“It has been a while since we featured our fabulous string section of the Downey Symphony,” said Sharon Lavery, the music director. “And it has always been in the back of mind to program the Copland Clarinet Concerto. So, I had the piece for the January concert, now I needed the right soloist.”

“I have always told Kelli,” said Sharon, “if Copland didn’t write his Concerto for Benny Goodman he may as well have written it for Kelli O’Connor.”

In 1949 Benny Goodman, the rock star of the Jazz Era, commissioned Aaron Copland to write this Concerto for Clarinet, String Orchestra, Harp and Piano.

“I paid $2,000,” said Goodman “and that's real money.”

The first section is one of Copland's most lyrical and melodious creations; the second is in an all-out jazzy style, with Brazilian and Afro beats.

“Kelli’s style of playing is absolutely perfect for this piece,” said Sharon, speaking of the upcoming Jan. 21 concert of the Downey Symphony Orchestra in the Downey Theatre.

“Kelli is, of course, classically trained but she has a diverse background in the world of jazz as well, which is something needed for this challenging concerto. Everybody’s got their niche, and this type of performance — flashy, jazzy, with nuance — is Kelli.”

“I have worked with Kelli many times,” said Sharon, “most recently with the Vermont Symphony when we performed Artie Shaw’s Clarinet Concerto together.” Conductor Sharon herself is a noted clarinetist.

“Six years ago,” said Sharon, “she performed Oscar Navarro’s Downey Overture and his Second Clarinet Concerto with the Downey Symphony and did a spectacular job. The orchestra really enjoyed working with her, and I know the Downey audience loved her performance as well.”

This is the Downey Symphonic Society’s 62nd year of presenting the Downey Symphony, one of the best regional orchestras in Southern California.

“I chose the rest of the program around this great work,” said Sharon, “and, to be honest, I simply chose some of my favorite string works. Growing up in the wind band world, Percy Grainger has always been one of my favorite composers, and I have always been particularly enamored by the two works we are performing. I’m Irish so one of my favorite tunes of all time is ‘O Danny Boy,’ which is the Irish tune from ‘County Derry’ as arranged by Percy Grainger.

The Concerto “Alla Rustica” of Vivaldi is an absolute six-minute gem, not only for the listener but for the performers as well. “

“The second half of the program” said Sharon, “will be filled with the glorious melodies and harmonies of one of Tchaikovsky’s masterpieces, Serenade for Strings. This piece is guaranteed to satisfy the rich, musical taste buds of our Downey audience, and if we perform it correctly, they’ll be whistling some of those beautiful melodies all the way home.”

Lobby doors open at 6:30 p.m. and patrons may view “It’s a Beautiful Life", an art show sponsored by the Downey Arts Coalition, in the Theatre’s Mezzanine Gallery. Lars Clutterham will give a musical appreciation about the concert program from the stage at 7:15 pm. The concert begins at 8 pm.

Tickets are available at the Downey Theatre box office, 8435 Firestone Blvd., open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, and one hour before the concert. Telephone (562) 861-8211 or online at downeysymphony.org.