The Mill Valley Philharmonic is certainly not taking its 20th anniversary season lightly.

The nonprofit organization has already unveiled a dozen performances as part of its 2019-20 season, including a trio of “Epic Romance” concerts last month, as well as a free quartet of concerns at the Homestead Valley Community Center. Now MV Philharmonic, whose mission is “to enrich the cultural life of the Bay Area by offering orchestral programs to people of all ages and means in their own communities,” has unveiled a special family-friendly themed program: Nutcracker & Other Holiday Favorites.

The program, designed to celebrate the holiday season, will include Victor Hely-Hutchinson’s A Carol Symphony; selections from Handel’s Messiah; and selections from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker. Maestro Dana Sadava, a San Rafael resident who was hired as the organization’s new artistic director in July, will be joined by San Francisco Opera baritone Bradley Kynard, who recently performed as baritone soloist in Carmina Burana with Golden Gate Symphony and sang the role of Brooke (Little Women) with Island City Opera.

The performances include a free open dress rehearsal on Wednesday, Dec. 11 at 7pm at Mt. Tamalpais United Methodist Church, as well as on Friday, Dec. 13 at 7:30pm at Mt. Tamalpais United Methodist Church and Saturday, Dec. 14 at 2pm at First Presbyterian Church in San Rafael.
 
The deluge of news and performances come on the heels of a span that saw founder and artistic director Laurie Cohen retire in 2018, then brought on a new executive director in Richard Aldag and turned its 2018-19 season into a competition of sorts, featuring three prominent guest conductors and choosing Sadava from that trio to be its new artistic director.

The 411: Mill Valley Philharmonic announced a special family-friendly themed program: Nutcracker & Other Holiday Favorites, with a free open dress rehearsal on Wednesday, Dec. 11 at 7pm at Mt. Tamalpais United Methodist Church, as well as on Friday, Dec. 13 at 7:30pm at Mt. Tamalpais United Methodist Church and Saturday, Dec. 14 at 2pm at First Presbyterian Church in San Rafael. MORE INFO & TIX.
 
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