A Weekend of Free Music
San Diego State Universitys School of Music and Dance prides itself on making music accessible for the entire San Diego community.
The San Diego State University School of Music and Dance will host two free music events this weekend. Both concerts are free and open to the public. Symphony By The Sea begins at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10 at Pier Plaza in Imperial Beach, and The Concert on the Plaza begins at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 11 at SDSU.
Symphony by the Sea
For the second year in a row, SDSU musicians will head to the coastal community of Imperial Beach on Oct. 10 for Symphony By The Sea. This concert features both the SDSU Symphony Orchestra and Wind Symphony performing on the beach at sunset. More than 2,000 people are expected to attend.
“There is something incredible about making music with the majestic view of the Pacific Ocean as the sun sets,” said Conductor of the Symphony Orchestra Michael Gerdes. “It is a shared experience with the audience and students that is hard to surpass.”
The symphony orchestra will take the stage first playing both classics such as Beethoven, as well as new music, including the debut of a musical piece composed by SDSU Professor Brent Dutton. After a brief intermission, the SDSU Wind Symphony will close the concert by playing a diverse selection of both patriotic songs and folk songs from throughout the world.
“The songs revolve around the concept of reaching out to our friends abroad and working together,” said SDSU Wind Symphony Conductor Shannon Kitelinger. “It also ties into what we do at SDSU in our music department and now coming together with Imperial Beach.”
“We hope that going off-campus and playing music in the community will bring new people to campus to see what happens here everyday,” Gerdes said.
Concert on the Plaza
The community will get a chance the following day, Oct. 11, to visit SDSU for the Concert on the Plaza. This outdoor concert features the SDSU Wind Symphony in front of the Music building in the Performing Arts Plaza.
Similar to the night before, the 50-student symphony will play an hour and a half show of folk songs from around the world. The community-centered concert encourages families to bring lawn chairs and food to enjoy the music.
“The outdoor setting makes this a very family-oriented concert,” Kitelinger said. “It will to get kids and the community excited about music.”
