The Orchestra
Saint Cecilia Sinfonia
The St. Cecilia Sinfonia is a symphonic orchestra led by Jim George, comprised of some of the finest freelance musicians in San Diego. No doubt you have heard many of these talented performers in live music settings around the city and on countless recordings, including CDs, television, and film. They are passionately devoted to making music — from symphonic and chamber concerts to weddings, Broadway musicals, religious concerts, balls, and special events, including backing up national headliners as their tours pass through San Diego.
The Concert
This concert, offered in honor of our Blessed Mother's feast day, is sure to enlighten and uplift you. It is built around a 25-piece Classical orchestra in the configuration typical of roughly 250 years ago, when most of these great masterworks were written.
The program opens with the Overture to Joseph Haydn's opera Armida. After the opera's considerable success at its 1783 premiere, it fell into obscurity, but has enjoyed a remarkable resurgence, with many performances and recordings over the past several decades.
The Franz Danzi Sinfonia Concertante is a lighthearted and charming double concerto for flute and clarinet with orchestra. Cathy Blickenstaff and Jim George, on their respective instruments, carry on a spirited musical conversation — trading melodies and acrobatics designed to make your heart dance — while Alyze Dreiling sets down her viola to take up the baton and conduct the piece.
Mozart was only seventeen when he wrote both remaining works on the program. The profoundly moving, sublime, and exhilarating Exsultate, jubilate features soprano Barbara Valente's soaring voice, while the powerful Symphony No. 25 shook audiences at its premiere and has remained beloved ever since — many will recognize its opening movement from its use in the film Amadeus.
Concert Program
Saturday, August 15 · 4:00 PM
Featured Artists
Soloists & Conductor
Barbara Valente is an award-winning singer-songwriter based in San Diego, Southern California. Her beautiful voice has graced opera houses in Italy, Germany, and Switzerland. She is a versatile and experienced singer known for performing in different languages and styles, including Classical, Jazz, Blues, Broadway, Pop, and Rock in addition to Opera.
Alyze Dreiling is an award-winning conductor and accomplished violinist and violist in San Diego. She is the conductor of the acclaimed New City Sinfonia, the Civic Youth Orchestra Symphonic Orchestra, and the North Coast Strings and Grossmont College String Ensemble, and is principal violist with the Grossmont Symphony Orchestra.
In addition to serving as director of the St. John Bosco Mission Choir, Jim George maintains an active solo and chamber music schedule and freelances in San Diego as a woodwind doubler. He began his musical training at age five, when his father started teaching him the secrets of the clarinet. He earned his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.
Cathy Blickenstaff holds a Master's degree in Flute Performance from the University of Colorado, where she studied with Maralyn Prestia. She is an active freelance musician, maintains a private teaching studio, and works as a graphic artist and instrumental editor for the Neil A. Kjos Music Company.