The Modesto Junior College Community Orchestra, directed by Anne Martin, will present a concert for kids of all ages tonight, Tuesday, Dec. 4, in the auditorium of the Media and Performing Arts Center on east campus. The concert has an early start time of 7p.m. to accommodate families with young children.

Featured will be Peter and the Wolf, a musical tale by Serge Prokovieff, in which different instrumentalists will paint the sound for each character in the story. The tale’s characters will be presented by Laura Lehn on flute as the bird, Christine Carr on oboe as the duck, Robert Scott on clarinet as the cat, and Ashley Burrows on bassoon as the grandfather. The rifle shots will be presented by John Gerling on timpani and the wolf will be featured by the French horn section members, Regina Barton, Jeff Broumas, and Laurie Rydelius. Peter will be represented by the strings of the orchestra. Special guest Jim Johnson will narrate this great classic work.

Johnson served as the Dean of the Arts, Humanities and Communications Division at MJC before his retirement. He is active in local theater productions and also serves in a volunteer position as the arts education coordinator for the Gallo Center for the Arts.

The orchestra will also perform the triumphant final movement of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, The Waltzing Cat by Leroy Anderson, and selections from Cats by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The double bass section, led by soloist Erendira Sevilla, will capture the movement of The Elephant from The Carnival of the Animals by Saint-Saëns.

To spice up the night with some Cuban influence, the orchestra will perform La Suerte de Los Tontos by Johnny Richards, accentuating the musical talents of Rob Stone and Connor McKay as they improvise bright trumpet solos along with Cindy Davis on drums. MJC dancers Lea Austin and Ceciley Smith will also be featured during The Elephant and The Waltzing Cat with exuberant interpretations of the evening’s musical theme.

Director Martin is a graduate of the Yale School of Music and is in her 12th year as director of string and orchestra programs at MJC. She also serves as the conductor of the Modesto Symphony Youth Orchestra Concert group.

Join the MJC orchestra on this magical night in support of local music and community. Tickets will be available at the door for $5 general, $1 students and seniors. Parking will be relaxed so feel free to park in any staff or student space.