A free music series at San Jose State University begins this weekend, continues Tuesday, and winds up next weekend, between August 22 and 30.

What kind of music you ask?
John Williams film scores, Lemony Snicket music, a legendary jazz vocalist, Beatles music a brass band, and more performed by Symphony Silicon Valley along with other artist.

The concerts, bottled water, harmonicas for children at the Family Concert and ice cream at the Brass Band Concert, are all free.

Saturday August 22, 7:00 pm
John Williams Film Scores

Maestro Bruce Hangen and the orchestra’s performance may include Jurassic Park, ET, Star Wars, Jaws, Schindler’s List, Indiana Jones, and Harry Potter.

Sunday August 23, 3:00 pm
Family Concert

A family concert, with Lemony Snicket music The Composer Is Dead and harmonica virtuoso Robert Bonfiglio playing Gershwin. The first 1,200 kids receive a free harmonica.

Tuesday August 25, 5:30 pm
Cleo Laine & John Dankworth

Jazz songstress Cleo Laine and saxophonist John Dankworth the “king and queen of British jazz.”

Saturday August 29, 7:00 pm
Classical Mystery Tour

A Beatles tribute band from the Broadway show “Beatlemania” joins the orchestra to perform classics from the Lennon-McCartney Songbook, strings and horns! Classical Mystery Tour conductor Martin Herman along with soloists Jim Owen,Tony Kishman, Chris Camilleri, and Tom Teeley.

Sunday August 30, 3:00 pm
Brass Band & Ice Cream Social

The 39-piece band led by Tony Clements, principal tubaist with Symphony Silicon Valley perform Bugler’s Holiday, Thoughts of Love, Holst’s Mars, and selections from Phantom of the Opera. The ice cream is free.

The concerts held on the grassy mall at San Jose State University; enter at 4th Street and West San Carlos. Bring a picnic and your beach chair. Arrive early!

408-286-2600 x 23

Symphony Silicon Valley, led by Bruce Hangen, former Principal Guest Conductor of the Boston Pops, will perform a live concert for the family to enjoy featuring music by Bernstein, Mendelssohn, Bizet, Beethoven and more. Bring a picnic and come early as the first 700 children receive a free recorder and instruction how to play it beginning at 2:15 pm.

Discovery Meadow Park
Woz Way and San Carlos Street, San Jose

Sunday, August 24
Beginning 3:00 pm

Admission: Free

The San Francisco Symphony visits downtown San Jose’s Plaza de Cesar Chavez this Tuesday.

James Gaffigan leads the Orchestra for a lunchtime program that includes Verdi’s Overture to La forza del destino, Dvořák’s Allegro con fuoco from Symphony No. 9 in E minor, and Tchaikovsky’s Andantino in modo di canzona and Allegro con fuoco from Symphony No. 4 in F minor.

The free concert begins at noon in the circle of palms, Plaza de Cesar Chavez. Bring the boss so you can spend extra time outside. Mention the word “free.”

San Francisco Symphony
Plaza de Cesar Chavez, San Jose

Tuesday, July 15
Begins 12:00 noon
Admission: Free

Ludwig van Beethoven, (1770 – 1827) was a German composer and one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.

The Ninth Symphony is one of Beethoven most famous symphonies and his last. He was totally deaf when he began composing the symphony in1818; his hearing gradually deteriorated beginning in his twenties. Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 Choral was completed early in 1824 and then premiered on May 7, 1824 in Vienna.

This Thursday through Sunday at the California Theatre Brazilian-born Fabio Mechetti conducts Symphony Silicon Valley and the hundred-voice Chorale in performances of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in D minor Choral proceeded by Johannes Brahms’ Schicksalslied (Song of Destiny).

You will be humming Ode to Joy for weeks.

Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony
The California Theatre
345 South First Street, San Jose

Thursday 7:30 pm, March 27
Friday 8:00 pm, March 28
Saturday 8:00 pm, March 29
Sunday 2:30 pm, March 30

For more information including tickets, check here.

Center for Beethoven Studies at San Jose State University