San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra
Peter and the Wolf
December 13, 2026
Overview
Prokofiev’s tale of a boy and his animal friends’ bravery is brought to life with a guest narrator. The San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra performs this classic musical fable, along with other seasonal and holiday favorites.Please note that we do not allow children under 3 at any performance, except for our Music for Families and Deck the Hall programs. Everyone entering Davies Symphony Hall, regardless of age, must have a ticket. Children under the age of 12 must be seated with an accompanying adult.
Kids’ Tickets Half Off!
Artists
Conductor, Wattis Foundation Music Director
Mychal Threets
Narrator
SF Symphony Youth Orchestra
Program
Johann
Strauss II
Emperor Waltz, Opus 437
Piotr Ilyich
Tchaikovsky
Selections from The Nutcracker, Opus 71
Traditional
(arr. Jeff Tyzik)
Mis Zeh Hidlik (Behold the Lights)
Mis Zeh Hidlik (Behold the Lights)
Aaron
Copland
Hoedown from Four Dance Episodes from Rodeo
Sergei
Prokofiev
Peter and the Wolf, Opus 67
Traditional
Carol Sing-Along
Sponsors
This concert is generously supported by the Phyllis C. Wattis Youth Symphony Fund.
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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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