Francesco Lecce-Chong, music director and conductor of the Santa Rosa Symphony,  joins us to preview the upcoming symphony season. We discuss his musical journey to becoming a conductor and his passion for orchestral music. He shares career highlights, his approach to interpreting scores and conducting, and his philosophy for creating diverse programming that engages a wide audience, including the Family Concert Series, the Pops Series, and the Classical Series. Francesco emphasizes the importance of the symphony to the community, highlighting the "First Symphony Project" and the many music educational programs in Santa Rosa schools. He provides suggestions to get new listeners hooked on classical music, shares what he aspires to conduct, and gives advice for young musicians. Francesco outlines his vision for the symphony to foster community connection through shared musical experiences, emphasizing passion, risk-taking, and the timeless power of storytelling within the art form.The Craft Beer Concierge pairs the post-interview mood with a classic German-style Helles Lager. He cracks open "Holy Hell" from San Francisco's Laughing Monk Brewery, a bright, light, and "crushable" beer. Allo explores the Helles style's signature bready and floral notes, highlighting its high carbonation and a nose full of dough, jasmine, and light biscuit. He even recommends delicious food pairings.Resources MentionedSanta Rosa Symphony: The orchestra led by Francesco Lecce Chong.Family Concert Series: The Santa Rosa Symphony partners with the Charles M. Schulz Museum for a concert series aimed at introducing young people to classical music.Maestro David Robertson: Conductor and mentor who provided valuable advice to Francesco."First Symphony Project": A four-year initiative by Francesco to commission new symphonies for both the Eugene and Santa Rosa orchestras.Mahler's Third Symphony: A significant upcoming performance mentioned by Francesco.Richard Strauss's Rosenkavalier: An opera Francesco expressed interest in conducting.Featured BeerLaughing Monk Brewery, Holy Hell

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