Marcus Norris Brings His South Side Symphony Orchestra to Segerstrom Center for the Arts
As we celebrate Black History Month, Travel Costa Mesa has partnered with a Black content creator to share stories of local Black-owned businesses and her own viewpoint of Costa Mesa and Orange County. Danielle is a social media influencer and writer who started a blog called Follow My Gut, about food experiences in LA and OC, and subsequently writing for Locale Magazine and other publications. Enjoy Danielle’s guest post and stories this month sponsored by Travel Costa Mesa!
Here’s a random fact that you didn’t know you needed about me: I love theater shows and live concerts.
I grew up watching shows like Aida and The Lion King and even acted in and worked on theater performances during high school. Not to brag, but I was the person who put the pea under the mattress in my school’s portrayal of The Princess and the Pea. Without me, the show would have just been a girl going to sleep on a bunch of mattresses. I also love concerts with orchestras. There’s something about following the notes played on instruments that makes me smile from ear to ear. As someone who has grown up loving this form of art, I continue to enjoy seeing musicals and concerts as an adult. Thankfully, the Segerstrom Center for the Arts has a calendar of events that can feed this interest of mine, and possibly your interest if you love them as much as I do. To celebrate Black History Month and my Costa Mesa adventures, I’m elated to know that the Segerstrom Center will be having “The Love Below: The Heart Song” by composer Marcus Norris on Monday, February 28th at 7pm.
If you’re not familiar with Marcus Norris, he’s an acclaimed young Black composer who grew up listening to R&B, rap, hip-hop and began to explore concert classical music as an adult. With years delving into the intricacies of music, Norris has become known for his ability to fuse the styles of the genres with popular songs to see how melodies and harmonies can coexist. “I wonder how what it would sound like if we played ‘Back That Thang Up’ (by Juvenile) with an orchestra.” Norris asking questions like those while growing up came at a perfect time because music was being pushed with sampling and instrumentals on the radio. To explore each inquisitive thought that came to his mind and to make it a reality, Norris assembled South Side Symphony as his orchestra. As the composer and director, Norris tirelessly ideates and creates to find those answers and to see what he can create musically for others to enjoy.
In designing his musical fusions, Norris feels as if he is simply playing with notes and instruments to create an environment that show attendees will both love and feel. Having an orchestra that is organized primarily of his friends, he and South Side Symphony can share their musical talents and skills while interacting like a family. With his upcoming show in Costa Mesa, Norris is excited about performing with his orchestra in an intimate venue as the Samueli Theater. Being in the theater, Norris is thrilled at the venue’s design that alludes to the feeling of a cabaret where everyone can connect with the orchestra, vibe with the music, and enjoy the event in a beautiful and organic way.
Norris’ upcoming show will bring together the genres he loves most while pulling from popular music from the 90s and 2000s. The theme will revolve around the spectrum of Black love from romantic, platonic, familial, and self. I know this show will creatively highlight the songs of an incredible time in music while uplifting the Black journey through love, self-acceptance, appreciation in a truly unforgettable way.
With the hope of adding more stops to Costa Mesa to his tour, make sure to follow Marcus Norris and South Side Symphony to stay up to date on where the composer and orchestra go next.
Contact Information
Segerstrom Center for the Arts:
Address: 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Phone Number: (714) 556-2787
Hours: Monday – 10:00am to 2:00pm, Tuesday through Friday – 12:00pm to 5:00pm, and Closed Saturday & Sunday
Social: Website, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube.
Marcus Norris: Website, Instagram
South Side Symphony: Website, Instagram, Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, and Tidal.
