This weekend, the Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra mixes things up with two matinees with a family friendly spin.

Music Director Wesley Schulz presents the second program of the 2011-2012 season in a concert “Once Upon a Time…” weaving a common thread of fairy tales and storytelling.

Embark on a journey to a land of mythological creatures, flying carpets, and adventures with the Brothers Grimm and Mother Goose.

Not only will the concert  appeal to all ages, Bainbridge Performing Arts will have pre-concert activities in the lobby for children ages 5-12 from 2-2:45 p.m. Kids can learn instrument making, hear a performance demonstration and get hands-on at the instrument “petting zoo” with Jas Linford, a wind and brass specialist who plays tuba for BSO.

Inside Hodges Hall a “preconcert concert” from 2-2:30 p.m. will feature young cello students of Priscilla Jones, including Julia Edwards, Marit Ellerby, Sophie Naden-Johns, and Andrew Witty.

They will be joined by several members of the Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra cello section such as Barbara Deppe, Stephanie Schmidt, Sandy Keinholz, and Leanna Glasby, playing their own version of the “Once Upon a Time” musical story.

They will play “Gigue” from J.S. Bach’s Unaccompanied Suite in G Major, and a movement from one of his “Gamba” Sonatas arranged for three cellists by Rick Mooney, Goltermann’s Concerto No. 4, first movement, and a medley of folk tunes arranged by Erik Nordstrom and Priscilla Jones.

From 2:30-2:45 p.m., Schulz will present a preconcert discussion of the concert program. (See sidebar for more details).

The concert will highlight the young and talented violinist Corin Lee who will join the Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra in a performance of the monumental Concerto in G minor by Max Bruch.

As a chamber musician, Lee has been selected to perform at Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall, Paul and Morse Halls at Juilliard, Columbia University’s Faculty House and St. Paul’s Chapel, and St. Luke’s Orchestra’s Mary Flagler Cary Hall.

TV appearances include quartet performances on Fox and NBC. As an orchestra musician, he has served as the Principal of the Juilliard Orchestra and Great Mountains Music Festival and School, and toured on an Ambassador Concert series throughout China.

‘Once Upon a Time…’

Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra will present “Once Upon a Time” at 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday March 3-4 at Bainbridge Performing Arts. Pre-event activities begin at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $19 for adults, and $16 for seniors, students, military and teachers and are available at 842-8569 or www.bainbridgeperformingarts.org. Youth receive free admission when accompanied by a paying adult.

Concert inspired by fairy tales

On March 3 and 4 the Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra will present, “Once Upon a Time…,” a musical program in which all of the music is inspired by a fairy tale or story.

Two of the works, Maurice Ravel’s “Ma mère l’oye,” or “Mother Goose Suite” and Carl Nielsen’s “Aladdin” are based on familiar fairy tales. Ravel’s work, originally for piano, is a suite of five movements each inspired by a different Mother Goose story, including “Sleeping Beauty,” “Little Tom Thumb,” and “Beauty and the Beast.” I think the final movement of this suite, depicting Sleeping Beauty being awakened by her Prince, contains one of the most simple yet moving melodies in the French repertory.

The other work, Nielsen’s music for a theatrical production of “Aladdin,” is full of vivid orchestral color, energetic melodies and diverse musical styles.

The opening work is Mozart’s overture to his last opera, “Die Zauberflöte.” The story is a blend of myth, magic and colorful characters all in the pursuit of happiness and love. Finally, I’m very excited that a talented young violinist, Corin Lee, will be joining us in a performance of Max Bruch’s “Violin Concerto in G minor.” Although this work has no connection to fairy tales, the lyricism, passion and virtuosity of the piece is a perfect blend with the rest of the program.

Whether you are a youth or simply youthful, I am sure the magic of these great works will carry you away in a wonderful evening of live classical music.

Wesley Schulz, conductor/director, Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra