Santa Rosa Symphony groups to play for free in March

During the month of March, ensembles from the Santa Rosa Symphony will perform six free concerts at various Sonoma County Library branches.

Seating is limited and available on a first-come basis for the performance series featuring brass and string quintets made up of professional musicians from the symphony.

“I’m very proud of this partnership with the Santa Rosa Symphony,” Library Director Brett Lear said. “I’m thrilled that residents throughout the county can now experience the symphony musicians at their local library.”

The series kicks off at 1 p.m. Saturday with a string quintet performance for the whole family at 1 p.m. at the Central Santa Rosa Library, 211 E. St., followed at 2:30 p.m. by a concert at the Northwest Regional Library, 150 Coddingtown Center.

A brass quintet will perform for children at 1 p.m. March 14 at the Sonoma Valley Regional Library, 755 West Napa St., followed by a performance for adults at 2:30 p.m.

A string quintet will give a performance for children at 1 p.m. at the Healdsburg Regional Library, 139 Piper St., followed by a 2:30 p.m. performance aimed at adults.

The children’s programs will feature familiar pieces from films like “The Pink Panther” and “Star Wars,” plus selections from Looney Tunes and Saint-Saens’ “Carnival of the Animals.” The kids will learn about various instruments and how they produce sound.

Currently in its 87th season, the Santa Rosa Symphony is the third oldest professional orchestra in California and the largest regional symphony north of Los Angeles. It is recognized as having one of the msot comprehensive music education programs in the state.

The performances are funded by the Friends of the Library in each of the respective cities.