Symphony San Jose — Local services in San Jose

The Symphonic Spooktacular at the California Theatre on October 25th for this Broadway-themed Halloween concert was incredible.

Conductor Peter Jaffe led the orchestra brilliantly through a spectacular program of beloved Broadway hits from shows like Wicked, Phantom of the Opera, The Little Mermaid, Cats, Little Shop of Horrors, and more. The musicianship was top-notch throughout.

The vocal soloists, Jessica Hendy, Alex Getlin, and Scott Coulter were phenomenal! Each brought their own unique talent and Broadway experience to the stage, and their performances were absolutely captivating. John Boswell on piano was also outstanding!

What really made this event special was the festive atmosphere. The costume contest added a fun, interactive element that got the whole audience involved. Special shout-out to Rebecca, one of the ushers, who went above and beyond to make sure everyone could participate and have a wonderful experience.

The San Jose Symphony created an affordable, family-friendly event that brought the magic of Broadway to life with a spooky twist. If they offer this event again next year, I'll be first in line for...

Symphony San Jose's Masquerade concert at the California Theatre is an unmissable experience!

From the start, the atmosphere was electric: guests of all ages wore masks, and we were greeted with free champagne and beautiful ballet dancers. It was a dazzling kickoff to the season.

Conductor, Nathan Aspinall, and the Symphony delivered a mesmerizing, impassioned performance, highlighted by the incredible, virtuosic playing of pianist, Jon Nakamatsu. The music was so captivating, I sat in the orchestra section just appreciating the beautiful theater and the sheer energy of the performers. I even wanted to volunteer to wipe the sweat from the conductor’s brow—that's how focused he was!

Go support the arts and...

Free symphony orchestra for the general public, summer 2021. Held during Labor Day weekend, instead of the normal June and July, the universiry students were back on campus for this time, and their presence made it an unusually more youthful experience.

If they turned the empty lawn area south of the fountain into an activity zone to sell arts and crafts, or do music themed instruction, it could turn into a longer day event.

Also, if they had a concert where they presented kids music with a classical music twist, the city could use the event to promote recreational organizations, and the university's child development and music programs might be able to use it...