On Saturday evening, May 16, 2015, a gathering of concertgoers met for a pre-concert fundraising dinner at the California Pizza Kitchen near the Scherr Forum Theatre in Thousand Oaks. Thanks to all of you who came to dine in support of the Orchestra, CPK will be sending us a much appreciated check for 20% of the total amount that was spent by you.
Following Maestro James Domine's words of welcome and the playing of our National Anthem, the concert began with the inaugural performance of "Tales of Science and Magic," written by Larry Tuttle who, besides being a very fine composer, is also a bass player with our Orchestra. The audience showed their appreciation of his thought-provoking and unusual piece with enthusiastic applause, especially when he was introduced by Maestro Domine.
The next work was Samuel Barber's beautiful "Concerto for Violin and Orchestra," performed with absolute perfection by Nancy Roth, a renowned violin soloist. She received thunderous applause and took several curtain calls. The Orchestra played wonderfully as well.
After a brief intermission, Maestro Domine and the Orchestra returned to perform Tchaikovsky's Symphony #5. Under the Maestro's baton, the Orchestra performed this difficult work beautifully. There are inadequate words to express the feelings that are evoked by the joyous and sorrowful magnificence of this Symphony. The one word that was clearly heard from many of the concertgoers as they left the theater was, "brilliant," and indeed the entire evening's performance was just that!