Tracy Press/Press staff report Friday, 23 February 2007

Conductor, musician lead pre-concert event.

Press staff report

Press file photo - SWEET SOUNDS:Last year’s Stockton Symphony Tracy Family Concert played to a packed house. This year’s event is scheduled for March 15.

Sponsors of this year’s Tracy Family Concert of the Stockton Symphony will receive a preview of the concert program that will be performed four days later on March 15.

The preview, in the form of piano selections and an accompanying talk, will be given by Peter Jaffe, conductor of the Stockton Symphony, during the Sunday afternoon event at M & M Builders Supply, said Gretchen Talley, who chairs Tracy Friends of the Stockton Symphony.

“This is something new and exciting,” Talley said. “Peter Jaffe does a wonderful job of explaining elements of the music in the concert. It should be quite informative — and entertaining.”

Talley said the preview event, which will begin at 3 p.m. March 11, will be for sponsors who provide financial support for the annual Tracy Family Concert. Refreshments will be served. In past years, a thank you reception had been held the night of the concert, but this year’s event will precede the concert.

The family concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. March 15 at Tracy Community Church. Christopher Brubeck, son of jazz legend Dave Brubeck, will narrate “Britten’s Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra” as part of the concert. A hands-on musical instrument “petting zoo” will precede the concert at 6:30 p.m.