Dear Friends,

This has been an incredible start to our 23^rd season. First off, in mid-October we performed our first Winter Concert Series set of performances with violinist Gary Levinson. Gary, of course, played with us last year and we are already talking about next year. He is a great player, a real crowd pleaser, and a joy to work with, and needless to say, he performed magnificently.

Two weeks after the concert Gary came back and we did four recording sessions together – the three pieces of Tchaikowsky’s Souvenir d’un lieu cher [remembrance of a lovely place] and Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. That was an amazing week. The orchestra responded with such enthusiasm and quality playing – it truly was a marvel!

This past week we performed three holiday family pops concerts. A full house at Metro State, the best holiday pops crowd ever at the Basilica and a first time tour to St. Cloud. The St. Cloud trip was sponsored by the Legacy Fund, the Minnesota State Arts Board and the Paramount Theatre of St Cloud. It was thrilling. We had a great crowd – according to Paramount Theatre staff, the largest ever, and the audience just would not stop clapping. After we finished I had many, and I do mean many of the audience members tell me not only how much they enjoyed the performance, but demanded that we return – soon and often.

We have already completed working with ten schools as part of our Music in the Schools program- probably close to 6,000 children.

The response has been incredible. Our program this year is Music Tells a Story, tying our music content to the kids’ studies of great literature. It has been so satisfying to see and hear the children literally squeal with delight when I announce that we are going to play [Tchaikowsky’s] Romeo and Juliet, and to hear them yell bravo (yes, they actually do) when we finish playing Romeo, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice and music from Hansel and Gretel. I am particularly pleased with the reactions to Cinderella Updated! – a new version of the Cinderella story that was created by my older son Bernie, combined with my music. It is truly gratifying to see and hear their reactions. A few samples of letters that I have received from students, teachers and visiting parents says it all:

“Thank you so very much for bringing the Sinfonia to Lyndale Community School this morning.  It was a fantastic pleasure to watch everyone perform…”

“My students loved it….  During the entire performance one of my little girls quietly conducted from her seat….Ms. Thomson, that rocked! …. When do we get to listen to the music guys again?”

Do plan to join us for our January 6^th concert at Metro State at 7pm and our January 7^th concert at 2pm at the Basilica of Saint Mary. This will be a great program, with a fantastic pianist, Andrew Staupe. Andrew already has quite a career for himself, concertizing all over the world, and he will be joining to play Mozart’s 27^th concerto, after which he will become an honorary Sinfonia member joining us as the orchestral pianist in my arrangement of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. This will be great fun, and certainly a memorable highlight of our winter season. So until then, I wish you a very good, happy and healthy holiday season, and of course,

My very best regards,

Jay