The San Luis Obispo Symphony will present “Classical Sketches” at the Christopher Cohan Center in San Luis Obispo on Saturday, March 10th at 8 p.m.

The concert will feature acclaimed Polish violinist Joanna Kurkowicz, a champion of the music of little-known 20th century Polish composer Grażyna Bacewicz. Kurkowicz will perform Bacewicz’s Violin Concerto No.3 with the SLO Symphony Orchestra, Michael Nowak, conducting.

According to the violinist, “[The Bacewicz concertos] are like rare stones. You have to find them, but once found they prove to shine brilliantly.”

Also on the program will be Schubert’s “Unfinished” Symphony No.8 and Bartók’s Hungarian Sketches.

Tickets for the concert range from $18-$68 and are available by calling the PAC ticket office at (805)756-2787 or online at slosymphony.com. A No Ties Allowed! FREE Dress Rehearsal is open to the public at 1 pm.

Kurkowicz currently serves as concertmistress of the Boston Philharmonic and the Berkshire Symphony Orchestra. Praised in Gramophone magazine for “disciplined virtuosity,” Kurkowicz enjoys an active and versatile career as an award-winning soloist, recitalist, chamber musician and concertmistress.

Kurkowicz is a strong advocate of contemporary music; she has premiered works by Gunther Schuller, Ralph Shapey, Poul Ruders, David Kechley and Grażyna Bacewicz. Her recent recording of the Bacewicz Violin Concertos with the Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra has been praised throughout Europe and beyond. Robert Johnson of Radio New Zealand wrote: "Kurkowicz is a highly accomplished soloist with an expressive style of playing and virtuosity to burn when it's required. ... It's difficult to imagine a more persuasive argument being made for the music of Bacewicz.”

Grażyna Bacewicz was a Polish composer and violinist (1909-1969.) She is only the second Polish female composer to have achieved national and international recognition, the first being Maria Szymanowska in the early 19th century. After completing her studies at the Warsaw Conservatory and in Paris under Nadia Boulanger, Bacewicz took part in numerous events as a soloist, composer, and jury member. From 1936 to 1938 she was the principal violinist of the Polish Radio Orchestra. During World War II, she lived in Warsaw, continued to compose, and gave underground secret concerts.

This concert is sponsored by Roy and Jane Gersten and Santa Barbara Bank & Trust. Generous 2011-2012 Symphony Season Sponsors include American Perspective Bank, City of San Luis Obispo, Trilogy at Monarch Dunes, Embassy Suites Hotel, KCBX Public Radio, Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance, San Luis Obispo Vintners Association and The Tribune. No Ties Allowed! Free Dress Rehearsals at 1 pm on all concert Saturdays are generously sponsored by Rabobank. The Symphony’s pre-performance lecture series, called Symphonic Forays with Dr. Craig Russell, is sponsored by Ursula and Michael Fitzgerald.

Further details about this concert and about all of the concerts and programs of the San Luis Obispo Symphony are available at www.slosymphony.com or by calling (805) 543-3533.