David Lockington (l) and Nicholas McGegan (r). Photo courtesy Pasadena Symphony and Pops

The Pasadena Symphony announces the expansion of its 2015-16 Season with an increase to seven concert weekends beginning Fall 2015. Backed by strong single ticket sales and subscriber loyalty, its Singpoli Classics series will increase to six-concerts (from five) with both 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. performances at Pasadena’s historic Ambassador Auditorium. The expansion also includes the annually sold out Holiday Candlelight Concert on December 19, 2015 with both 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. performances at All Saints Church. The Pasadena Symphony also cements its artistic leadership plans with an eye for long term stability in its artistic leaders – Music Director David Lockington and Principal Guest Conductor Nicholas McGegan – who have also renewed their contracts with the Pasadena Symphony through 2019.

The 2015-16 Season kicks off on October 10, 2015 with Dvorák’s New World Symphony and Bella Hristova performing Pulitzer Prize winning composer Kevin Puts’s lyrically beautiful Violin Concerto. Billboard’s 2014 top selling Classical Instrumentalist Anne Akiko Myers will bring her Vivaldi’s Four Seasons on November 7, 2015 – which she recorded with Lockington and debuted #1 on the Classical Billboard Charts. Other season highlights include Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 “Emperor,” Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with Jennifer Frautschi, an alumnus of the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestras program, Nicholas McGegan’s masterful interpretation of Mozart Symphony No. 40 alongside David Lockington performing the Sawyer’s Cello Concerto and a French themed season finale in April 2016 with An American in Paris and Cliburn Silver medalist Joyce Yang in Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G Major.

Lora Unger, CEO of the Pasadena Symphony describes the 2015-2016 season as “… a milestone for the orchestra as we enter our 88th season. Since making the Ambassador Auditorium our home nearly 5 years ago, the Singpoli Classics Series has become the premiere destination for live symphonic music in Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley,” adding “we’ve been poised for growth in our Classics Series for some time now and next season is ripe with a performance schedule you just can’t refuse.”

“Right off the bat, it looks as if Pasadena will have a good time with Lockington… [his] expressive technique is yielding results — and quickly.” – Los Angeles Times

The Pasadena Symphony provides a quintessential experience specially designed for the music lover, the social butterfly, and the inner epicurean in us all with the addition of the lively Sierra Auto Symphony Lounge, yet another addition to the care-free and elegant concert experience the Pasadena Symphony offers. A posh setting at Ambassador Auditorium’s beautiful outdoor plaza, audiences enjoy uniquely prepared menus for each concert from Claud &Co, fine wines by Michero Family Wines, plus music before the concert and during intermission. Six-concert subscription packages start at $180, regular individually priced tickets start at $35 and may be purchased online at www.pasadenasymphony-pops.org or by calling (626) 793-7172.

October 10, 2015
Dvorák’s New World Symphony
David Lockington, conductor
Bella Hristova, violin
Wagner- Die Meistersinger: Prelude
Puts- Violin Concerto
Dvorák- Symphony No. 9 “From the New World”

November 7, 2015
Vivaldi Four Seasons
David Lockington, conductor
Anne Akiko Meyers, violin
Bach- Air on the G String
Dorman- Concerto Grosso
Pachelbel- Canon
Purcell- Chacony
Vivaldi- The Four Seasons

December 19, 2016
Holiday Candlelight
Grant Cooper, conductor
Christina Saffran, vocalist
The Donald Brinegar Singers
Los Angeles Children’s Chorus
LA Bronze, Handbell Ensemble

January 9, 2016
Beethoven “Emperor” Piano Concerto
Nicholas McGegan, conductor
Sean Chen, piano
Prokofiev- Classical Symphony
Schubert- Unfinished Symphony
Beethoven- Piano Concerto No. 5 “Emperor”

February 13, 2016
Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto
David Lockington, conductor
Jennifer Frautschi, violin
Tchaikovsky- Violin Concerto
Sibelius- Symphony No. 2

March 19, 2016
Mozart Symphony No. 40
Nicholas McGegan, conductor
David Lockington, cello
Beethoven- Egmont Overture
Sawyers- Cello Concerto
Mozart- Symphony No. 40

April 30, 2016
An American in Paris
David Lockington, conductor
Joyce Yang, piano
Offenbach- Orpheus in the Underworld
Satie- Gymnopédie No. 1
Ravel- Piano Concerto in G Major
Fauré- Pelléas et Mélisande Suite
Gershwin- An American in Paris