SANTA CLARITA SYMPHONY PRESENTS
FAMILY “STORYTELLING” CONCERT SUN., JAN. 28
AT COC PERFORMING ARTS CENTER  

“I am delighted to bring this program to our audience in Santa Clarita,” said Symphony Music Director and Conductor Robert Lawson. “This music will allow our youth to experience the joys of classical music, and the young-at-heart will have a lot of fun.” 

Veteran professional storyteller Michael D. McCarty will display his expertise as he narrates Peter and the Wolf and helps to bring the other musical stories to life.

“Michael McCarty is a fantastic storyteller and will add a lot to the afternoon,” Symphony Executive Director Michael Millar said. “We wanted to surpass the usual low-key Peter and the Wolf narration and take it to another level entirely. Michael’s energy and enthusiasm explode from a stage, and you won’t want to miss this! My son and daughter saw one of Michael’s programs four years ago, and they can still quote from the stories he told. They can’t wait to see him again.” 

 McCarty is a multicultural storyteller of African, African-American and international folk tales, historical tales, stories of science, and spiritual stories. He recounts some of the brilliant and stupid things he has done in his life, and experiences traveling to South Africa, Zimbabwe, India, China, Jamaica, Russia, Egypt, Indonesia, England, Malaysia, Korea and other countries. From these travels, McCarty reaps a harvest of tales that testify to the unity within the diversity of the human spirit. 

The “Family Concert” will also have an education component. Symphony Education Director Jeffrey Gilbert, who is Instrumental Music Director at Rio Norte Junior High, has developed program curriculum, based on California Arts Content Standards, which will be available for local educators who wish to prepare for the concert with their students in the classroom.  

According to Marketing Director John Dow, “The ‘Family Series’ was conceived as a vital component of the Symphony’s mission to strengthen music education in area schools and to enrich the culture in our community.”

Dow also noted that the Symphony’s “Instrument Petting Zoo” is held on the first Friday of the month at Borders Valencia Town Center. “The Symphony has given hundreds of kids the opportunity to hear orchestral instruments demonstrated by Symphony professionals and to experience playing those instruments themselves,” Dow said.  

In conjunction with the concert, National Art Honor Society and Advanced Placement Art students from Valencia High School, under the direction of NAHS Advisor Cindy Pharis, will present an art exhibit in the Performing Arts Center lobby. 

Dow added a vital piece of information for families making their January weekend plans. “To our NFL fans, there is NO football on Jan. 28 – it’s the week before the Super Bowl! Come hear the Santa Clarita Symphony!”

Individual tickets for the Symphony’s 2006-2007 “Masterpiece Concert Series” performances at the Performing Arts Center are $40, $30 and $20. Discounts for students, seniors, and 25-Score members are available.

Group discounts of 15% (10 or more tickets) to 25% (20 or more tickets) are also available. “We invite church, educational, and civic groups in the community to take advantage of our group discounts,” Millar said.  “We can work with you on fundraising for your organization through ticket sales, or you can simply pass along the discounts to your members.”  

 The Symphony’s new online ticketing system at scsymphony.com makes it very easy for concertgoers to purchase tickets securely and quickly. 

The Santa Clarita Symphony is a California Non-Profit Public Benefit Corporation (I.R.C. §501(c)(3)), and donations are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law. For more information about the Symphony and its 2006-2007 season, email This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it , call (661) 284-6044 or visit scsymphony.com.