Press Archive

A caravan of yellow buses pulled into the parking lot and hundreds of third graders streamed into the concert hall, ready to hear a performance arranged just for them.

A day earlier, on Sunday, March 17, a general audience was treated to a full-length concert presented by Fandango! as part of InConcert Sierra’s (ICS) Third Sunday Series. The Fandango! ensemble, with an unusual blend of instruments—guitar, flute, violin, and cello—played a mix of Baroque, Latin, Spanish, and Balkan music. Then they returned on Monday morning, March 18, to play an abbreviated version of the program for the younger set.

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One of the most unique and exciting ensembles on the classical music circuit is FANDANGO! – a quartet performing a mix of Spanish, Latin-American, Balkan, Sephardic and traditional classical music for InConcert Sierra’s Third Sunday concert series on Sunday, March 17, 2024 at 2pm.

Hailing from Spain, France, Bosnia, and Taiwan, the four multi-award-winning virtuosi have appeared on the world’s most prestigious stages, earning accolades from the international press. Given their global recognition and diverse backgrounds, this ensemble brings a rich tapestry of musical influences to their performances.

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The InConcert Sierra third Sunday Series kicks off in 2024 with an impressive duo, next Sunday, January 21 at the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Grass Valley, with the return of Grammy Award-winning guitarist, Jason Vieaux, this time partnered with accordionist/bandoneonist, Julien Labro.

Vieaux will be returning to Nevada County to wow audience members. Artistic Director Ken Hardin said he took a chance on the artist when Vieaux was just a youngster, “We first had him in 1998. He had just won the international guitar competition (Guitar Foundation of America International Competition) and I just stumbled across him and listened to his playing a little bit and just loved it, so I thought I would take a chance on this fresh-out-of-school-competition winner and everyone just loved him.”

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A dynamic master class by visiting pianist Spencer Myer held a group of teenage composers of classical music in rapt attention on a recent Saturday morning. The class was a collaboration by two premier music organizations, InConcert Sierra and Nevada County Composers Cooperative.

Myer was in town to perform at InConcert Sierra’s Third Sunday concert the following day. The students participate in the Young Composers Project designed and taught by local composer Mark Vance. It is a music education program offered by the Nevada County Composers Cooperative.

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Violinist Athena Giuliani strode on to the stage and opened the show with a dazzling performance of Niccolo Paganini’s Caprice #16—a quick ride on a musical roller coaster with triple time, fancy fingering and cascading passages in perpetual motion. She left the audience breathless, anticipating the upcoming line-up of young musicians on the rest of the program.

The occasion was the Sierra Student Showcase presented by InConcert Sierra on Sunday afternoon, December 3 at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Grass Valley—a recital featuring a cast of 15 musicians, ranging in age from 7 to 18, playing music by Poulenc, Bach, Vivaldi, von Weber, Lully and Saint-Saens, as well as simple folk tunes and waltzes, performed via piano, violin, cello and voice.

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Sierra Master Chorale and Orchestra presents “Sing Joy” on Saturday, Dec. 16, and Sunday, Dec. 17.

Photo by Carolyn Valle of Valle Visions

Embark on a musical journey with award-winning pianist Spencer Myer, featuring Claude Debussy’s “24 Preludes.” Myer’s return to InConcert Sierra’s stage promises to evoke a rich tapestry of emotions and moods that are a signature of Debussy’s compositions, Sunday, Nov 19 at 2 p.m.

A former American Pianists Association Fellowship winner, Myer has garnered acclaim for his musical talent. His decision to perform the entire set of 24 Debussy Preludes, rarely heard as an entire program in concert, is a testament to his artistry and his dedication to delivering an extraordinary musical experience.

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“Seraph Brass” will be gracing InConcert Sierra’s stage as part of the Third Sunday Concert series. As the most prominent all-female brass group in the county and a proponent of diversity in the arts, Seraph draws from a roster of America’s top brass musicians that identify as female. This extraordinary group will be performing on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023, 2 p.m. with a pre-concert forum at 1:15 p.m.

InConcert Sierra’s principal horn player, Cara Jones, said, “When I heard that ICS was bringing in Seraph Brass, I was so excited. I have been a professional female horn player for 20 years, and I’ve never had a female trumpet, trombone, or tuba colleague in the Grass Valley area. The fact is that female brass players continue to be under-represented in orchestras everywhere. I am delighted for the ICS audience to not only be treated to this world-class brass quintet, but also to show aspiring female musicians and the entire audience what is possible. Thank you, ICS, for bringing this incredible opportunity to the community!”

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The InConcert Sierra Orchestra, led by Conductor and Artistic Director Ken Hardin, is thrilled to extend an invitation to music enthusiasts of all ages for an exceptional afternoon of music on Sunday, September 17. The doors are open wide to welcome you into a world of mesmerizing melodies and outstanding artistry.

Guided by the adept hand of conductor Ken Hardin, InConcert Sierra Orchestra, comprised of local and regional professional musicians, promises a musical voyage encompassing a selection of enduring classics and contemporary jewels.

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Wake up your week! Musical Mondays brings joy and music to the outdoor amphitheater at the Nevada County Library starting Monday, June 12 and running through Monday, July 24 from 11 a.m. until noon.

Kicking off the summer series on June 12 will be the KSK Jazz Trio with pianist Ken Hardin, bassist Steve Nicholson and flutist Kirsti Powell with fun jazz standards and memorable playful tunes from the Beatles, Raffi, and many more that will resonate with little ones and adults alike.

Free to the public, Musical Mondays is a popular summer series of one-hour morning concerts where kids can sing, squirm and dance, and adults can relax and enjoy, or dance as well. The experience is casual with attendees bringing their own lawn chairs or blankets, and snacks. The series features local and regional musicians performing music geared toward youth but enjoyable for all ages.

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