The official quick-look highlight video of the June 6 live show plus radio and TV appearances is here! Click below to watch!
Full Show Video + Album
The full video of the June 6 debut show hasn’t been released yet but if you’re on this page then you are a VIP with advance access to the show - currently Unlisted at YouTube. Watch and enjoy below! If you want to share this privately feel free, but publicly please just share the YouTube link to the highlight reel above.
PLUS: Click above to head to the live album presale on Bandcamp.
Instantly hear and download two songs when you pre-purchase! 25% of sales will be donated to Street Symphony non-profit!
PRESS
Pasadena Weekly Article
Pasadena Now show review
KCRW Radio piece + Article
Pasadena Weekly Article
Local News Pasadena show review
Colorado Blvd story
Pasadena Now article
Pasadena Media interview
Power of One interview, KPAS
Local News Pasadena article
The Project
I received an Individual Artist Grant from the City of Pasadena to write a rock opera of our city in 2025-2026, something to serve as a musical time capsule of a unique moment in our history. I reached out to the community for 6 months via public meet-ups, events, online outreach, and more and asked folks about their lives - their goals, challenges, dreams, their ties to the city and what it means to them.
The result was eleven original songs reflecting all that I learned about the residents of Pasadena over that time, and I presented these songs live for the first time in Pasadena on June 6 at Crown Theatre, backed by a rock band and a string quartet that featured my wife and Nextdoors bandmate Mika Larson.
This show was the culmination of my grant project, but a new beginning for the project as a whole, which I will continue expanding through the end of 2026, and continue working out a full script complete with plot that is mostly not touched upon directly in the first 11 songs. It involves a time traveler from 100 years in the past converging with a time traveler from 100 years in the future in the present day, and what their 2025-2026 experience teaches them as they explore their own hometown in a completely different era.
PHOTOS
Shots from June 6 Crown Theatre courtesy Brian Biery and Hanna Jugbauer
Let Your Voice Be Heard!
Take our anonymous survey and let us know more about you, your goals, your challenges, and your city.
BE A CONTRIBUTOR TO THIS PROJECT
The debut performance on June 6 was a wonderful community event, but this story is far from over. We will continue expanding and refining the piece, and our next steps are recording the amazing Street Symphony players in the studio, along with other musicians, and mastering the existing songs for a streaming release. You can make a tax-deductible contribution to Street Symphony, or a contribution directly to the project. Below you’ll see the various support levels along with perks - this was for our June 6 performance, but we will honor these perks for future performances which will doubtless take place in the coming months.
CONTRIBUTE TO THE STRING QUARTET via STREET SYMPHONY - TAX DEDUCTIBLE + Donation MATCHED up to $1000 by anonymous donor!
Click below, select an amount for your one-time donation, go with the default campaign (Street Symphony Donation), then on the next page select “YES” and type “Pasadena Rock Opera” and on the acknowledgement line type my email address, letsrock@russellmarkmusic.com. See correctly filled-out form example.
CONTRIBUTE DIRECTLY TO PROJECT CREATOR RUSSELL MARK - Not tax-deductible -Donation MATCHED up to $1000 by anonymous donor!
If tax-deductibility isn’t an issue, feel free to donate directly to me, and the funds will be used for everything from staging, to printing, rock band musicians, and the myriad other things necessary to write and produce this piece.
ZELLE - 323-823-1805 (Russell Mark Wiener)
LINCOLN AVE SUPPORTER
$100 - The basic supporter package gets you the music, the behind-the-scenes content, and a shout-out on social media!
Digital Download of album
Access to exclusive behind-the-scenes audio, video, blog for duration of project
Thank you on social media
ROSEMEAD BLVD SUPPORTER
$200 - Kicks it up a notch with a pair of Contributor reserve tickets to the final performance
Digital Download of album
Access to exclusive behind-the-scenes audio, video, blog for duration of project
Thank you on social media
2 reserve table tickets to the show
GREEN ST SUPPORTER
$300 - Adds a credit as Green Level Sponsor on website, event program (digital and/or print)
Digital Download of album
Access to exclusive behind-the-scenes audio, video, blog for duration of project
Thank you on social media
2 reserve table tickets to the show
Mention on website and show program as Green Level Sponsor
ORANGE GROVE SUPPORTER
$500 - Adds 6 more Contributor tickets, plus 8 Contributor reception tickets, 8 signed CD copies of album upon release
Digital Download of album
Access to exclusive behind-the-scenes audio, video, blog for duration of project
Thank you on social media
Mention on website and show program as Orange Grove Level Sponsor
8 total table tickets to show with Contributor reception (wine and apps)
8 CD’s of the final recording
COLORADO BLVD SUPPORTER
$800 - Adds company or personal logo and name to all digital and printed materials throughout the project’s duration. Just 3 available at this level.
Digital Download of album
Access to exclusive behind-the-scenes audio, video, blog for duration of project
Thank you on social media
8 total front row table tickets to show with Contributor Reception
8 CD’s of the final recording
Mention on website and show program as Colorado Level Sponsor
Your company name/logo on all digital and printed materials for the duration of the project
Exclusive access to a recording session with food and drinks
Special Thank you gift
BIG BANG SUPPORTER
$??? - Got a brilliant idea worthy of Cal Tech genuises that’s different from the above? Lemme know! Trying to keep things simple but I’m open to almost anything!
Less than $100? Just donate above and thank you! More than $100? Reach out at letsrock@russellmarkmusic.com and let me know what ya have in mind!
Project Goals
Here are some of my goals, intentions, and guidelines for this project.
For anything I’m spending money on, from musicians, to print shops, venues, etc, I will use Pasadena residents and businesses wherever possible
I will keep contributors well-informed of the progress of the project, in fun and engaging ways that people wouldn’t often get a glimpse into. It’s important to note that the terms of the Pasadena art grant dictate that I MUST finish and stage the final product by mid 2026. This means contributors should have no concerns that they will not receive the agreed-upon perks and rewards, I am firmly committed.
I will create a recorded album that will serve as the next Nextdoors release (my band with my wife, cellist Mika Larson)
The final performance will be free of charge, and all ages, so every Pasadenan will have the ability to attend if they so wish.
I will stage multiple performances if possible and if the demand is there, to be as sure as I can that both contributors and simply curious residents can see the performance
I will work with city government and civic groups to reach out to participants in the most responsible and effective way I can
I will strive to reach a wide cross-section of the population, including ESL, elderly, and other groups that may br less likely to actively engage
I will focus on common humanity and positivity, and not on politics or divisiveness
Absolutely no AI will be used in the writing, recording, or performing of any music or lyrics in this project.
LEARN MORE ABOUT:
Official Project Meetups
JULY 19 2026 - Urban Homestead, Pasadena CA - this was really fun and informative!
More coming SOON!