Garden party to benefit Downey Symphony

Anne Liu piano virtuoso to perform Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor Saturday, April 10, with the Downey Symphony at the Downey Theatre. Courtesy photo

DOWNEY – Viva La Fiesta! Come by yourself or bring a friend, make new friends, enjoy great food and entertainment, and support Downey’s oldest nonprofit arts organization, the Downey Symphony.

The Downey Symphony Orchestra’s annual fundraiser, the “Viva La Fiesta Garden Party,” will support its 68th season of free performances. The event is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 20, from 3-8 p.m. at the Women’s Club in Downey, 9813 Paramount Blvd.

This popular event includes an outstanding live mariachi band, champagne, aguas frescas, appetizers, wine, a three-course authentic Mexican dinner, raffles, auctions and prizes.

A highlight is the annual baton auction, in which attendees bid for an opportunity to receive training from music director Sharon Lavery and conduct a musical selection of their choice with the symphony.

Tickets are $100. For information and reservations, contact Pat Gil at Patgil1031@gmail.com or text 562-879-3029.

Founded in 1955, the Downey Symphony Society is a tax-exempt 501(c) nonprofit organization. Garden Party tickets may be purchased in advance at downeysymphony.org. Indicate that the purchase is for the Garden Party.

The RSVP deadline is Sept. 13.

The Downey Symphony Orchestra presents free, family-friendly performances at the Downey Theatre, in addition to six free performances for Downey Unified students and a free public concert in the park.

The free fall concert will take place Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. and feature Oscar Navarro’s “Downey Overture”; Rodrigo’s “Concierto de Aranjuez,” featuring guitar virtuoso Robert Wang; Navarro’s “Noah’s Ark”; and Ravel’s “Bolero.”

While studying at USC in Los Angeles, composer Oscar Navarro fell in love with the Downey Symphony. He was so impressed that he composed a special piece titled “Downey Overture,” which had its world premiere in Downey in 2011. Since then, the overture has carried Downey’s name to major concert halls throughout the world.

The free spring concert will take place Saturday, April 10, at 7 p.m. and feature Downey composer Lars Clutterham’s major orchestral work, “The Arc of My Life”; Chopin’s “Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor,” featuring piano virtuoso Anne Liu; and Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 5 in C Minor.”