On Catalina, a free holiday concert by a Stanford Symphony ensemble

Catalina’s iconic Casino theater will offer a free holiday concert on Friday by an ensemble of the Stanford Symphony Orchestra.

The 7 p.m. concert, presented by Catalina Island Museum, will be one of the first classical events staged in Avalon’s landmark Art Deco theater, the site of thousands of Big Band concerts since it opened 84 years ago,

The concert will be open to Avalon visitors as well as islanders.

“Due to our remote location, there is little opportunity for people on Catalina Island to experience something like classical music,” said Michael De Marsche, executive director of the museum. “As the island’s only institution dedicated to art and culture, the museum is proud to provide our community the opportunity to experience a live symphony orchestra.”

Members of the Stanford Symphony Orchestra and Stanford Philharmonic Orchestra, under the direction of Anna Wittstruck, the assistant conductor of Stanford University’s orchestral studies program, will perform.

The museum will hold its annual open house from 4 to 7 p.m. Those who attend will receive free admission to the museum and its current special exhibition, “Avalon: 100 Years of Bizarre, Fascinating and Colorful History.”

Tickets for the holiday concert, “A Classical Christmas,” will be available at Catalina Island Museum or by calling (310) 510-2414 or visiting the website. The limit is five tickets per person.