"Art teaches nothing except the significance of Life" – Henry Miller
This quote was most apparent to me when I attended the Santa Clarita Symphony Family Concert Storytelling, held at the College of the Canyons Performing Arts Center. The program was planned for children to hear the music of Sergei Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, a Musical Tale for children, Op. 67 and narrated by Michael McCarty a multicultural storyteller of African-American International folk tales.
The professional 64-piece orchestra performed three other pieces of music by Tchaikovsky, Nikolai Rimsky-Kosakov and Bedrich Smetana.
A highlight of the evening was listening to the young violinist, Elizabeth Basoff-Darskai perform two pieces. Elizabeth is 12 years-old and has been studying violin with award-winning instructors. She has performed at numerous solo concerts and recitals. Basoff-Darskai has played with the Kremlin Chamber Orchestra in Moscow. Her violin performance was wonderful to hear.
To have the opportunity to enjoy music played by professional musicians is a gift given to the Santa Clarita Community. This kind of cultural event offers a vibrant arena for other creations of art to be part of the arts and culture of Santa Clarita. The Symphony planned this concert for children and their families, but people of all ages came to enjoy the music and support the Santa Clarita Symphony for their effort to provide the public with this kind of an artistic experience.
An arts economy is waiting to be developed in Santa Clarita and can be achieved with the help of a creative class and a generation of people who can think artistically and make the visual and performing arts be important and dedicated to enriching the cultural life of the community.
People choose to come to visit cities where there are stimulating activities to see, such as an art museum, cultural art centers, art galleries, art demonstrations and public art displayed in various areas. Economic return is then given to the City of Santa Clarita when there is more tourist art attractions offered to it’s visitors.
For more information contact Jaylene Armstrong, Retired Art Educator, Santa Clarita Artists’ Association Member at 661-255-3050.