Poway Community Symphony Orchestra to Present Spring Concert

The Poway Community Symphony Orchestra will take concert attendees on a musical journey to four different countries during its spring concert Saturday at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts.

“We’re going to cover all the bases,” said Music Director Warren Torns.

The orchestra will perform the overture to Die Italienerin in Algier by Italian composer Gioachino Rossini, the Arabesque by French composer Claude Debussy, scenes and dances from The Three-Cornered Hat by Spanish composer Manuel de Falla and Symphony No. 3 by German composer Ludwig van Beethoven.

“It just seemed to be an interesting mix of music and styles and time periods,” said Torns.

This is the orchestra’s first time performing these pieces, Torns said. 

The 52-member orchestra has been preparing for the concert since March, Torns added. The ensemble meets for two hours at Mount Carmel High School every Monday.

“I’ve performed most of them over the course of my career, so I’m familiar with all of the composers that we’re playing,” said Torns, who plays the trumpet.

This is Torns’ second year as the director of the local orchestra. Torns replaced the former conductor, who resigned to attend the University of Southern California to earn his doctorate.

“It’s been great,” he said. “It’s good music played by a wonderful organization.”

The free concert will begin at 7:30 p.m.

“I hope we have a good crowd,” Torns said. “I don’t think they’ll be disappointed.”

The Poway Center for the Performing Arts is located at 15498 Espola Rd.

In other arts news:

• The San Diego Portrait Society will hold a reception for its art show at the center at 1 p.m. Saturday. The art exhibit was installed on April 30 and will run through May 28.
• Poway High School choirs will present their Spring Concert-British Invasion at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts. The concerts will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday and 7 p.m. Friday. Tickets cost $8 for adults and $5 for seniors, children, students and active military. To purchase tickets, contact Libby Holman at 858-748-0517 or libbyh@sbcglobal.net.
• The Xpressive Arts Center will offer a silk painting class on Thursday from 5-7 p.m. Students will create a silk scarf during the session. For more information, call Bonnie Stromer, the center’s founder and director, at 858-679-2787. The Xpressive Arts Center is located at 12257-B Old Pomerado Rd.