Additional sponsorship for the Youth Orchestra concerts is provided by The William Randolph Hearst Foundations, National Endowment for the Arts, and Alexander M. & June L. Maisin Foundation.
SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY YOUTH ORCHESTRA
Peter and the Wolf
December 15, 2024
Overview
The SF Symphony Youth Orchestra brings Prokofiev’s timeless tale of a boy and his animal friends to life in Peter and the Wolf under the baton of newly appointed Wattis Foundation Music Director Radu Paponiu. Actor Joshua Dela Cruz, the host of Blue’s Clues & You!, stars as guest narrator. Experience this classic musical fable, along with selections from Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, works by Antonín Dvořák, Johann Strauss II, and an audience carol sing-along.
Part of HOLIDAYS WITH THE SYMPHONY
Concert Extras
Celebrate the holidays with the SF Symphony and stroll through the winter wonderland of a decked out Davies Symphony Hall, filled with giant lit trees, wreaths, and garlands. While you’re here, treat yourself at the lobby bar with festive winter cocktails, such as a Gingerbread Old Fashioned, limited-time sparkling wine, and special holiday desserts throughout December. And don't forget to visit the hot chocolate cart!
Artists
Narrator
Conductor, Wattis Foundation Music Director
SF Symphony Youth Orchestra
Program
Antonín
Dvořák
Slavonic Dance in C major, Opus 72, no.7
Piotr Ilyich
Tchaikovsky
Selections from The Nutcracker
Traditional
(arr. Jeff Tyzik)
Mis Zeh Hidlik (Behold the Lights)
Mis Zeh Hidlik (Behold the Lights)
Johann
Strauss II
Thunder and Lightning Polka
Sergei
Prokofiev
Peter and the Wolf
Traditional
Holiday Carols
Sponsors
The Youth Orchestra concerts are supported by
Additional sponsorship for the Youth Orchestra concerts is provided by The William Randolph Hearst Foundations, National Endowment for the Arts, and Alexander M. & June L. Maisin Foundation.
Additional sponsorship for the Youth Orchestra concerts is provided by The William Randolph Hearst Foundations, National Endowment for the Arts, and Alexander M. & June L. Maisin Foundation.
Joshua Dela Cruz
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Radu Paponiu
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Joshua Dela Cruz
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Narrator
Joshua Dela Cruz is narrating Peter and the Wolf for the second year, after making his debut with the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra last season. He is the host of Nickelodeon’s Emmy Award–winning Blue’s Clues & You! Most recently, he starred in Paramount+’s Blue’s Big City Adventure alongside the two previous hosts of Blues Clues, Steve Burns and Donovan Patton (Joe). The New York Times called Dela Cruz “spectacular” and the “real highlight” of the film.
Dela Cruz is a powerhouse triple threat who made his Broadway debut in Disney’s Aladdin as an understudy and ensemble member—later taking over for Aladdin himself. Other notable theater performances include Here Lies Love under the direction of Alex Timbers at the Public Theatre, Merrily We Roll Along at New York City Center Encores, and Theatre Group Asia’s Into the Woods. Additionally, he has helped develop shows like the Tony-winning musical Maybe Happy Ending, and also participated in numerous workshops directed by Christopher Ashley, Sarna Lapine, and Billy Berry. Dela Cruz has also appeared in Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent, Netflix’s Fubar, CBS’s Bull, and ABC’s Time After Time. He graduated from Montclair State University with a BFA in musical theater.
Dela Cruz is a powerhouse triple threat who made his Broadway debut in Disney’s Aladdin as an understudy and ensemble member—later taking over for Aladdin himself. Other notable theater performances include Here Lies Love under the direction of Alex Timbers at the Public Theatre, Merrily We Roll Along at New York City Center Encores, and Theatre Group Asia’s Into the Woods. Additionally, he has helped develop shows like the Tony-winning musical Maybe Happy Ending, and also participated in numerous workshops directed by Christopher Ashley, Sarna Lapine, and Billy Berry. Dela Cruz has also appeared in Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent, Netflix’s Fubar, CBS’s Bull, and ABC’s Time After Time. He graduated from Montclair State University with a BFA in musical theater.
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Radu Paponiu
Conductor, Wattis Foundation Music Director
Radu Paponiu was appointed Wattis Foundation Music Director of the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra in fall 2024, and recently extended his contract through the 2028–29 season. He was previously associate conductor of the Naples (Florida) Philharmonic and music director of the Naples Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. He has also served as music director of the Southwest Florida Symphony, assistant conductor of the Naples Philharmonic, and as a member of the conducting faculty of the Juilliard Pre-College.
As a guest conductor, Paponiu has appeared with the Romanian National Radio Symphony, Teatro Comunale di Bologna Orchestra, Transylvania State Philharmonic, Rockford Symphony, Colorado Music Festival Orchestra, North Carolina Symphony, California Young Artists Symphony, and National Repertory Orchestra. He has collaborated with soloists such as Evgeny Kissin, Yefim Bronfman, Emanuel Ax, Gil Shaham, Midori, Vladmir Feltsman, Robert Levin, Charles Yang, Nancy Zhou, Stella Chen, and the Ébène Quartet.
Born in Romania, Paponiu began his musical studies on the violin at age seven, came to the United States at the invitation of the Perlman Music Program, and later completed two degrees in violin performance at the Colburn School. He went on to earn a master’s degree in orchestral conducting at New England Conservatory, where he studied with Hugh Wolff.
As a guest conductor, Paponiu has appeared with the Romanian National Radio Symphony, Teatro Comunale di Bologna Orchestra, Transylvania State Philharmonic, Rockford Symphony, Colorado Music Festival Orchestra, North Carolina Symphony, California Young Artists Symphony, and National Repertory Orchestra. He has collaborated with soloists such as Evgeny Kissin, Yefim Bronfman, Emanuel Ax, Gil Shaham, Midori, Vladmir Feltsman, Robert Levin, Charles Yang, Nancy Zhou, Stella Chen, and the Ébène Quartet.
Born in Romania, Paponiu began his musical studies on the violin at age seven, came to the United States at the invitation of the Perlman Music Program, and later completed two degrees in violin performance at the Colburn School. He went on to earn a master’s degree in orchestral conducting at New England Conservatory, where he studied with Hugh Wolff.
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