The brass from the Aurora Symphony Orchestra is devoting plenty of time and care to the selection of its next director.

Last year, longtime ASO conductor and music director Richard Niezen announced his departure, and officials kicked off a national search for a replacement. ASO officials narrowed down the first group of applicants to five contenders earlier this year, and each of those five will have a chance to lead the 40-member orchestra by the end of the season. You can read about the full tryout process here.

Magdalena Lesniak plays the violin during rehearsal for an upcoming holiday concert Nov. 28 at Gateway High School. Guest conductor Geoffrey Pope will lead the concert on Dec. 15 and 16, and the program will include works by Bizet, Humperdinck and other composers, as well as the debut of a new orchestral piece. Pope is one of five candidates for the ASO music director position; the ASO board will choose the new director in May. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)

Geoffrey Pope and John Jong-hun Bae have already had their turns at the podium, and this weekend will see performances led by Arturo Gonzales, a native of Mexico who received his master’s from  Southern Methodist University in Dallas and has had turns leading local orchestras. The series of Pops and Children’s concert to be held this weekend at Vista PEAK Preparatory School will include selections by Mussorgsky and Ennio Morricone.

The shows will include a public meet-and-greet session with Gonzales. The final two candidates will lead concerts in March and May. For more information and tickets, visit aurorasymphony.org.

A full press release from the ASO follows:

The new addition to the ASO’s concert season is the Pops Concert. Like one of the regular Masterworks Concerts, this performance features the full versions of the music performed during the Children’s Concert.

***NOTE – some local publications have listed the Pops Concert as free. That’s incorrect – only the Children’s Concert is free!***

The FREE children’s concert is one of the orchestra’s favorite events of the season. In conjunction with the music of Modest Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, the orchestra will present images and text from the wonderful book of the same name.

Bring the kids onstage after the performance and have them try their hand at some of the orchestral instruments. This is a great way to introduce children to instrumental music, and a great way to enjoy it yourself! The musicians of the ASO stay onstage and are happy to answer questions about playing their instrument and getting a young musician started. Music Go Round will also be at the concert and have plenty of instruments to show and answer any questions about renting an instrument.

CHILDREN’S CONCERT

Saturday, February 9, 2013 (2:30pm) @ Vista Peak Preparatory School, 24500 E 6th Ave., Aurora

No tickets are required for the Children’s Concert performance. General seating only. Children of all ages are welcome!

ASO POPS CONCERT

In addition to the full Pictures at an Exhibition, the ASO also performs favorite movie music from Ennio Morricone.

Saturday, February 9, 2013 (7:30pm) @ Vista Peak Preparatory School.

Tickets available online.

Sponsored by the Aurora Rotary Foundation

Instead of our regular intermission coffee, join Music Director Arturo Gonzalez after the concert for a talkback session with refreshments