Carson City Symphony staging first concert of the year Feb. 26

A symphonic celebration of music old and new will fill the Carson City Community Center’s Bob Boldrick Theater as the Carson City Symphony takes the stage in its first concert of the year.

The symphony, directed by David Bugli, will present “Celebrations Old & New” at 4 p.m. Feb. 26.

The program will feature guest composer/soloist Brian Landrus in his original compositions, Jeru Concerto for Baritone Saxophone and Orchestra and Arrow in the Night.

Landrus is a native Nevadan who earned his bachelor’s from the University of Nevada, Reno. He went on to earn degrees in jazz composition and jazz saxophone from the New England Conservatory.

The jazz musician has toured the world and founded a recording label to release his original music, all while receiving recognition and awards for his work.

The program also will include A Festival Prelude by Alfred Reed, Symphony No. 5 (“Reformation”) by Mendelssohn, and Carmen Suite No. 1 by Bizet.

Stop by the lobby at 3 p.m. to hear pre-show entertainment by members of STRAZZ, the Symphony’s youth strings ensemble.

Also, a meet-the-soloist concert preview will be at 3:15 p.m. in the Sierra Room, where Bugli and Landrus will discuss Landrus’ early years and influences in the Reno area, the use of saxophone in orchestra, jazz elements in classical music, differences in style between jazz and classical music, and other topics related to the program. Because the concert is on the 100th anniversary of the first audio recording of a jazz work, history about the significance of recording on the development of jazz will be included.

The preview will end with questions from the audience. The talk is funded in part by Nevada Humanities, Nevada’s nonprofit state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Tickets are $15 for general admission; $12 for seniors, students, and Symphony Association members; and free for youth age 18 and under.

Get tickets at the Carson City Visitors Bureau, 716 N. Carson St., or at CCSymphony.com, or at the door.

Donors at United Blood Services’ Carson City donor center Feb. 18-25 can receive a complimentary ticket to the concert. Call 775-887-9111 for donor center hours.

For information, go to CCSymphony.com, or call 775-883-4154.