Poway Symphony Orchestra concert is May 15

The Poway Symphony Orchestra is ending its season with an operatic flair.

The orchestra will be joined at its season finale concert at 4 p.m. Sunday, May 15 by Caroline Nelms, a soprano soloist who will sing several opera arias.

The concert will be held at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts, 15498 Espola Road in Poway.

Tickets are $10 and are available by calling 858-748-0505, by visiting the box office, or online at www.powaycenter.com. There is a small fee for purchasing your ticket online.

The orchestra will perform Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Egmont overture,” as well as “Symphony no. 104” by Joseph Haydn.

“(“Symphony no. 104”) is very spirited and vibrant,” said John LoPiccolo, music director of the Poway Symphony Orchestra. “It’s exciting and uplifting. It makes you want to jump up at the end.”

The main star of the concert will be Nelms, who will perform several difficult opera arias, accompanied by the orchestra.

A vocal soloist is unusual for the orchestra, who in the past has mostly used instrumental soloists in its concerts, said LoPiccolo.

LoPiccolo originally met Nelms while conducting at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, about a year and a half ago, he said. They had talked about doing a concert with opera arias since meeting, before finally making it a reality.

It can be hard to hire soloists to perform with the orchestra, LoPiccolo said, because it has a small budget. “It’s hard to pay people what they’re worth.” LoPiccolo said he thought of bringing Nelms in as a soloist because she’s local and he likes to help out local talent when he can.

“She’s a rising star, and I’m happy to help her with her career,” he said.

Nelms, who specializes in opera and classical singing but also performs musical theater, has been singing since she was in high school.

“I’m so thankful and happy to be doing this concert,” said Nelms.

Nelms said LoPiccolo chose what arias she could sing in the concert. “Luckily, I knew them all,” she said.

Nelms will be performing Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Alleluia” from “Exsultate, jubilate,” then two arias from Giacomo Puccini, one from “La Boheme” and “O mio babbino caro” from “Gianni Schicchi.”

Nelms said “O mio babbino caro” was an aria she has been working on for 20 years, as she originally sang it for a college audition.

Nelms will also perform two arias from “La Traviata” by Giuseppe Verdi.

“These are all challenging,” said Nelms. “I needed a break, so I made him stick a Beethoven piece in the middle.”

LoPiccolo will also speak to the audience between pieces to give Nelms a chance to rest.

LoPiccolo said the orchestra had to practice for the arias differently as usual, as singers often draw out notes, which isn’t annotated on the music. He and Nelms met and went over the music together, he said, so he could tell his musicians when notes would need to be held. “It’s a little different from a piece that just flows. It’s kind of fun,” said LoPiccolo.

This is LoPiccolo’s second year with the Poway Symphony Orchestra and the first year the orchestra has charged for its concerts, to help it cover costs.

“We’ve seen musical and financial growth this year,” said LoPiccolo. “It’s a pretty substantial accomplishment.”

LoPiccolo said the audience attendance has also been good this year, and that he was hoping for a good turnout for the final concert of the season.