Cascade Symphony to present ‘Paddington Bear’s First Concert’ and Rising Star winner Feb. 22

Paddington4bwThe Cascade Symphony will entertain children of all ages at its annual Children’s Concert Saturday, Feb. 22. The 50-minute concert under the direction of Michael Miropolsky will take place at 3 p.m. at Edmonds Center for the Arts at 410 4th Ave. N.

Children (and adults) will also enjoy the “instrument petting zoo” presented in the lobby of the ECA, where they will have the opportunity to see and play various instruments. The petting zoo will be available beginning at 2 p.m.

“Paddington Bear’s First Concert” will feature Edmonds favorite Dave Dolacky as narrator of a delightful children’s story enhanced by music by Herbert Chappell.

Stephen Leou photoThe symphony will also present 11-year-old cellist Stephen Leou as this season’s Rising Star, chosen through auditions for the opportunity to perform with the orchestra. Stephen will perform the 1st movement of the Haydn C-Major Cello Concerto.

Stephen is a sixth-grader at Odle Middle School in Bellevue. He began his cello studies at age 4 with Mary Walters and is currently a student of Leslie Marckx. Stephen was principal cellist and performed as a soloist with the Everett Youth Symphony in May as the Senior Division Concerto Competition winner. He has won first place in the elementary division at the Performing Arts Festival of the Eastside in 2011 and 2012, receiving the Frances Walton Young Artist Award, as well as receiving Seals of Outstanding Achievement at the Seattle Young Artist Music Festival. Aside from cello, Stephen enjoys playing chess, and Legos, taking road trips with his family, and swimming on the Bellevue Eastside Swim Team.

Advance purchase of tickets for the Feb. 22 concert is recommended. Ticket prices have been reduced and are now $10 for general admission, $5 for ages 12 to 18, and $2 for children age 11 and under. Families are encouraged to bring a donation of a nonperishable food item to be distributed to Edmonds food banks.

On March 17, the orchestra’s 52nd season will continue with “Beethoven’s Fourth,” featuring flute soloist Demarre Mcgill in the Flute Concerto in D minor by Carl Reinecke. The program will also include the Polonaise Op. 49 In Memory of Pushkin by Liadov and the Masquerade Suite by Khachaturian.

The CSO annual Ensemble Concert, featuring small ensembles composed of members of the symphony, will take place at 3 p.m. on April 13 at the Edmonds United Methodist Church. Tickets for the ensemble concert (not included in season ticket) are $15 for general admission and $10 for children 12 and under.

The season will conclude on May 12 with Natalya Ageyeva performing Rachmaninoff’s 3rd Piano Concerto, along with the Classical Symphony by Prokofieff and Wagner’s Overture to Rienzi.

Because CSO concerts have been selling out before the performance date, audience members who wish to attend these upcoming concerts and don’t have season tickets are encouraged to get tickets early while they are still available. On the day of performance, unused tickets may also be available through the ECA Box Office, and a waiting list will be compiled at the CSO table in the lobby before the concert, beginning at 6:15 p.m.

Tickets for individual performances are available only through Edmonds Center for the Arts at 425-275-9595 or at www.ec4arts.org. For more information, visit the CSO website at www.cascadesymphony.org or call 425-776-4938.

  1. I’ve only today (2/22/14) learned about the Children’s Concert. Since I’m too late for today’s concert, is there another one scheduled for this year?? If not, when might I expect the next concert for children? I’ll await your reply.

  2. Mary –

    The next Children’s Concert will probably occur next February.

    The next concert of the Cascade Symphony is on Monday, March 17th, at 7:30 PM, with the following program.

    Liadov – Polonaise Op. 49 In Memory of Pushkin
    Carl Reinecke – Flute Concerto in D Minor – Demarre McGill, flute
    Khachaturian – Masquerade Suite
    Beethoven – Symphony No.4

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