DOWNEY - "Excellent" and "inspiring" are terms generally applied to a performance by the Downey Symphony, but we need to add a few more adjectives to cover the evening coming up this Saturday, April 2, in Downey's Civic Theatre."Splashy" comes to mind. And "exciting" and "varied," "delicious" and "something-for-everyone," because included are the following: a fine program conducted by Sharon Lavery, a soloist on gleaming percussion instruments, the pre-concert discussion, the post-concert reception, an opening work conducted by our baton auction winner, the live auction for next year's winner, and a great exhibit of photographs by local high school students. Let's start with that baton winner, Bruce Rose, who is coming from his home in Colorado to open the performance with Tchaikovsky's "1812" Overture. He writes, "As a grade school kid, I purchased an LP record of the overture and 'conducted' it many times with a pencil...To be leading the orchestra in this piece is a childhood dream come true." Talk about excitement! And someone else's dream will come true later in the evening when bidding for next year's chance to lead the orchestra is handled by Concertmaster/Auctioneer Carolyn Osborn. Get ready. Now about the program. Bruce Rose and his "1812" Moment may be a tough act to follow, but Sharon Lavery is committed. She'll conduct Jean Sibelius's "Finlandia" and Peter Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6, the "Pathetique," and will lead the orchestra in accompanying soloist Eric Guinivan, performing his Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra. Sometime during the evening, let's all go to the lobby to check out the exceptional work on display by Warren High School students in George Redfox's photography class. Then, after all that hoopla, you'll need nourishment, so ladies of the Symphony Guild invite the entire orchestra and theater crew and everyone in the audience to mingle in the patio and wolf down homemade cookies and punch. Complimentary, of course. Here is information you need: Saturday, April 2. Pre-concert discussion at 7:15 p.m., concert at 8. Theater is at 8435 Firestone Blvd., parking is free. Tickets: $30 and $25, $10 for students, available at the theater box office before performance. Come. You'll be glad you did. Visit our website too: downeysymphony.org.

********** Published: March 31, 2011 - Volume 9 - Issue 50