Yuba City residents are invited to attend the annual Fall Classics Concert this weekend, presented by the Yuba Sutter Symphony at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church. The concert series, directed by Maestro Corey Kersting, will feature Sergei Rachmaninoff’s “Piano Concert No. 3” performed by guest pianist Jürgen Holleck. Performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. on Saturday evening and 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoon at the church, located at 1390 Franklin Road. Admission to both concerts is free, though donations are gratefully accepted by the organizers.
Rachmaninoff’s “Piano Concerto No. 3” is widely recognized in the classical repertoire for its technical demands and powerful emotional depth, according to organizers. Its fame grew in the 1930s after legendary pianist Vladimir Horowitz recorded the piece, and it gained further popularity with performances by Van Cliburn. Maestro Kersting stated in a release that the community has a "rare opportunity to hear this famous and moving piano concerto" played by a very talented pianist, describing the event as a "treat that I am sure music lovers will not want to miss."
The guest soloist, Jürgen Holleck, MD, brings a unique blend of medical and musical expertise to the Yuba City stage. Holleck serves as a hospitalist physician in Connecticut, where he cares for veterans at the Veterans Administration Hospital and teaches medical students at Yale School of Medicine. Music has been a lifelong passion for Holleck, and performing the "Rach 3" with the Yuba Sutter Symphony Orchestra fulfills a cherished dream, organizers explained. His musical education includes studies at Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music, where his teachers included A. Ramon Rivera and the late Joseph Schwartz. Holleck’s past performances include Beethoven’s second piano concerto, “Allegro con brio,” which he performed with the Portland (Maine) Symphony Orchestra in 1989.
In addition to Rachmaninoff's masterpiece, the Fall Classics Concert program will include Dean Estabrook’s “Autumnal Escapade” and Edward Elgar’s “Enigma Variations.” Maestro Kersting described Elgar’s composition as "a fun piece filled with personality, humor, beauty, and power." He also highlighted the honor of performing “Autumnal Escapade,” noting its composer, the late Dean Estabrook, was a friend and former member of the Symphony. Kersting conveyed the Yuba Sutter Symphony's excitement "to be able to present this music for our community."
During the concert, the Yuba Sutter Oratorio Society will present its annual Jane Sarah Roberts Award for lifetime contributions to music. This year’s recipient will be a surprise. The award honors Jane Roberts, who dedicated her life to the local music community. Roberts was instrumental in establishing and growing the Yuba Sutter Oratorio Society, and she served as the concert master for the Yuba Sutter Symphony Orchestra for four decades. Her commitment to music education and performance spanned her entire adult life, establishing a significant legacy within the Yuba-Sutter area’s cultural landscape.
Looking ahead, the Yuba Sutter Oratorio Society is also seeking child singers between 7 and 13 years old to learn the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah. Prospective singers must be available to rehearse with the choir starting at 6:15 p.m. on Mondays through November 30 at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church. Interested individuals are encouraged to attend the first rehearsal to participate, organizers explained. For more detailed information regarding the child singer program, individuals can contact Maestro Kersting directly via email at [email protected].
