Symphony Plays the Classics in Downtown SB

MASTERWorks was performed recently by the San Bernardino (SB) Symphony Orchestra at the historic California Theatre in San Bernardino. Judith Valles, the board president, welcomed guests in the program by saying, “Music transcends all barriers, real or imagined, of language, countries of origin, color, creed or anything else you can imagine. Music is the glue that binds us all together as we are transported by the music to beautiful memories and events in our lives.” MASTERworks was the final concert of the 85th season and the music in the program included; Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5 and Sergei Rachmaninoff’s piano concerto No. 3 with guest pianist Norman Krieger. Judy Podskalan, President Elect of the SB Symphony Guild, handed out brochures for the organization before the program and during intermission. She shared, “I love music and the symphony is amazing. It’s so lovely to have a symphony in SB and it’s important to the community.” Donita Remington and wife Susan Hodges were relaxing in the Will Rogers room before the concert began. They shared some of their reasons for attending, stating, “We like the music and want to support the community. We love the new conductor, Frank Fetta, and we have some friends on the symphony board.” Before the show began, the Symphony Guild Debs and the Red-Tie Guys were on hand to assist patrons by helping them out of their cars, taking tickets and escorting patrons to their seats. The concert was dedicated to three members of the community: Allen Brooks Gresham, Edward G. “Duke” Hill and Nancy Bricard-Woods. Before the concert began, Frank Fetta spoke to the audience and said he loves his wife, music and his orchestra and explained that rather than Rachmaninoff starting the program, they decided to play Tchaikovsky to energize the audience because his works are so energetic. Sandra Molina came to the symphony for the first time with her family and said at intermission, “It’s really good. When the lights came back on, we were thinking, it was finished already and we wanted more.” Rey Ramirez traveled from Coachella Valley to see the symphony with friends and commented, "It brings back memories. It’s a good selection and there is nothing like live music.”