California’s Modesto Symphony will perform Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8 and “some new music with a local connection” on June 1-2, reports Jeff Hudson on Thursday (5/10) at Capital Public Radio (Sacramento, CA). In 1972, “A young filmmaker from Modesto named George Lucas began filming his first hit movie, ‘American Graffiti’ [set in Modesto] in the early 1960s. The film’s success eventually led to the formation of the American Graffiti Festival.… This year happens to be the 20th anniversary of the American Graffiti Festival, and it also happens to be conductor David Lockington’s 10th anniversary with the Modesto Symphony Orchestra. So the Modesto Symphony Orchestra commissioned three brand new pieces inspired by ‘American Graffiti.’ Composer John Hillebrandt, who taught for many years at Stanislaus State and plays keyboards with the Modesto Symphony, has composed a piece with the intriguing title ‘Valley Fever.’ Composer Dale Trumbore, who lives in the Los Angeles area, has written a piece called ‘Same Traffic, New Dance,’ inspired by her visit to Modesto’s American Graffiti Festival…. And composer Alejandro Sabre, who teaches at Modesto Junior College, has written a piece called ‘Graffiti Jive,’ inspired by the energy of teenagers coming of age and cruising in their cars.”
Posted May 14, 2018
