Poway Symphony Orchestra kicks off season Sunday

The Poway Symphony Orchestra is kicking off its 11th season with a concert featuring pianist Ching-Ming Cheng.

The concert will be at 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22 at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts, 15498 Espola Road.

This season also marks the first time the orchestra will charge admission for its concerts.

John LoPiccolo, conductor and music director for the orchestra, said the decision to begin charging admission was due to economics and rising costs.

Tickets will be $10 and are available at the PCPA box office or by phone at 858-748-0505 from noon to 5 p.m. Friday or 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, or online at www.powaycenter.com (there is a small fee for purchasing tickets online).

The concert will feature two works, “Symphony No. 4 in E minor” by Brahms and Beethoven’s “Piano Concerto No. 5.”

“(The orchestra will be doing) two really incredible pieces,” said LoPiccolo. “I’m really looking forward to it. They are two of the blockbuster pieces, and also give us the opportunity to highlight a fantastic pianist.”

The Poway Symphony Orchestra will be joined by soloist Ching-Ming Cheng on the piano for the performance of Beethoven’s “Piano Concerto No. 5.” “(Ching-Ming Cheng) will be playing a concerto that is near and dear to my heart,” said LoPiccolo.

Cheng is an assistant professor of music at California State University San Marcos, where she teaches piano, music theory and introduction to music. She has also performed as a soloist and as a collaborative pianist around the world.

LoPiccolo said he was inspired to invite her to perform with the orchestra as a soloist after seeing her perform prior to him taking over as music director.

The Poway Symphony Orchestra will perform three concerts total this season. Their next show will be an orchestra gala in March, followed by their final show, featuring soprano Caroline Nelms, in May.

The orchestral gala will feature George Enescu’s “Romanian Rhapsody No. 2 in D major, Op. 11,” along with other works that will be announced closer to the event.

LoPiccolo said that for the final concert of the season, they will be going for a lighter, fun evening. The orchestra along with Nelms will be performing operatic arias and musical theater pieces, such as those from Bernstein and Rodgers and Hammerstein, as well as Englebert Humperdinck’s “Hansel and Gretel Overture.”

The Poway Symphony Orchestra is also looking for string performers who would like to join. Anyone interested can contact LoPiccolo at 208-757-1980.

For more information on the orchestra and its upcoming shows, visit www.powaysymphony.org.