Children’s concert to feature ‘The Tortoise and the Hare’

EDMONDS — It’s a program for the young and the young at heart.

Cascade Symphony Orchestra’s annual children’s concert is Saturday afternoon at the Edmonds Center for the Arts.

The orchestra will perform “The Tortoise and the Hare” by Bonnie Ward and Stephen Simon, from their series of Stories in Music, which was recorded by the London Philharmonic.

Radio personality Dave Dolacky — who for years narrated the CSO performance of “Peter and the Wolf” — is back to tell the story of the race between the steady turtle and the over-confident rabbit.

The concert also will include a performance by the popular Cascade Percussion Ensemble.

The highlight of the program is sure to be the performance of Mozart’s “Piano Concerto No. 21” by 10-year-old pianist Nathan Zhao of Edmonds.

“Nathan made his first public performance at age 6 at Benaroya Hall,” said Cascade principal cellist Norma Dermond. “He also is a composer — just amazing. I am looking forward to hearing him.”

A fourth-grader at the Edmonds School District’s Challenge Elementary School, Nathan began studying piano at age 4. His current teacher is Duane Hulbert.

In November, Nathan performed the Haydn “Piano Trio in G,” the “Gypsy,” with violinist Janet Utterback and cellist Brad Hawkins in Tacoma. (Listen here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=LecAZZk3Ux0)

Along with playing piano, Nathan studies music theory at the Academy of Music Northwest, where one of his compositions “Antarctica String Quartet,” was performed by faculty and students in May.

Come early for the “instrument petting zoo,” sponsored by the KING (98.1 FM) radio station, which is a chance for children to take a close look at the instruments of the orchestra.

If you go

Cascade Symphony Orchestra Children’s Concert

3 p.m. Feb. 11, Edmonds Center for the Arts, 410 Fourth Ave. N. Take a look at orchestra instruments at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students with ID and $3 for children. Call the box office at 425-275-9595.