Katz will recite the tale against the backdrop of the Santa Barbara Symphony performing Edvard Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A Minor Op. 16, the inspiration for the stories submitted by students and woven by Katz into a single, enchanting work. Santa Barbara Symphony’s Music and Artistic Director Nir Kabaretti will conduct. The two one hour-long concerts are provided free by prior arrangement and will be performed at 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. at the Granada.

As part of a comprehensive annual Teacher’s Guide and optional curriculum provided to fourth, fifth and sixth grade classes through the Symphony’s Music Education and Community Engagement Programs, students were invited to listen to Edvard Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A minor Op. 16 and given the opportunity to create and submit an original story inspired by the music. Storyteller Michael Katz was engaged to create an original story drawn from the shared themes from all students’ submissions, and will present them on stage at the Granada Theatre along with the Santa Barbara Symphony, which will be performing the Grieg Concerto live, as well as the Coriolanus Overture by Beethoven. Students will leave the concert with a new-found understanding of musical form and how it relates to story development.

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHO: 2,500 local schoolchildren and teachers from 30 different area schools; nationally known storyteller Michael Katz; Maestro Nir Kabaretti; Santa Barbara Symphony Orchestra; and Santa Barbara Symphony Education and Community Engagement Programs staff

WHAT: Nationally acclaimed storyteller Michael Katz to perform original story written by local students set to the tune of Edvard Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A Minor Op. 16

WHEN: Thursday, February 7th from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (2 performances)

WHERE: The Granada Theatre, 1214 State Street, Santa Barbara

Nearly 2,500 Santa Barbara County schoolchildren will attend these exciting events for FREE as part of Santa Barbara Symphony’s 2013 series, Concerts for Young People.

“We are grateful to our community for supporting the Symphony’s highly engaging educational programs,” said David Grossman, Executive Director of the Santa Barbara Symphony. “Each year, thousands of local students and families are making lifelong personal connections with the arts through these hands-on opportunities to create and appreciate classical music.”

For over 50 years the Santa Barbara Symphony has been introducing fourth, fifth, and sixth graders to the wonders of the orchestra through Concerts for Young People. This program is child-friendly and allows for interaction between students and the Symphony’s Maestro, Nir Kabaretti. Concerts for Young People are free to both students and teachers. The Symphony is pleased to be expanding the reach of Concerts for Young People with school groups now attending from Lompoc, Ojai, Santa Maria, Santa Ynez, Solvang, and all of Santa Barbara County.

About Michael Katz

Michael Katz has been telling stories throughout the U.S. for over 20 years. He has performed at such illustrious locations as the Disney Concert Hall and the LA Getty Center and Villa. He’s been the host of the radio storytelling show Katz Pajamas for 25 years. Michael’s CD “Far Away and Close to Home” was a winner of the Parent’s Choice Silver Honor Award. He was a founding member of the nationally known theatre group BOXTALES, which is based in Santa Barbara. Michael’s voice has been featured on many audio tours including: Georgia O’Keefe and Ansel Adams: Natural Affinities at the San Francisco Museum of Art, Becoming Edvard Munch at the Art Institute of Chicago, and Late Renoir at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Michael was assistant story editor for the Canadian documentary film Jim Settee: The Road Home.

About The Santa Barbara Symphony

Celebrating 60 years of great music, the Santa Barbara Symphony Orchestra Association was founded on the belief that a special city deserves a special orchestra. The Symphony has been celebrated for its unique ability to deliver brilliant orchestral concerts while maintaining a strong commitment to education and community engagement. With audiences almost twice the size of any orchestra in the Santa Barbara area, the Santa Barbara Symphony is, according to Mayor Helene Schneider, “A jewel in Santa Barbara’s crown.” For more information, please go to www.thesymphony.org.

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