CLASSICAL ACTS: KRONOS QUARTET TOPS DIVERSE SEASON OF CLASSICAL MUSIC

Sonoma County's classical music presenters will perform a wide-ranging repertoire this season while bringing in exciting soloists rarely heard in these parts, from the globe-trotting Kronos Quartet to the concertmaster of the San Francisco Symphony, Alexander Barantschik.

Despite the tough economy -- or perhaps because of it -- there has never been a better time to check out the diversity of talent on Sonoma County's classical music stages.

The American Philhamonic orchestra, an all-volunteer ensemble of 80 musicians, is going through a transition this season as it auditions five music director candidates, cuts back the number of concerts per set and charges for tickets in an effort to be self-supporting.

The Russian River Chamber Music group, meanwhile, is still operating on the "free admission/donations welcome" model as it celebrates its 20th year of presenting top-notch chamber music in Healdsburg.

The Santa Rosa Symphony, celebrating its 30th and final year in the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts while getting ready to move into the Green Music Center next season, is offering sharp discounts for new subscribers and other package deals.

Here's a preview of the sounds to come:

* Santa Rosa Symphony Music Director Bruno Ferrandis aimed for variety while planning the orchestra's 2011-2012 subscription concert series. Throughout the season, programs will compare and contrast the worlds of ballet and opera, American spirituals and Brahms' "A German Requiem," Mozart and Tchaikovsky symphonies.

Spanning seven concert sets through May, the season kicks off with a virtuosic Russian program on Oct. 15-17 at the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts in Santa Rosa.

New faces such as the Eroica Trio and the maestro's brother, flautist Jean Ferrandis, will share the guest spotlight through the season with returning favorites such as pianist/conductor Jeffrey Kahane, baritone Jubilant Sykes and pianist Natasha Paremski.

Single tickets: $15 to $65. Regular, seven-concert subscriptions: $105 to $392. New, seven-concert subscriptions: $52.50 to $196. 546-8742. santarosasymphony.com.

* The American Philharmonic kicks off its season at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts with "Dark Shadows At Twilight," a program of spooky classical works led by music director finalist Tristan Arnold of Petaluma. Young violinist Kenneth Renshaw of Palo Alto will perform Maurice Ravel's sparkling "Tzigane."

The five-concert season continues through May with thematic programs featuring challenging works and talented soloists. Tickets are $30 for premium seats, $20 general and $5 for kids. 546-3600. A limited number of subsidized, free tickets may be requested in advance. apsonoma.org.

* The Santa Rosa Junior College Chamber Concerts series, held at Newman Auditorium on the Santa Rosa campus, presents an impressive lineup of choral, chamber and piano music through April. The six-concert season kicks off at 4 p.m. Sunday with two local favorites, soprano Carol Menke and pianist Marilyn Thompson, performing songs by Schumann, Ravel and others. Other highlights include recitals by San Francisco Symphony Concertmaster Alexander Barantschik on Jan. 15 and Korean-born pianist Joyce Yang on March 16. Tickets are $20 general, $12 for 16 or younger. Season subscription: $100. 527-4372 or santarosa.edu/community ed.

* The Redwood Arts Council continues its eight-concert chamber music season at 8 p.m. Oct. 15 with the Cavani String Quartet at the Occidental Center for the Arts, where all but one of the concerts will be held. The big news, however, is the return of the ground-breaking Kronos Quartet, which will perform at 8 p.m. Dec. 2 at the Glaser Center in Santa Rosa. Get your $30 tickets early.

Tickets to the other concerts are $25 general, $10 students. 874-1124. redwoodarts.org.

* The Santa Rosa Junior College Orchestra kicks off its season with a concert featuring countertenor Chris Fritzsche singing Handel opera arias at 3 p.m. Oct. 22 at the Church of the Incarnation in Santa Rosa. Rounding out the program are works by Bach, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Jean Sibelius and Anton Rosetti. Free, donations accepted. santarosa.edu/music/concerts.

* Russian River Chamber Music celebrates its 20th anniversary season with a wide range of rising stars and established artists.

Highlights include a Rising Stars concert at 3 p.m. Dec. 4, featuring young talent from all over Northern California, and the Grammy-nominated Enso String Quartet on April 20.

Concerts are held at the Healdsburg Community Church, 1100 University St. russianrivermusic.org. 524-8700.

* Concerts Grand, a solo classical piano recital series based in Santa Rosa, launches its ninth and final season at 3 p.m. Oct. 23 with South Bay pianist Jon Nakamatsu, winner of the 1997 Van Cliburn Gold Medal, performing a Celebration Recital at SRJC's Newman Auditorium.

The seven-concert season continues with four more recitals at Newman and two recitals at Mendocino College in Ukiah, concluding April 15 with another Celebration Recital with Russian Virtuoso Natasha Paremski.

Celebration recitals are $25. Santa Rosa recitals are $17. Ukiah recitals are $12. 526-2447. concertsgrand.com.

* Sonoma State University's fall-winter classical music season kicks off with the resident ensemble Trio Navarro performing at 4 p.m. Nov. 6 at Green Music Center 1028. Classical guitarist William Kanengiser will give a recital at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 11 at the Green Music Center 1028. Tickets to both are $12 general, $8 seniors and students. sonoma.edu/performingarts.

You can reach Staff Writer Diane Peterson at 521-5287 or diane.peterson@pressdemocrat.com.