Season 26
1977-1978
Roster
Seniors
The 26th Season Premiere: October 1977 Concert
Concert Program Overview
CYS launched its 26th Season with a powerful program conducted by founding director Aaron Sten. The premiere took place on Sunday, October 30, 1977, at the San Mateo High School Auditorium, with a subsequent performance on November 6 at the Flint Auditorium in Cupertino. The concert was notable for being recorded by radio station KQED for future broadcast, a testament to the orchestra's professional standing.
The performance was framed by the formidable reputation of Maestro Sten, a former Russian child prodigy known for his uncompromising "perfectionist" approach. For this season opener, Sten led the more than 80 young musicians in a core staple of the symphonic repertoire: Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67. Following the intermission, the program featured Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Flute Concerto No. 1 in G Major, showcasing soloist Robin Cox. The second half continued with the "March" from Paul Hindemith’s Symphonic Metamorphosis (arranged for symphonic winds), conducted by assistant conductor Richard Peterson, and concluded with Georges Bizet’s colorful Carmen Suite No. 1.
Featured Soloist
Robin Cox (Flute)
The concert served as a prestigious platform for Robin Cox, a senior at San Francisco State University and the winner of the year's CYS Audition Award. Cox performed two movements from the Mozart concerto—the Allegro Maestoso and Rondo—earning her place alongside a long lineage of elite young soloists mentored by the orchestra.
Holiday Thank You Concert: A Seasonal Tribute (December 1977)
CYS presented a special "Holiday Thank You" Concert on Sunday, December 18, 1977, at the Main Theatre of Cañada College in Redwood City. Conducted by Aaron Sten, this performance was offered free of charge as a dedicated tribute to the many patrons and supporters of the orchestra during its 26th Season. The program was noted for its high caliber of musicianship, featuring a sophisticated blend of Baroque, Classical, and contemporary holiday works.
The concert opened with the "best classic style" of Ludwig van Beethoven, performing the first movement of his Symphony No. 5 with notable clarity and richness of sound. This was followed by a shift to the Baroque era with Domenico Cimarosa's Concerto for Two Flutes in G Major, featuring soloists Jeanette Pettee and Linda Lamkin. The first half concluded with two shorter, idiomatic pieces: Giovanni Pescetti’s Sonata in C Minor and Gabriel Pierné’s Impromptu Caprice, both showcasing the talent of harp soloist Anna Marie Mendieta.
The second half of the program featured a unique antiphonal performance of Giovanni Gabrieli’s double choir motet, "Christmas Motet," led by assistant conductor Richard Peterson. The brass section was divided into high and low choirs positioned across the stage to recreate the spatial effect of Venetian church music. This was followed by Antonio Vivaldi’s Concerto in G Minor for Two Cellos and Strings, featuring soloists Cindi Campbell and Cindy Swenson, which was praised for the "true beauty" of its slow middle movement. The evening concluded with a spirited performance of Leroy Anderson’s A Christmas Festival, a grand finale that critics compared favorably to the energy of the Boston Pops.
The 26th Season – Second Concert: A Tribute and a Triumph (March 1978)
Concert Program Overview
CYS presented the second major concert of its 26th Season on Sunday, March 12, 1978, at the San Mateo High School Auditorium, with a repeat performance on Sunday, March 19, at the De Anza College Flint Auditorium. Conducted by Aaron Sten, the program was dedicated to the memory of Hal C. Davis (1914–1978), the former President of the American Federation of Musicians and a member of the National Council on the Arts. The performance was also recorded by radio station KQED for future broadcast.
The concert opened with Carl Maria von Weber’s dramatic Overture to Der Freischütz, followed by Antonio Vivaldi’s Concerto in G Minor for Two Cellos, featuring soloists Cindi Campbell and Cindy Swenson. The first half concluded with an arrangement of Charles Gounod’s Ballet Music from Faust. After the intermission, the spotlight shifted to George Gershwin’s Concerto in F for Piano and Orchestra, showcasing the technical prowess of Bryndon Hassman, the season's CYS Audition Award winner.
Featured Soloist
Bryndon Hassman (Piano)
As a winner of the prestigious CYS Audition Award, Bryndon Hassman delivered a performance of Gershwin’s jazz-influenced masterpiece that served as the centerpiece of the program. Hassman's appearance followed the orchestra's tradition of showcasing elite young talent who met Maestro Sten's uncompromising professional standards.
The 26th Season Grand Finale: A Celebration of Maturity (May 1978)
Concert Program Overview
CYS concluded its 26th Season with a pair of polished performances conducted by Aaron Sten. The concerts were held on Sunday, May 14, 1978, at the San Mateo High School Auditorium and on Sunday, May 21, at the De Anza College Flint Auditorium. Critics hailed the performances as a demonstration of "highly professional caliber," noting the orchestra’s ability to navigate complex emotional and technical shifts with a "sure hand".
The program commenced with a showcase for the brass section, featuring J.S. Bach’s Fugue in G Minor and Johannes Brahms’ Marienlieder, Op. 22, both transcribed for trombone ensemble by Ralph Sauer. These works featured soloists Mike Davis, Dan Gordon, James Romanek, and Mario Sternad, whose performance was praised for its attentive phrasing and ensemble sound. The first half reached its peak with Felix Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64, marking the return of alumnus David Jacobson.
The second half was dedicated entirely to Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Op. 95 ("From the New World"). The performance was described as "lush and romantic," with particular praise given to the "beautifully haunting" English horn solo performed by Andrew Elster during the famous second movement. The evening concluded with a ceremony where Maestro Sten presented awards to graduating seniors, including concertmistress Kay Atchison, recognizing their contributions to the symphony's quarter-century legacy.
Featured Soloists
David Jacobson (Violin): A former CYS audition winner from 1970, Jacobson returned to solo with the orchestra after years of study at the Curtis Institute of Music, where he had been accepted on a full scholarship at the age of 15. He performed the Mendelssohn concerto, showcasing technical dexterity and controlled high notes.
The CYS Trombone Ensemble: Consisting of Mike Davis, Dan Gordon, James Romanek, and Mario Sternad, the group performed transcriptions of Bach and Brahms, earning praise for their dynamics and cohesive sound.
A Season Finale Under the Sun: Outdoor and Benefit Concerts (June 1978)
Following the formal conclusion of their 26th season, CYS performed a series of high-profile outdoor and benefit concerts across Northern California. These events served as both a celebration of the orchestra’s artistic achievements and a vital fundraising platform for their upcoming 1978 European Tour.
The Paul Masson Vineyards Benefit (June 4, 1978)
The orchestra returned to the historic Paul Masson Vineyards in Saratoga for a special afternoon benefit concert.
The Performance: Conducted by Aaron Sten, the concert was a major highlight of the spring season.
Purpose: The event included refreshments and was designed to support the symphony's ongoing educational and performance initiatives.
The Stern Grove Midsummer Music Festival (June 18, 1978)
In a prestigious invitation, CYS was selected to open the 41st Season of the Stern Grove Midsummer Music Festival in San Francisco. Performing on Father’s Day, the 93 talented young musicians presented a "sparkling outdoorsy" program to a large audience.
Repertoire Highlights:
Weber: Overture to Der Freischütz, which established a "precise and well thought-out" atmosphere for the concert.
Gershwin: Concerto in F for Piano and Orchestra, featuring 17-year-old Bryndon Hassman. Hassman was praised for his "self-confidence and command," making the melodies sparkle despite the technical difficulties of an outdoor venue.
Dvořák: Symphony No. 9 ("From the New World"), featuring a "warm and duly plaintive" English horn solo by Allan Lipson.
Gounod: Ballet Music from Faust, performed as a complete set, which allowed the musicians to demonstrate their polish and balance.
Technical Achievement: Despite the lack of surrounding walls causing a loss of bass sounds and making the strings sound somewhat "metallic," the orchestra maintained a high level of interpretation and balance.
