

Behind the Podium / The force is strong with the mso

This May 31st & June 1st, the Modesto Symphony Orchestra returns to a galaxy far, far away when we perform Star Wars: Return of the Jedi live to film!

Principal Pops Conductor Ryan Murray conducted many of the MSO’s film concerts, including last year’s Star Wars: The Empire A New Hope and in 2022, Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert. This year, he will be leading 84 musicians in perfect time as Star Wars: Return of the Jedi plays on a 26’ x 16’ screen (the equivalent of 36 60” TVs!). An impressive feat that is a result of only 5 total hours of rehearsal time together!

Read on for an exclusive look behind the stage to see what goes into preparing for a unique concert like this with an interview with Ryan Murray we did last May 2023! 

MSO: How long does it take for you to prepare for a movie concert and is there any difference compared to preparing for a standard classics or other pops concerts?

Ryan Murray, conductor: It takes anywhere between four to six months to prepare for a movie concert and there are some major differences in how you prepare for these concerts compared to a standard classics or pops concert. The major difference in getting ready for one of these concerts is memorizing and internalizing the tempos of the original movie. Unlike in a traditional concert where the interpretation can vary from orchestra to orchestra and conductor to conductor, in the movie concerts you must play exactly in time with the film! And while I have a special screen in front of me with something called punches and streamers on it to help me line up with the film, the orchestra does not have that information, so it’s my job to really know the score inside and out so that we can make sure everything lines up just right!

Conductor Ryan Murray at the podium, with screen that provides film information in real-time.

MSO: Could you explain the how you use the screen in front of you to help line the orchestra up with what is on the big screen?
RM: Sure, while I’m conducting I have a click track and a special screen in front of me that I use to line everything up with the film. The orchestra does not have that information, so it is really the conductor’s job to make sure that all the tempos line up exactly with the film. Once the movie starts there is no margin for error, and we all must work very hard to make everything match! It is actually a very fun challenge and keeps you on your toes as a conductor!

MSO: Now that you've done a couple Star Wars in Concert performances, what did you learn from that experience and were there any surprises or challenges that come to mind?

RM: I think that the most interesting thing about performing the Star Wars movies in concert is how much freedom you have as a conductor. The score is written in such a symphonic way that you have the room to be slightly flexible with each performance- each performance is unique and exciting! Obviously, there are key moments where you have to make sure everything lines up exactly, but there are other places where you can let the orchestra be a little bit free and that makes for a really incredible musical experience.

MSO: John Williams’ scores are so iconic and each film he works on is distinctive, even when included in a franchise like Star Wars. Are there any differences to the overall musical tone for this movie, The Empire Strikes Back compared to A New Hope?

RM: There are a lot of similarities in the soundtrack including the overall size of the orchestra, the way the music is scored and the iconic opening credits music, but there is a little bit of a darker tone to this movie. The music is a bit more introspective, and I think emotionally a little bit deeper as well. We get introduced to some new characters in this film including Yoda, and the wonderful music that makes up Yoda’s theme. We also see a great character development arch happening with the main players from the first film and the music reflects that beautifully.

MSO: So, who is your favorite character from the franchise and what is your favorite theme to listen to and which is your favorite to conduct?

RM: It would be hard to pick a favorite character from the franchise, probably Yoda or Darth Vader –  talk about opposite ends of the spectrum! They both have such great music!

I really enjoy conducting the opening theme – that classic Star Wars melody. The opening ten minutes of every Star Wars movie features the entire orchestra and some really challenging music– it’s always a lot of fun! I always enjoy listening to the Imperial March – there is such intensity to that music – and such great brass writing!

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The Force is Strong with the MSO

Come join Ryan Murray & the MSO on a trip to a galaxy far, far away in Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi in Concert this May 31 & June 1 at the Gallo Center for the Arts!

This article was updated May 20, 2024.

The MSO Chorus Makes a Classics Comeback!

Chorus chat with Daniel Afonso / May 12 & 13: Mozart Requiem

The MSO Chorus Makes a Classics Comeback

Since returning to in-person rehearsals and concerts last season, the MSO Chorus has been steadily working on returning to its full power. We’ve enjoyed their performances at our Holiday Pops! and Holiday Candlelight Concerts, but this May will mark the first time they’ve performed in a Classics Series concert since 2019.

We chatted with chorus director, Dr. Daniel R. Afonso Jr. to gain more insight into our beloved chorus and their return to stage with Mozart’s Requiem.

MSO: Can you give our audiences a brief background of Mozart’s Requiem?

Daniel Afonso, chorus director: Mozart’s Requiem is certainly one of the composer’s best known works—and there are certainly plenty of reasons for it. The music itself is beautiful and full of expressive elements that have made the work very popular for centuries, but the Requiem has also been shrouded in mystery and the subject of folk tales and much gossip. Everything started with Mozart receiving a commission from a mysterious Viennese patron to write a Requiem for his wife—the patron wanted to remain anonymous, sent a messenger to talk to Mozart. To complicate things further, the composer died (at age 35!) while working on this music and before being able to complete the full work. Although we now know much more about the origins of the Requiem, these “tales” and conflicting stories about the work continue to feed audiences and performers with some extra “drama” that adds to the work’s overall appeal.

Another element that contributed to Mozart’s Requiem popularity was the highly fictionalized movie about the composer’s life that came out in 1984, Milos Forman’s Amadeus. It was while watching the movie that I learned about the Requiem and fell in love with it. Later, in 2012, I had one of the highlights of my music career when I had the privilege of conducting the CSUS Chamber Singers and members of the MSO Chorus in a performance of Requiem at Lincoln Center, in New York City.

MSO: There are many iconic sections to the Requiem, like the “Dies irae” and the “Lacrimosa.” What about these sections of the Mozart Requiem do you think audiences will find most exciting to hear or see performed live?

DA: Yes, these two movements do have the most recognizable music of this entire work. And I believe this is due to Mozart’s ability to write music that perfectly depicts the character and meaning of the text. These two movements are part of a larger section of the Requiem called “Sequence” that describes the “judgment day.” The Dies irae begins this section and the Lacrimosa ends it. In the Dies irae, the words describe judgment day as a “day of wrath” when the world will “dissolve in ashes.” And in the Lacrimosa, the words depict a “tearful day” when “the guilty man will rise from the ashes to be judged.” These are powerful and colorful images that Mozart expertly matches to equally powerful and ingenuously constructed musical ideas. The result is music that is both beautiful and expressive, full of different colors and musical elements that at the same time intrigue and fascinate the listener.

MSO: You’ve been the MSO chorus director since its foundation in 2001, what has it been like working with a diverse group of singers for over 20 years?

DA: I absolutely love working with the MSO Chorus! And the diversity in the group’s membership is one of the most interesting aspects of the work to me. We have singers of all levels of ability and musical experience in the group. We have experienced choral singers and some who have music degrees (music teachers, music ministers, etc.). We also have many singers who don’t read music and some who had never been part of a choir before. The power of collective singing comes exactly from that: different people working together with a common goal, helping each other to overcome any challenges and difficulties during the process. And every time the chorus performs, we are reminded of the importance of working together as a cohesive community, and how music can be a powerful tool to bring people together. Now, add to that learning and performing some of the most exciting music ever written for choir and orchestra, and you have the full picture of how wonderful my job is!

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Hear Mozart Live

Join the MSO Chorus as they perform Mozart Requiem live this May 12 & 13, 2023 at the Gallo Center for the Arts!

Barber's Violin Concert Will Make Your Heart Race! (feat. violinist Simone Porter)

Don't miss the "soul-shaking beauty and heart-racing excitement" of Barber's Violin Concert performed by violinist Simone Porter this February 10th & 11th!

Andrew Grams will conduct the MSO for the Barber & Brahms concerts with a program that will take our audiences on an emotional journey of love, loss, and the beauty of life. We’re also excited to have violinist Simone Porter to share her amazing energy and beautiful tone in Samuel Barber’s beloved Violin Concerto. The concert will conclude with Brahms’ Second Symphony, which will leave our audiences full of optimism.

Hear the works of Brouwer, Barber, and Brahms performed live by the MSO this February 10 & 11, 2023!

Music Education is Fundamental

Support music education and support the future of our community!

Now through the February, the MSO is celebrating our music education programs that provide the fundamentals of fostering the next generation of community leaders and builders. You can help support our community’s youth by giving today!

Musician Home-Stay Program!

The MSO offers a limited amount of home stays for our musicians to help relieve the cost of finding lodging for our concerts. Support the MSO by opening up your home to one of our orchestra musicians! We welcome all interested to contact us, homes outside of Modesto are welcome too!

If you’re interested or want to learn more about this program click the link below:

Sound Bite / The Heartfelt Emotions of Brouwer, Barber, & Brahms

Guest conductor Andrew Grams explores how music can tug at one's heartstrings in a way no other type of communication can.

Grams will conduct the MSO for the Barber & Brahms concerts with a program that will take our audiences on an emotional journey of love, loss, and the beauty of life. We’re also excited to have violinist Simone Porter to share her amazing energy and beautiful tone in Samuel Barber’s beloved Violin Concerto. The concert will conclude with Brahms’ Second Symphony, which will leave our audiences full of optimism.

Hear the works of Brouwer, Barber, and Brahms performed live by the MSO this February 10 & 11, 2023!

Sound Bite / Soaring Swan Songs

Guest conductor Nicholas Hersh explores the great mysteries of life and death through the works of Schubert, Rachmaninoff, and Sibelius.

Hersh will lead the MSO for the Rachmaninoff & Sibelius concerts. This program gives us the opportunity to hear Hersh’s arrangement of the second movement of Schubert’s famous string quartet, Death and the Maiden. Then pianist George Li will be featured on Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini and the program will finish with Sibelius’ Symphony No. 5. This breathtaking beauty captures 16 soaring swans when the strings mimic the fluttering of wings and a glorious, arching theme played by the French horns.

Hear the works of Schubert, Rachmaninoff, and Sibelius performed live by the MSO this November 11th & 12th, 2022!

Meet the Musician: Gabriela Martinez, piano

Oct. 21 & 22: Rhapsody in Blue

Q&A with Gabriela Martinez

Upcoming this October 21 & 22, internationally recognized pianist, Gabriela Martinez returns to Modesto to perform Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue alongside your Modesto Symphony Orchestra. Excited to have her back on the Gallo Center stage with us, we were able to catch up with what she has been up to since last performing with the MSO in 2018.

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MSO: We’re so excited to have you back in Modesto performing Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue! Are there any specific emotions you feel while performing Rhapsody in Blue? What sort of imagery comes to mind?

Gabriela Martinez: Rhapsody in Blue is one of my favorite concertos to perform.  It’s a truly magical piece where we see a world of “classical” music infused with unique jazz flavors.  It is really an exciting piece to play as we get to experience a world of incredible contrasts – musical, texture, style, and color. We live through a wide range of emotions.  There are amazing rhythmic solos, as well as lush inspired melodic orchestral sections.  

MSO: Last time you visited us was in April 2018, performing Manuel de Falla’s Nights in the Gardens of Spain. What are you most excited about performing with the Modesto Symphony again?

GM: I am so looking forward to being back in Modesto!  I loved my time in Modesto and really enjoyed playing with such an amazing orchestra! I am excited to play with them again and to meet with Maestro Dragon – his reputation precedes him.  He is wonderful, and I am thrilled to work with him!

One unforgettable story about my last visit to Modesto -- while playing the last lyrical solo piano passage of the Falla… THE LIGHTS WENT OUT AT THE GALLO CENTER!!! The whole concert hall was pitch black.  (The power went out in the whole block, and the generator kicked in what must have been seconds, but felt like minutes on stage…) I have been performing concertos since I was 5 years old, and that was a first for me.  Instinctively, I just kept going… and it’s a moment I will cherish forever! The comradery in those moments between audience, conductor, orchestra while navigating uncharted territory together before the power returned is something I will never forget.

MSO: Will you have any leisure time while in Northern California? Do you have any fun plans while being here?

GM: California is one of my favorite places on the planet.  There’s never enough time to explore! It’s been a few years since I was in Modesto though.  Would love to hear any recommendations of places to see, places to eat, have coffee… find me on Instagram @gabrielapiano

MSO: Any upcoming performances/projects are you looking forward to?

GM: I am really excited about my project, a recital program called RESONANCES which I am performing this season. RESONANCES is a journey that invites us to explore the echoes within us; to explore the search and inspiration that happens beneath the surface. It explores music from Brazil, Venezuela as well as new pieces by Caroline Shaw, Sarah Kirkland Snider, Viet Cuong and Missy Mazzoli.

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Meet Gabriela in Modesto!

Come watch Gabriela perform Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue this October 21 & 22 at the Gallo Center for the Arts!

Artist Biography

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