Music

Orinda native Juliana Athayde, daughter of former Stanley Middle School music director Bob Athayde, returns to the Bay Area to perform Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto with the Diablo Symphony Orchestra on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 26, at the Lesher Center for the Arts. Beginning at 2 p.m. the program will be conducted by music director and conductor Matilda Hofman as well as “conduct the orchestra” auction winners Kathryn Crandell and Bill Rudiak. Advance tickets are available at the Lesher Center for the Arts box office (925) 943-7469 or by visiting www.diablosymphony.org/. Tickets are $40 for adults and $10 for youth 13–17. Children 12 and under are free but need a ticket, and a discounted ticket price of $30 is available for groups of 10 or more seniors ages 62 and up. Tickets will also be available at the door.

Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra presents Local Orchestra Spotlights Award-Winning Bay Area Composer (Orinda) on Sunday, Feb. 26, from 4 to 5:30 p.m., at St. Stephens Episcopal Church, 66 St Stephens Drive, Orinda as part of its enchanting 'Discoveries and Revivals' program. Cost: Adults: $20, Seniors: $15, Students, $7. For more info see www.contracostachamberorchestra.org or call (415) 794-1269 or email info@contracostachamberorchestra.org.

Gold Coast Chamber Players concert Cello Extravaganza on Saturday, March 11, at 7:30 p.m., Pre-concert talk at 7 p.m. Don Tatzin Community Hall at the Lafayette Library, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette. The concert will be recorded for online viewing beginning March 21. Single tickets $15-45; Online: www.gccpmusic.com, by phone: (925) 283-3728. Pamela Freund-Striplen, (925) 283-3728

Barefoot Chamber Concerts presents A Marais Sampler on Friday, Feb. 17, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., at Saint Mary Magdalen Church, 2005 Berryman Street, Berkeley. Music of the great Marin Marais (including the iconic 'Labyrinthe') played by virtuosi Lynn Tetenbaum, viola da gamba, and John Lenti, theorbo. Cost: $20. For more info see http://barefootchamberconcerts.com or call (510) 220-1195 or email info@barefootchamber
concerts.com.

St. Paul's Concert Series is excited to present Classical Guitarist, Aaron Haas, in a spectacular performance on Feb. 18, at 7 p.m. From Los Angeles, Aaron Haas is a prominent rising star! In his performance at St. Paul's, Haas presents classical pieces such as Three Schubert Lieder (Schubert), La Catedral (Mangore) and Violin Sonata No. 1 in G Minor (Bach), and other beloved pieces, after opening with a piece of his own composition. St. Paul’s Concert Series is pleased to invite its audience in-person for this event, and we will also broadcast this performance simultaneously online. To register visit St. Paul’s at stpaulswc.org/concert-series. 1924 Trinity Avenue, Walnut Creek. Donations graciously accepted at the door (avg. $20/$10 Students) and in our online registration. All are welcome regardless of donation.

Theatre

Town Hall Theatre Company presents: “The Shape of Things” Written by Neil LaBute, Directed by Salim Razawi. March 4-25, tickets: $25-40, March 24 is the Pay-What-You-Can performance. Town Hall Theatre, 3535 School Street, Lafayette

Literature

The February Sweet Thursday Author Series is hosting a Zoom only discussion with C.W. Gortner, author of “The American Adventuress” on Feb. 16 at 5 p.m. To register go to tinyurl.com/sweet-feb23.

Orinda Books Thursday, March 2 at 11 a.m. Pat's Book Club will read and discuss “The Paris Bookseller” by Kerri Maher. This gripping novel is the dramatic story of how a humble bookseller fought against incredible odds to bring one of the most important books of the 20th century to the world. All are welcome. Note: This title had been scheduled for February but was postponed due to the book’s temporary unavailability. 276 Village Square, Orinda, (925) 254-7606, www.orindabooks.com, info@orindabooks.com

Other

Scottish Country Dancing Classes. Adult Beginner’s Thursday night 7 to 8:30 p.m. lessons are $8 each. Experienced Dancers continue until 9:30 p.m. All Lessons are with the Lafayette class of the San Francisco Branch located at The Danville Grange 743 Diablo Road, Danville. Come and enjoy the music, and friendly people. Please wear comfortable clothes and soft shoes. No partner required. (Proof of Covid-Vaccination required.) For more information, please call: Kathleen – (925) 934-6148 or Monica (925)575-7637.

Measure X: Living Up to the Promise? Voters passed Measure X, a new countywide sales tax to support health and human services for our neighbors and families, in November 2020. Learn whether it’s living up to what was promised to voters in a Zoom discussion on Thursday, Feb. 16 at 4 p.m. How is the Board of Supervisors providing accountability to the public about the impact of the tax monies? What did we learn from this first year of sales tax allocations? What does this mean for the future? A panel of experts will discuss what was funded by Measure X and what gaps remain. Register for the Zoom webinar with your email at https://ccclib.bibliocommons.com/events/63bee7030748ed360061b9ab

Campolindo High School DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging) committee is hosting a showing of the Not In Our Town documentary, “Repairing the World: Stories from the Tree of Life.” It is a film that follows the aftermath of the mass shooting at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue. It is directed by Patrice O’Neill who will hold a Q&A session after the film. March 9 at 7-9 p.m., Del Valle Theater, 1963 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. Free.