El Cerrito Hosting Free Performance By Lucas Valley Chamber Orchestra

Information submitted by the City of El Cerrito—

The City of El Cerrito Arts and Culture Commission is co-sponsoring a free performance by the Lucas Valley Chamber Orchestra (LVCO), Marin County’s newest chamber orchestra.

The Sunday afternoon concert will be held on April 13 at 3:00 p.m. at the El Cerrito Community Center, 7007 Moeser Lane, El Cerrito, CA 94530. 

The program will feature Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Haffner symphony no. 35, K385.  The program will also include Franz Joseph Haydn’s Symphony no. 83, one of the composer’s Paris symphonies nicknamed “La Poule” or “the Hen”.  To begin the program, LVCO will present String Symphony no. 3 in E minor composed by a youthful Felix Mendelssohn.

The performance is free. Donations will be accepted at the door to benefit the City of El Cerrito Recreation Department’s David Hunter Memorial Youth Scholarship, providing access to recreational programs for disadvantaged children and youth in El Cerrito.

The Lucas Valley Chamber Orchestra is a self-directed chamber orchestra, performing without a conductor, that came together in November 2011 as a collaboration of experienced chamber music players.  Most LVCO members meet in small groups, string quartets and wind quintets, of their own.  The small group experience makes feasible the transition to performing larger works without a conductor.

Several famous professional ensembles perform without conductors, but among community orchestras anywhere, LVCO is likely unique.  As its character would suggest, LVCO generally explores music of the classical era.

LVCO is made up of some 30 players, including retired professional musicians, music teachers, experienced chamber music performers and serious amateur players who populate other local community orchestras as well. 

Event information is online at www.el-cerrito.org/lvco or call Frank Lahorgue at 415-722-3058.