Musical March features classical favorites by Edvard Grieg, Jean Sibelius and Beethoven for Monterey Symphony audiences; a program by the Gryphon Piano Trio for Carmel Music patrons; Ensemble Monterey’s final concert of the season; and tickets go on sale for the 88th Carmel Bach Festival.

Monterey Symphony celebrates Women’s History Month with its seventh annual Women’s Night Out on March 15 from 6-7:30 p.m. before the concert begins. This popular event at Sunset Center’s Studio 105 serves up an astrological theme this year along with music, cocktails, munchies and surprises. The talented women of this organization know how to host a good time!

Then, music director Jayce Ogren highlights the hero’s journey. “Our March program features two powerful works that celebrate heroism in distinct ways,” he says. “Beethoven’s masterful Violin Concerto casts the soloist as hero, striving to succeed and be heard despite adversity. And Jessie Montgomery’s ‘Soul Force,’ her moving tribute to the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., uses music to call for non-violent protest despite centuries of oppression.” The Beethoven showcases the virtuoso brilliance of violinist Simone Porter, who debuted with the Monterey Symphony in 2022. Also on this program is Edvard Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite and the gorgeous tone poem “Finlandia” by Sibelius.

Pre-concert lectures are included with all concert tickets and are held on Saturday, 6:30-7 p.m. with musicologist Christopher Anderson-Bazzoli, and Sunday, 2-2:30 p.m., with Ogren, in the Sunset Center auditorium. They are free and open to the public. Also, ticketholders are welcome to join conductor Ogren and soloist Porter in the lobby after the Saturday evening concert for a Q&A-style Talk Back and a complimentary glass of wine. Sunday Lobby Sessions with Live Music start at 1:45 p.m. These are also free and open to the public. For tickets and more information call (831) 646-8511 or see www.montereysymphony.org.

Carmel Music Society presents the Gryphon Piano Trio on March 9 at 3 p.m. (reminder, it’s the first daylight savings day). Acclaimed for their highly refined, dynamic performances, Gryphon is recognized as one of the world’s preeminent piano trios. Their repertoire ranges from traditional classical to contemporary. They will perform works by Joseph Haydn, Johannes Brahms and Maurice Ravel as well as recently composed pieces. There will be a reception after the concert in the Sunset Center dance studio. For tickets see carmelmusic.org or call (831) 625-9938.

Ensemble Monterey closes its “Season of Dreams” with “A Dream of Tomorrow” on March 22 at 7 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Monterey. Music director John Anderson will conduct two major works from young, emerging composers of the 21st Century. Soprano Lori Schulman is the soloist in Christopher Cerrone’s “The Pieces That Fall to Earth.” Cerrone is a winner of both the Pulitzer Prize and the Rome Prize (formerly the Prix de Rome). The vocal ensemble Cantiamo! will perform Jocelyn Hagen’s “The Notebooks of Leonardo de Vinci,” described as a revolutionary new multimedia work that is rapidly gaining international fame. It will be conducted by Cheryl Anderson.

For tickets and information see ensemblemonterey.org or call (831) 333-1283. On March 23 there will be a performance of the program in Santa Cruz at 7 p.m. at Peace United Church of Christ.

Carmel Bach tickets

The Carmel Bach Festival announces programs and tickets go on sale March 17 for its 88th season, “Dialogues.” Programs and events take place daily from July 12 to July 26, with seven main concerts and the crowning Best of the Fest finale, alongside a banquet of chamber recitals, lectures and special events. This summer, artistic director and principal conductor Grete Pedersen and her distinguished colleagues will explore the theme of musical conversations across time.

Pedersen conducts Saturday evenings’ concert featuring Mendelssohn’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream Overture,” Stravinsky’s “Pulcinella Suite,” and Haydn’s “Harmoniemesse.” Pedersen also conducts Sunday afternoons’ Bach masterwork, the Mass in B Minor. Monday nights, concertmaster Peter Hanson conducts his strings in a rich program of music by Bach, Haydn and Beethoven.

Tuesday evenings’ main program showcases the Mozart Requiem as its powerful centerpiece, led by Andrew Megill, artistic advisor and director of choral activities. Megill also conducts the Wednesday Carmel Mission concert featuring music of Bach, Byrd, Allegri, and contemporary composers inspired by these masters in choral music of spiritual reflection and the quest for transcendence.

On Thursdays, Edwin Huizinga and William Coulter offer an evening of folklore inspired by the rich musical traditions of Scandinavia. The Festival week closes with Fridays’ main concert of Mozart’s Jupiter Symphony, Schumann’s Concerto for Cello, and Jessie Montgomery’s Starburst.

The four primary vocal soloists for the 2025 season are soprano Clara Rottsolk, mezzo-soprano Guadalupe Paz, tenor Brian Giebler, and bass-baritone Dashon Burton.

The Festival will be packed with daily chamber concerts at various locations around the Monterey Peninsula. Free community programs, family concerts, a young artists showcase, and vocal and string masterclasses take place throughout the two weeks. The traditional open-air brass Tower Music will be heard before most main concerts. Many more lectures and special events also take place throughout the Festival week.

Ticket sales open March 17 for the general public. Browse the season for more Festival details and to purchase tickets at www.bachfestival.org or call (831) 624-1521.

York students perform at Lincoln Center

A group of talented York School students took part last week in a Lincoln Center performance of “Anastasia: The Musical” in Concert at David Geffen Hall’s Wu Tsai Theater.

The York students spent the past six months preparing for this extraordinary opportunity under the guidance of the school’s music and arts department chair, Spencer Williams.

This is the second time Williams’s York students were selected for the Lincoln Center opportunity. Last year, they performed in Stephen Schwartz’s musical, “Children of Eden.”

“We are so excited to have been asked back by Manhattan Concert Productions to perform in this incredible musical alongside Broadway-caliber artists and be part of a truly world-class production,” he said. “We are only one of a few schools in the entire country that have been asked back, and it’s such a wonderful privilege and opportunity. Experiences like these not only enhance [the students’] skills but also inspire them to dream bigger, knowing that a career in the arts is within reach.”

Anastasia was created by Tony Award winners Terrence McNally, Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens and follows Anya from the twilight of Imperial Russia on her journey of self-discovery, adventure and the search for identity. The 400-voice chorus joined the New York City Chamber Orchestra and a stellar cast.

“They rehearsed with Broadway professionals, and the writers of ‘Anastasia,’ Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, were even in the room with us!” said Williams.

In addition to rigorous rehearsals and the performance, students were able to immerse themselves in the vibrant Broadway scene, attending three other musicals, and exploring sights of the city.

“It was a truly magical experience, and we feel so lucky to have had this opportunity. This is my 20th year teaching in musical theatre and choir, and this was one of the coolest things I have done with students. I know the memories they made on this trip will last a lifetime.”

In addition to his work as an educator, Williams is a composer, playwright, director and producer.