Sunday, 31 March 2019

Monterey Symphony Announces 2019-2020 Season No. 74 of Concerts, Ovation, Youth Concerts, Plus Special Events, Luncheons and Dinners

Monterey Symphony has announced its 2019-20 Season 74, Ovation, with six concerts, youth concerts, special events, luncheons and supper clubs through May 2020.

Monterey, CA, April 01, 2019 — Monterey Symphony has announced its 2019-20 Season 74, Ovation, with six concerts, youth concerts, special events, luncheons and supper clubs through May 2020.

The Symphony opens Ovation Oct. 19-20, 2019, with Antonín Dvořák’s Romance for violin and orchestra, featuring concertmaster Christina Mok. The season continues Nov. 16-17, with pianist Kun Woo Paik returning to the Symphony to perform two piano concerti. Concert No. 3 is Feb. 15-16, 2020, featuring two massive symphonic works, both weaving elegant stories for the listener. The fourth concert of the season is set for March 14-15, 2020, and features guest conductor Oleg Caetani making his debut with the Symphony. Concert No. 5, April 18-19, 2020, features Symphony favorite, violinist Judith Ingolfsson performing Brahms’ violin concerto. The sixth and final concert will highlight works by Richard Strauss and Gustav Mahler and be conducted by Symphony Music Director Max Bragado-Darman.

The roster of special events, luncheons and dinners kicks off Oct. 16, 2019 with the Symphony’s Paella Cook-Off pitting Maestro Bragado-Darman’s legendary paella in a friendly competition with a local celebrity chef and culminates May 17, 2020, with the Finale Celebration to give the Maestro a send-off worthy of his 15 years at the helm of the Symphony. Six preview luncheons will be hosted on the Thursdays prior to each concert and five supper clubs will be held on Sundays after the matinee concerts (October-April).

Eight Youth Concerts will be presented during the 2019-2020 season. Half the concerts will be held at Sherwood Hall in Salinas and the other half at the Sunset Center in Carmel. For more information, visit www.montereysymphony.org/youth-concerts.

Concert 1: October 19-20, 2019
The Monterey Symphony opens its 74th season Ovation with Antonín Dvořák’s Romance for violin and orchestra, featuring concertmaster Christina Mok. This delightful, single-movement work was commissioned to serve as an annual musical tradition for the Provisional Theatre Orchestra in Prague. Based on a theme from the second movement of his fifth string quartet, Romance is a lovely interplay between the violinist and the orchestra. Other iterations of the melody were presented in his later works — it was an obvious favorite of Dvořák’s!

Hector Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique takes the mercurial, and often tragic, life of an artist and sets it to music. The title underlines not only the fantastic musical fireworks that take place on stage, but also a fantasy Berlioz was demonstrating. Written as an homage to unrequited love—the result of too many unanswered love letters — Berlioz uses the voices of the instruments to explain his emotions. The work travels through the artist’s life, culminating in his own funeral in the wildly intense final movement.

Violinist Christina Mok has captivated audiences with her solo performances, chamber recitals, and orchestral leadership. She has appeared as a soloist with the Russian Federal Symphony Orchestra, the Janacek Philharmonic, and the Seoul Symphony Orchestra, among others. The San Jose Mercury declared of one of her concerto performances, “She was a spellbinder as she dug in and let it fly — there was no need to long for Itzhak Perlman or Gil Shaham.”

As a chamber musician she has performed in Korea, Japan, England, Norway, Hong Kong, and the United States. Her recitals have been broadcast on the BBC and RTHK. She is the Concertmaster of the Stockton Symphony and the Monterey Symphony and the Associate Concertmaster of Symphony Silicon Valley.

Max Bragado-Darman, conductor
Antonín Dvořák / Romance, Op. 11
Christina Mok, violin
Hector Berlioz / Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14

Concert 2: November 16-17, 2019
Pianist Kun Woo Paik returns to the Monterey Symphony to perform two piano concerti. Paik, winner of the Naumburg award and gold medallist at the Busoni International Piano Competitions, is considered one of the finest pianists of his generation.

Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 27, KV 595 is his last piano concerto ever written. Myths surrounding both its composition and premiere give the work an air of mystery.

Elegant in nature, the Mozart is complemented by Johannes Brahms’ 1st Piano Concerto, the first work Brahms ever premiered from the piano! Although Brahms was only 25 when he composed the work, the melodies are mature and sophisticated. The piece was composed two years after Schumann’s death and explores a complex set of emotions. Schumann played an important role in Brahms’ life and it is hard to not see the connection between them in some of his works.

Kun Woo Paik came to prominence at the age of ten performing Grieg’s Piano Concerto with the Korean National Orchestra. His international career took off soon after with his first New York recital at the Lincoln Center and his orchestral debut at Carnegie Hall.

Paik has collaborated all over the world with the most renowned conductors such as Zubin Mehta, Lorin Maazel, Mariss Jansons, Neville Marriner, Jiří Bělohlávek, Vladimir Jurowski, Dmitri Kitaenko, Paavo Järvi, and Ivan Fischer, with orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, London Symphony, BBC Symphony, St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Oslo Philharmonic, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Berlin Symphony, and the Deutsche Bremen Kammerphilharmonie. He has recently performed with the New York Philharmonic, Lucerne and Berlin Symphony orchestras and given recitals at Carnegie Hall, La Scala, the Mariinsky Theatre and all over Asia and Europe. His numerous recordings appear on BMG, Decca and Deutsche Grammophon. Kun Woo Paik studied at the Juilliard School in New York with Rosina Lhevinne and worked with Ilona Kabos, Guido Agosti and Wilhelm Kempff.

Max Bragado-Darman, conductor
W.A. Mozart / Piano Concerto No. 27, KV 595
Kun Woo Paik, piano
Johannes Brahms / Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 15
Kun Woo Paik, piano

Concert 3: February 15-16, 2020
February’s program features two massive symphonic works, both weaving elegant stories for the listener. Edward Elgar’s “Enigma Variations” are comprised of 14 separate movements sketching a different friend or close acquaintance. Rather than depicting the person as a whole, a single element of their personality or relationship with Elgar is illustrated musically. The movement titles contain cryptograms or keys to the identity of the subject! Elgar started the work casually at the piano as an exercise to capture someone musically, and evolved it into a large and beloved symphonic work.

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade is based on the Arabian Nights. Replete with Russian folk melodies, many excerpts of this piece are used for Olympic figure skating – making it a well-known and recognized work. Rimsky-Korsakov worked tirelessly on this composition, along with his ornate Russian Easter Overture and the completion of Alexander Borodin’s opera Prince Igor. The work features stunning and virtuosic violin solos — not to be missed!

Max Bragado-Darman, conductor
Edward Elgar / “Enigma Variations,” Op. 36
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov / Scheherazade, Op. 35

Concert 4: March 14-15, 2020
Guest conductor Oleg Caetani hails from Italy and is making his debut with the Monterey Symphony. The son of famed conductor and composer, Igor Markevitch, Caetani completed his formal training at the Moscow Conservatory and graduated from the Saint Petersburg Conservatory. He won the RAI Competition and third prize at the Karajan Competition in Berlin.

Tchaikovsky’s 3rd Symphony, “Polish,” opens the program. This symphony is unique in that it is his only Symphony both in a major key, and containing five movements. The piece, sans first movement, was used by choreographer George Balanchine for Diamonds, the third and final part of his ballet Jewels. Various instruments are showcased in this iconic work, including a lovely flute solo in the third movement.

The second half of the program contains Shostakovich’s 15th Symphony, written in 1971 and premiered in Moscow, which is full of references to other composer’s works. Shostakovich tips his hat to Rossini and Glinka, as well as featuring the “Fate” motif from Richard Wagner’s Ring Cycle.

Oleg Caetani, one of the greatest conductors of his generation, moves freely between symphonic and opera repertoire. Caetani has conducted all over the world including: La Scala in Milan, the Mariinsky in Saint Petersburg, the Royal Opera House in London, the Opera House in San Francisco, the Musikverein in Vienna, Lincoln Center in New York and Suntory Hall in Japan, working with the greatest soloists of our days.

Oleg was chief designate at the ENO in 2005, chief designate 2002-2005 for the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Music Conductor and Artistic Director for the same orchestra from 2005 to 2009. Before that, Caetani was the Principal Conductor for the Staatskapelle Weimar, First Kapellmeister of the Frankfurt Opera and GMD in Wiesbaden and in Chemnitz.

Oleg Caetani, guest conductor
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky / Symphony No. 3, Op. 29
Dmitri Shostakovich / Symphony No. 15, Op. 141

Concert 5: April 18-19, 2020
A Monterey Symphony favorite, violinist Judith Ingolfsson returns in April to perform Brahms’ violin concerto. Judith is currently Professor at the State University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart and co-artistic director and founder of the Festival “Aigues-Vives en Musiques” in France.

Brahms’ violin concerto was written for Joseph Joachim and is the only violin concerto he wrote. Marked by soaring melodies for the violin, it contains some of the most challenging passages for the instrument.

Jean Sibelius’ 2nd Symphony was started in Italy and completed in Helsinki. Sibelius himself declared the work “a confession of my soul.” The piece was premiered with the composer conducting and received three back-to-back sold out performances! A beloved work, after his wildly popular tone poem Finlandia, the 2nd Symphony is Sibelius at his finest with whimsical touches throughout!

Violinist Judith Ingolfsson is recognized for her intense, commanding performances, uncompromising musical maturity, and charismatic performance style. Based in Berlin and enjoying a global career, she performs as soloist, chamber musician and in recital as the Duo Ingolfsson-Stoupel. The New York Times has characterized her playing as producing “both fireworks and a singing tone” and Strings Magazine described her tone as “gorgeous, intense, and variable, flawlessly pure and beautiful in every register.”

Ingolfsson studied at the Curtis Institute of Music and at the Cleveland Institute of Music. She has also been appointed to the violin faculty at the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University.

Max Bragado-Darman, conductor
Johannes Brahms / Violin Concerto, Op. 77
Judith Ingolfsson, violin
Jean Sibelius / Symphony No. 2, Op. 43

Concert 6: May 16-17, 2020
The season concludes with Richard Strauss and Gustav Mahler. Both of these works require intense playing from the orchestra and give our fabulous Monterey Symphony the chance to boldly shine! Strauss’ Don Juan is a powerful tone poem for large orchestra featuring many passages used for Symphony auditions. The piece is based on the unfinished poem Don Juans Ende which tells the story of a man searching for love, which he never finds.

Symphony No. 1 by Gustav Mahler, or “The Titan,” was composed in 1887–1888 in Leipzig and premiered in 1889. There are as many as six versions of the work, as Mahler was impassioned about perfecting it. He borrowed from some of his own works, and highlighted certain lied, or songs, in the movements. At one point there was an additional movement, which Mahler rejected after the first few performances. This Symphony is massive, lush, and gorgeous — a fitting end to a season deserving of many ovations!

Max Bragado-Darman has served as Music Director of the Monterey Symphony since 2004. He was Music Director/Conductor of the Symphony Orchestra of Castile and León in Valladolid, Spain, for nine years. With this ensemble he recorded works of Turina and Rodrigo and the cello concerti of Alberto Ginastera on the Naxos Label. He also recorded the flute and clarinet concerti by Joan Tower on the Opus One label.

In 1995, Max Bragado-Darman was appointed Music Director and Conductor of the Louisville Orchestra. He has worked with artists Alicia de Larrocha, Teresa Berganza, Horacio Gutiérrez, Elmar Oliveira, Dubravka Tomsic, André Watts, Angel Romero, Gary Graffman, and Aaron Rosand.

In 2003, he made his debut at the Wexford Opera Festival with the Granados opera “María del Carmen.” His conducting has been guided by teachers Robert Fountain, Robert Baustian, George Szell, Igor Markevich and Franco Ferrara. He has been the conductor for the “Iturbi Piano Competition” in Valencia, Spain in several editions.

Max Bragado-Darman, conductor
Richard Strauss / Don Juan, Op. 20
Gustav Mahler / Symphony No. 1

Performances on Saturdays are at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. One hour prior to every performance there will be a pre-concert lecture in the Hall of Sunset Center.

Subscriptions renewals begin April 1, 2019. New subscriptions become available on July 1, 2019. Please contact the box office for availability at (831) 646-8511. For more information and pricing visit: http://www.montereysymphony.org/concerts-events/subscriptions

Single tickets go on sale Aug. 15, 2019, at www.montereysymphony.org.

About the Monterey Symphony
The mission of the Monterey Symphony is to engage, educate and excite our community through the performance and continual discovery of symphonic music.

The Monterey Symphony, under the artistic leadership of Music Director & Conductor Max Bragado-Darman, is the only fully professional, full-season orchestra serving the communities of the Monterey Bay, Salinas, Salinas Valley, Big Sur, and San Benito County. It provides double performances of a six-concert subscription series at Carmel’s Sunset Theater, as well as youth education programs that include in-class visits and culminate in full-orchestra concerts for school children.

The Monterey Symphony is a nonprofit, public benefit corporation, supported through various generous individuals and through grants and corporate gifts from The Arts Council of Monterey County, The Berkshire Foundation, The Barnet Segal Charitable Trust, California Arts Council, The Community Foundation for Monterey County, The Harden Foundation, Monterey Peninsula Foundation, Music Performance Trust Fund, Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, The Pebble Beach Company Foundation, S.T.A.R. Foundation, The Robert and Virginia Stanton Endowment, Taylor Farms, Union Bank, The Yellow Brick Road Foundation and many others.

For additional information, please call 831-646-8511 or visit the website: www.montereysymphony.org

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.montereysymphony.org

Thursday, 28 March 2019

Hyatt Carmel Highlands Takes Company Meetings to New Heights with Spectacular Views, Incredible Food and Impeccable Service and State-of-the-Art Amenities

‘All-Day Meeting’ Package Includes Breakfast, Lunch and Two Breaks for $90 Per Person.

Salinas, CA, March 28, 2019 - Take your next company meeting or conference from ordinary and conventional to extraordinary and spectacular by booking your event at the picturesque Hyatt Carmel Highlands, which is offering an “All-Day Meeting” Package for $90 per person that includes breakfast and lunch at its award-winning restaurant.

Hyatt Carmel Highlands boasts 4,945 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting spaces, including state-of-the art conference rooms with a complete array of audiovisual equipment, complimentary Wi-Fi, and enhanced lighting and a redwood deck with spectacular views of the rugged coastline and Pacific Ocean.

The Hyatt’s accomplished and experienced staff can help tailor your meetings to your specific needs and meeting requirements.

You won’t find a more beautiful and welcoming atmosphere than at Hyatt Carmel Highlands, which is celebrating its 102nd year as a unique vacation destination and event venue, from meetings and conferences to weddings and family celebrations.

The Hyatt Carmel Highlands offers everything you need to plan and create a memorable meeting that will inspire and motivate attendees.

The “All-Day Meeting” Package includes breakfast and lunch at California Market at Pacific’s Edge and two 30-minute breaks. All-day beverage service can be added for $10 per person. Breakfast and breaks are served with freshly brewed coffee, decaffeinated coffee, assorted hot tea and assorted soft drinks and bottled water.

The California Market at Pacific’s Edge is an exciting fusion of the Hyatt Carmel Highlands' two popular and award-winning restaurants, the casual bistro California Market and the fine dining Pacific's Edge.

California Market at Pacific’s Edge welcomes diners to its expansive new 1,200-square-foot deck, featuring louvered roof and glass-panel walls with dramatic views of the Pacific Ocean and the Big Sur coast.

Combining the best of both worlds, California Market is committed to fresh, organic, locally grown and raised ingredients to create food that not only fulfills our appetites but pleases our sensibilities.

The restaurant’s menus are curated by the hotel’s Executive Chef team and features local producers, including Bellwether Farms Creamery in Sonoma, Swank Farms in Hollister and Monterey Abalone Company in Monterey. Menus also follow the guidelines of the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch and serve only fresh cage- and GMO-free eggs in its dishes.

California Market at Pacific’s Edge is where California casual meets refined dining in a one-of-a-kind location that will take your breath away.

The “All-Day Meeting” Package includes the following breakfast, lunch and break choices:

BREAKFAST:

Selection of assorted fresh chilled juices, fresh sliced fruit display, chef’s selection of freshly baked morning pastries, homemade butters and seasonal jams

AM BREAK (30 MINUTES) Select two
Fresh fruit skewers, whole fresh fruit, granola bars, individual Greek yogurts and homemade granola

PM BREAK (30 MINUTES) Select two
Assorted cookies and brownies, assorted crumble fruit bars, individual bagged pretzels and chips, gourmet ice cream and frozen fruit bars

LUNCH:

CHOICE 1
Daily soup
Mesclun green salad with Champagne vinaigrette
Free-range chicken or vegan mushroom
Roasted fingerling potatoes, asparagus, mustard thyme jus
Hand-made raviolis, roasted tomato cream sauce, parmigiano-reggiano
Assorted rolls and butter, house-made strawberry biscuits

CHOICE 2
Daily soup
Mixed green salad with raspberry vinaigrette
Yellow and red beet salad with goat cheese crumble, walnut vinaigrette
Assorted signature wraps: Southwestern veggie, chicken Caesar, roast beef and cheddar
Homemade potato chips
Chocolate opera cake

To book an “All-Day Meeting” Package, call (831) 620-1234 or fill out a request form at highlandsinn.hyatt.com.

Adjacent to the property is the Hyatt Residence Club Carmel, Highlands Inn, which includes 94 one- and two-bedroom units each with wood-burning fireplace, private balcony, and ocean or garden view. For more information, visit www.hyattresidenceclub.com.

About Hyatt Carmel Highlands
Perched on the hillside of the Carmel Highlands with breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, Hyatt Carmel Highlands combines true Carmel luxury with an approachable and sophisticated spirit. A haven for artists and discerning travelers since its opening in 1917 as the Highland Inn, Hyatt Carmel Highlands features 48 luxuriously renovated guestrooms, including 11 suites, 32 Ocean View rooms and 5 Garden View rooms. Situated only four miles from downtown Carmel, Hyatt Carmel Highlands’ idyllic setting and personalized service has attracted families, weddings, honeymooners and privileged travelers for a century. Hyatt Carmel Highlands has been recognized among the world’s finest hotels as part of Condé Nast Traveler's Gold List and Travel + Leisure’s “T+L 500” World’s Best Hotels.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.hyattresidenceclub.com

Tuesday, 26 March 2019

Gil Basketball Academy Announces World Tour, Celebrates 10th Anniversary

East Salinas-based Gil Basketball Academy, which celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2019, has announced its annual World Tour in the summer of 2020.

Salinas, CA, March 26, 2019 — East Salinas-based Gil Basketball Academy, which celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2019, has announced its annual World Tour in the summer of 2020. Tours of Cuba and Columbia Set for Summer 2020.

The Gil Basketball Academy enrollment averages more than 400 youths ages 4 to 17, and academy groups have gone on trips to New Zealand, Italy, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Mexico and Hawaii.

About Gil Basketball Academy
Gil Basketball Academy was founded by Jose Gil and Eva Silva in 2009, with the goal of providing local boys and girls ages 4-17 of all skill levels the opportunity to learn and play basketball. The Academy, which averages 400 attendees annually, offers regular basketball camps, clinics, field trips, world tours and individual one-on-one sessions that teach youths the skills and techniques of shooting, passing, dribbling, rebounding, and defense. They are coached by Jose Gil and other qualified and experienced volunteer coaches. The Academy’s “home court” is the gym at Alisal High School, where Gil is the Athletic Director.

Although one of the primary goals of the Academy is to teach youth about every facet of the game of basketball, the larger goal is to teach local youth how to become healthy, productive, and contributing citizens of their community by exposing them to life beyond Salinas by offering tours to other countries. So far the academy has taken trips to New Zealand, Italy, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Mexico and Hawaii, and plans are underway to visit Cuba and Colombia in 2020.

Gil Basketball Academy
1522 Constitution Blvd., Suite 213,
Salinas, California 93905
(831) 905-1155
https://gilbasketballacademy.com

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
https://www.gilbasketballacademy.com

Sunday, 24 March 2019

Journalist and Author Esmeralda Montenegro Owen Will Hold Book Signings for Her First Book in April and May in Salinas

Author and journalist Esmeralda Montenegro Owen will hold book signings in Salinas in April and May for her book.

Salinas, CA, March 24, 2019 - Author and journalist Esmeralda Montenegro Owen will hold book signings in Salinas in April and May for her book, “Beautiful - 7 Steps to the Best Version of You,” the first of four books in her “Beautiful” series.

At 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 27, 2019, she will hold a book signing at Sherwood Hall, 940 N. Main St., Salinas. At 7 p.m. she will emcee the Noche Bohemia event and sign books at 9 p.m. after the event.

The Noche Bohemia is a unique event of poetry, music and visual art. The concept of The Noche Bohemia in Salinas was initially brought forward by Adela Castillo and Jose Alejandro Moran to offer the community a unique event where poetry, music, painting, photography and art coalesced into a romantic experience.

Montenegro Owen will also give a presentation and hold a book signing 4:00-8:00 p.m. Friday, May 10, 2019, at Northridge Mall, 796 Northridge Dr., Salinas.

Montenegro Owen is Executive Director for Youth Orchestra Salinas (YOSAL). A native of El Salvador, Esmeralda came to the U.S. when she was in sixth-grade to escape ongoing civil war. She graduated from the University of Southern California with a dual degree in Broadcast Journalism and Spanish and from Notre Dame de Namur University with a Master in Public Administration.

She worked as a broadcast journalist for 10 years with Telemundo and Univision, earning a nomination for an Emmy Award for investigating reporting, while working as a news anchor and producer for Univision 67 in Monterey, CA. Esmeralda once taught journalism at Gavilan College; was the Director of Communications, Marketing, and Public Relations for Hartnell College in Salinas; and Curator of Marketing and Community Engagement at the National Steinbeck Center.

She is involved in a number of committees and boards that promote education, health, the arts, and self-esteem. Some of her involvement includes: emcee for the annual Noche Bohemia; board member and VP for Informed Choices in Gilroy; is a past Board Member for the Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce; is on the Marketing Committee for Girls Inc. of the Central Coast; is co-chair of Juntos Podemos (Together We Can), and others.

"Each chapter includes personal quotes, an affirmation, takeaways, questions to self-reflect, and an area for sketching or take notes," said Owen. She is thankful to have this book finally published after 2 1/2 years of writing and re-writing. Her goal is to increase the love for self and unlock the potential within each reader who comes across her work.

For more about Esmeralda, go to www.esmeraldamontenegro.com.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.esmeraldamontenegro.com

Monterey Symphony’s 2018-2019 Season, ‘Sound Waves,’ Continues in 2019 with Concerts in April-May, Plus Special Event Luncheons and Dinners

Monterey Symphony’s 2018-19 Season, “Sound Waves,” continues in 2019 with concerts in April and May and special event luncheons and supper clubs through May.

Monterey, CA, March 24, 2019 — Monterey Symphony’s 2018-19 Season, “Sound Waves,” continues in 2019 with concerts in April and May and special event luncheons and supper clubs through May.

Three Romantic German composers are featured on the fifth concert of the season, April 13-14, 2019, opening with Mendelssohn's concert overture “Calm Seas and Prosperous Voyage, Op. 27,” inspired by Beethoven's work of the same name; along with fellow Jewish composer Max Bruch's popular Violin Concerto No. 1, Op. 26, featuring solo artist Elmar Oliveira returning to play with the Monterey Symphony.

Robert Schumann's Symphony No. 4, Op. 120, originally his unpublished second symphony, underwent massive revisions in 1851 — five years before his death — proving his mastery over orchestration and increased expression in the final edition of this emotional Romantic symphony.

The sixth and final concert of the season, “Sound Waves,” May 18-19, 2019, will conclude in grand fashion with music by Wagner, Chopin, and Beethoven! Richard Wagner composed many brilliant overtures throughout his many German operas, including the overture from “The Flying Dutchman,” featured as the opening work in the season finale. Chopin's stunning Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 21, follows, with magnificent Cuban pianist Marcos Madrigal performing the popular work, composed before Chopin completed his formal education at age 20.

The season ends with one of the greatest compositions for the concert hall of all time: Beethoven's Symphony No. 5, Op. 67. A favorite among experienced and new audiences, musicians and conductors, the fifth endeavor in the symphony genre struck a chord for Beethoven, as he discovered his true forte — it is the "Stairway to Heaven" of classical music.

All remaining concerts during Monterey Symphony’s 2018-19 season will be held at the Sunset Center in Carmel and conducted by Symphony Music Director Max Bragado-Darman. All concerts in the season will be held at 8 p.m. Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays at Sunset Center.

The lineup of special events includes luncheons and supper clubs, which culminates with the Gala By The Bay on May 3, at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and a final luncheon on May 16.

April Luncheon

April 11, 2019, 11:30 a.m.

MPCC Ballroom
Join the Friends of the Monterey Symphony for a preview luncheon. Support classical music, enjoy great food and company, and engage with guest artists from the upcoming concert. Cost: $50 per person

11:30 a.m. – No Host Cocktails

12:15 p.m. – Luncheon

1:15 p.m. – Guest Speaker Presentation

April Supper Club

April 14, 2019, 5:30 p.m.

PortaBella, Carmel-by-the-Sea

Join the Monterey Symphony for a spring party in the dining room of PortaBella, "The Quintessential Carmel Restaurant," at this Sunday Supper Club, ending each Symphony weekend with a sizzling and sumptuous supper for the senses.

The Supper Clubs are on sale now for $70 per person. Supper Clubs include appetizers and wine upon arrival followed by a gourmet three-course dinner with several entrees to chose from. The Supper Club price will be $75 after October 7, 2018.

Gala By The Bay

May 3, 2019, 6:00-10 p.m.

Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row, Monterey
Join the Monterey Symphony in a celebration of the Open Ocean at the Monterey Aquarium Friday, May 3, 2019. Enjoy a strolling dinner, delicious wines and private access to the Aquarium's Open Ocean exhibit. Silent and live auctions, musical moments and ocean-themed surprises await. All proceeds benefit the Monterey Symphony. Tickets: $250.

May Luncheon

May 16, 2019, 11:30 a.m.

MPCC Beach House, 3000 Club Road, Pebble Beach

Join the Friends of the Monterey Symphony for a preview luncheon. Support classical music, enjoy great food and company, and engage with guest artists from the upcoming concert. Cost: $50 per person.

11:30 a.m. – No Host Cocktails

12:15 p.m. – Luncheon

1:15 p.m. – Guest Speaker Presentation

For a complete list of special events, go to https://www.montereysymphony.org/special-events.htm.

To purchase concert tickets, go to www.montereysymphony.org

About the Monterey Symphony
The mission of the Monterey Symphony is to engage, educate and excite our community through the performance and continual discovery of symphonic music.

The Monterey Symphony, under the artistic leadership of Music Director & Conductor Max Bragado-Darman, is the only fully professional, full-season orchestra serving the communities of the Monterey Bay, Salinas, Salinas Valley, Big Sur, and San Benito County. It provides double performances of a six-concert subscription series at Carmel’s Sunset Theater, as well as youth education programs that include in-class visits and culminate in full-orchestra concerts for school children.

The Monterey Symphony is a nonprofit, public benefit corporation, supported through various generous individuals and through grants and corporate gifts from The Arts Council of Monterey County, The Berkshire Foundation, The Barnet Segal Charitable Trust, California Arts Council, The Community Foundation for Monterey County, The Harden Foundation, Monterey Peninsula Foundation, Music Performance Trust Fund, Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, The Pebble Beach Company Foundation, S.T.A.R. Foundation, The Robert and Virginia Stanton Endowment, Taylor Farms, Union Bank, The Yellow Brick Road Foundation and many others.

For additional information, please call 831-646-8511 or visit the website: www.montereysymphony.org

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.montereysymphony.org

Thursday, 21 March 2019

Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa Contest

*Contest will run March 25th – April 22nd. Winner will be announced April 22nd! Does not include airfare.

Salinas, CA, March 21, 2019 - The trademark HYATT and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation. ©2019 Hyatt Corporation. All rights reserved.

Did you know this year Earth Day is celebrating its 49th anniversary? In 2020 it will be 50 years! Each year we learn more about sustainability and Pinterest is an excellent place to share tips from green construction to composting and quotes! Share your favorite pins that represent what Earth Day means to you in our new Pin-It-To-Win-It contest!


Follow us on Pinterest: pinterest.com/montereyhyatt

Create a board titled: Earth Day 2019

Add a minimum of 5 pins of your favorite Earth Day images, from trends

to beautiful photos

Use the hashtag #EarthDayHyattRegencyMonterey on all the pins

Email a link your board to: marci@chatterboxpublicrelations.com

One lucky winner will receive a two-night stay at Hyatt Regency Monterey! Winner will be announced April 22nd in honor of Earth Day!

hyattregencymonterey.com
Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel
and Spa on Del Monte Golf Course
1 Old Golf Course Road
Monterey, California, 93940
T 831 657 6540

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.hyattregencymonterey.com

Wednesday, 20 March 2019

Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa Celebrates Earth Day and is Committed to Helping the Environment All Year Long

Want to travel while also doing something good for the planet?

Monterey, CA, March, 2019 - Want to travel while also doing something good for the planet? On Monday, April 22, hundreds of thousands of people across the globe will celebrate the 49th annual Earth Day, pitching in to clean up local roads and waterways, abandoned parking lots and city parks in what has become an annual rite of spring.

Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa shows their commitment to the environment and their local communities with programs that ranged from a naturalist-led beach clean to shutting the lights in all unoccupied rooms, and employees turned out to volunteer at dozens of local green efforts. These activities take place throughout the year.

In honor of Earth Day, Monday, April 22nd, the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa in Monterey is offering the following promotions:

• The hotel will give out “Plant Your Pencil” to the first 100 guests who check in on April 22nd. #TravelGreen #InAHyattWorld. The pencils come in five different herb varieties including Basil, Cilantro, Parsley, Cherry tomatoes and mint.

• Join us in Fireplace Loungeon Monday, April 22nd
o At 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 pm. the Lounge will go dim to save electricity.

o A special acoustic guitar player will entertain guests.

o The Lounge will feature menu specials appealing to locavores, vegetarians, and vegans using both locally grown and organic ingredients.

o The hotel will offer wine by the glass with Twisted Roots green, sustainable wine.

In addition, the hotel has an ongoing commitment to green meetings. The Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa team have the same commitment to caring for the earth as they do to caring for their guests. Follow these steps to reduce the environmental impact of your event.

1. Plan Ahead. Surprises are lots of fun, but not for meetings. Provide us with your meeting info and event orders 10 days in advance to reduce the use of last-minute resources.

2. Please Recycle. Commit to using the recycling bins provided by the hotel at all functions, meetings, offices and guest rooms – making it easy to be green. Recycling services vary by property.

3. Print local. It's better to print it there than bring it there. It's even better to print on recycled paper – we're here to help you coordinate all your printing needs and will provide you with a list of recommended environmental printing services.

4. Ship Less. Shipping meeting materials wastes fuel, paper, plastic, energy and water. So, no more than one pallet of materials can be shipped to the hotel for each 100 rooms occupied and no more than ½ pallet going home.

5. Take what you need. Rather than handing out pens and note pads, place all meeting materials in a central location so meeting attendees can take only what they need.

6. Ban the bottle. Drinking lots of water is good. But not from a plastic bottle. Instead, use reusable bottles and refill at conveniently located filtered water stations.

7. Waste not. While we're at it, let's eliminate the use of other disposable products at meetings. Exceptions can be made for Boxed meals and poolside service.

8. Keep it comfy by setting reasonable meeting temperatures. Set the meeting room temperature at an agreed-upon number and keep it there. Not too hot, not too cool is just right.

9. Eat Local. Don't think of it as just a meeting, think of it as chance to sample the local flavor. Our seasonal banquet menus feature locally grown and sourced products.

10. Use Recycled Products. Your ideas will look just as smart on 100% recycled paper. Other items, such as menus and pens should have at least some recycled material too.

11. Provide linen less tables.

About Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel& Spa on Del Monte Golf Course
Nestled in 22 acres of soaring Monterey Pines, the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa on Del Monte Golf Course is a destination resort providing the discerning traveler the quintessential Monterey experience. Its location offers guests close proximity to downtown Monterey and Monterey Airport and easy access to some of the Peninsula’s most well-known attractions. With its warm, contemporary ambiance, elegant furnishings and convenient amenities, the hotel offers both leisure and business travelers a Northern California respite of unmatched serenity and comfort. Features include 550 guestrooms including 32 suites, and the President’s house, TusCA Restaurant, Knuckles Sports Bar, Fireplace Lounge, a 2,000 square foot fitness facility, tennis courts, pools and whirlpools. The hotel is located at 1 Old Golf Course Road in Monterey, California. For information call (831) 372-1234 or visit http://www.hyattregencymonterey.com/.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.hyattregencymonterey.com/