Cadenza Magazine _LAO 2023

Page 1

SUMMER 2023

CLARICE ASSAD Meet Clarice Assad, prolific Brazilian-American composer, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist

YVES DHAR

How the performer and innovator brought his ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE vision to orchestral stages

iCadenza tips: New Rules for Playing (and Winning) The Game of Life

CO-Commissioning opportunities

Learn about our exciting new concerti and interdisciplinary offerings, with a special focus on pianist Lara Downes' projects celebrating Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue in 2024 and the US Quarter Millennial Anniversary in 2026


TABLE OF CONTENTS Artist News

................... Pg 3-4

Cover Spotlight

................... Pg 5-6

Interview with Clarice Assad Artist Spotlight

................... Pg 7-8

Interview with Yves Dhar iCadenza Tips

...................... Pg 9

New Rules for Playing (and Winning) the Game of Life Cadenza Roster

............... Pg 11-33

Co-Commissions

............... Pg 11-14

Symphony Projects

............... Pg 15-22

Film with Orchestra

.................... Pg 23

Instrumental Soloists

............... Pg 24-26

Vocal Soloists

.................... Pg 27

Ensembles

............... Pg 28-29

Composers

............... Pg 30-31

Composers/Conductors

.................... Pg 32

Conductors/Directors

.................... Pg 33


LETTER FROM THE FOUNDER Dear Fellow Arts Leaders, 2023 marks the start of a new era - a time of renewal, reckoning, and revival. After two years of isolation, fear, and constant pivoting, we have recently emerged into a new epoch marked by contrasts: it’s a time of greater stability, but also pronounced change. Before the pandemic, the world felt certain, there were proven tactics and strategies. Lately, though, it has felt more like we are wayfarers, finding our way in a new world that has brought new challenges as well as new opportunities. I have found myself encouraging our team as well as those we serve to tap into our creativity and to trust that the new way forward will start to emerge as we continue to innovate. History has shown us that in difficult times, the arts don't follow. The arts lead. Times of crisis are our moment to step forward, to speak the unspoken, and then to shine, creating a ray of hope for others to follow. The arts matter - now more than ever - in uplifting the spirits of those around us. Cadenza Artists has been lucky in that our roster has grown and continues to feature some of the preeminent artist leaders in the world. Artists who have used the recent years as a time for creativity and creation. Artists who are not afraid to voice their truth through beautiful expression. Artists who are showing a renewed commitment to the environment, to beauty, to arts activism, to delivering transformational community residencies, and of course to crafting impactful, resonant artistic experiences. I am thrilled to announce the latest additions to our Cadenza roster: Brazilian composer and multi-instrumentalist Clarice Assad (whose dynamic, unique sound and fresh approach to participatory audience experiences have had fans clamoring for her unique Latin/jazz/classical style); Indian-American dancer, choreographer, and arts activist Preeti Vasudevan (along with seven touring productions through her dance company Thresh); Cuban composer and pianist Aldo López-Gavilán (including his beautiful show with brother Ilmar Gavilán, their heartbreaking story of resilience recently told in the PBS special Los Hermanos/The Brothers); composer Quinn Mason (who, in his mid-20s, is already one of the most accomplished composers on the scene, gaining commissions from many leading orchestras across the US); and Franco-West Indian cellist Yves Dhar and his holographic AI “cellist” counterpart AGNES in their groundbreaking show by Adam Schoenberg, Automation. There are also many co-commissioning projects that have been added to the Cadenza roster. On pages 11 through 14 you will see a wide variety of possibilities, from an interdisciplinary inclusive show telling the story of Evelyn Glennie’s amazing life and career through music, dance, and ASL interpreters, to a violin/voice double concerto co-written by Clarice Assad and Tessa Lark that interlaces Latin rhythms with American folk traditions, to a unique triple concerto by young composer Quinn Mason, to a reimagining of Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations by Yves Dhar. There is an offering for just about any audience. As we head into multiple anniversary years - celebrating Gershwin’s Rhapsody In Blue and Henry Mancini’s lifetime in music in 2024, as well as preparing for the 2026 Quarter Millennial birthday of the United States - we have a number of very special commissioning projects to commemorate these anniversaries. Pianist Lara Downes, who was celebrated as the 2022 Classical Woman of the Year by Performance Today magazine, has spearheaded a very special set of Rhapsodies, new co-commissioning works set to tell the story of America today and presented alongside a vibrant new arrangement of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue by Puerto Rican composer Edmar Colón. We are excited about several new shows as well, including: the sensational collaboration between Brian Stokes Mitchell and Lara Downes, A New World A-Comin' - The Birth of the American Sound; the fiery double piano feature project A Fuego Lento; and the romantic double concerto Tangorium with clarinet and accordion. As we celebrate the power of the arts to communicate ideas that cannot be expressed through words, to bring healing, and to unite communities, I encourage you to take some time to peruse these pages - you will see some new faces as well as familiar artists taking new risks. You will see major productions that fuse together disparate genres and many shows incorporating multimedia in innovative ways. You will see glimpses into the future, the seeds of a new era in the arts. With warm wishes, Julia Levitan CEO & Co-Founder, Cadenza Artists // President & Co-Founder, iCadenza


NEWS

Internationally acclaimed accordion and clarinet duo Bridge & Wolak premiered their new full-length orchestral program, Tangorium, with the Greater Toronto Philharmonic Orchestra. Event producer Angela Paparizo noted, "The performance left me absolutely mesmerized. Tangorium was a unique and beautiful fusion!"

Acclaimed pianist, producer, curator, storyteller, and cultural visionary Lara Downes was named the 2022 Classical Woman of the Year by Performance Today. Always innovating, Lara has multiple touring projects as well as numerous commissioning projects, which are dramatically expanding the amount of concert and orchestral repertoire written by women and composers of color.

PBS released the documentary special "Los Hermanos (The Brothers)," a film about courage, resilience, and love in the face of • impossible political challenges. Telling the story of The Gavilán Brothers - pianist/composer Aldo (on our roster) and famed violinist Ilmar who were separated for decades because of the political situation in Cuba and only recently reunited to perform and record together for the first time. We are thrilled to have their powerful duo on the Cadenza roster. We are also proud to represent Aldo as soloist and composer.

Composer and multi-instrumentalist Clarice Assad continues growing her multifaceted career to greater heights with the LA Philharmonic premiere of her new commission Boitatá this past April. With an upcoming commissioning debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra, performance debut of her interactive work for orchestra and audience, É Gol, with the London Philharmonic, and an artist in residence position with Allentown Symphony, 2023-24 is slated to be an exciting year.

NEWS 3


Frankenstein, the 1931 masterpiece of horror originally released without a musical score, inspired composer Michael Shapiro to fill in the void by creating an original new soundtrack 70 years later. His popular score recently premiered its operatic version with the Los Angeles Opera, and is now available for SATBB solo voices or choir, to be performed live with orchestra alongside the film. Also available in smaller formats.

Cadenza Artists' Terry Barber (a rare and mellifluous countertenor) debuts his new vocal group, EleMenTrio's orchestral arrangements with the Orchestre Symphonique de Longueuil under Maestro Alexandre Da Costa's baton. EleMenTrio combines three distinct vocal timbres, delivering lush melodies that create a metamorphosis of sound unlike any other men’s vocal group. With over 60 decades as a singer/songwriter, the legendary Judy Collins shows no signs of slowing down. In 2022, she released her 36th studio album, Spellbound, comprised of all original music written by Judy. She was then nominated for the 2023 GRAMMY® for Best Folk Album for Spellbound at the age of 83.

Congratulations to multi-instrumentalist Daniel Ho whose album, “Live at the Getty Center,” received a GRAMMY® nomination for Best Regional Roots Music Album. This is Daniel's 13th nomination, 6 of which he has already won.

PROJECT Trio delighted audiences across the country this past year with their brand new band configuration of tenor sax, double bass, and beatboxing flute, creating a fresh, new sound that is exciting for symphonic collaborations.

NEWS 4


CLARICE ASSAD Composer / Vocalist / Multi-Instrumentalist Renowned for her versatility, BrazilianAmerican Clarice Assad is a GRAMMY® Award– nominated composer, celebrated pianist, inventive vocalist and educator, acclaimed for her evocative colors, rich textures, and diverse stylistic range. We sat down with Clarice to get an inside look at what inspires her works.

participate in making music from the stage as a performer. Much of it comes from a place of inspiration, of being in the moment and feeling a need to communicate and connect deeply with others. Many of your works are designed to be performed outdoors - in the forest, in the woods, improvised by audiences. Are out-of-the-box ideas just flowing through you constantly? How do you realize ideas that have not yet been attempted?

You write beautiful, bold works that express a message that is both contemporary and ancient. What are the influences that play into your writing?

I have already written and done many wonderful projects I am proud of, some that are similar to each other and some that are entirely different. As time passes, I keep searching for new territory and unexplored ways of making music – things that don't come naturally to me. Realizing the visions is another story. Will the idea work? Will it fail? The only way to know is to try. And the excitement of testing new waters propels me forward.

My most significant influence is the music I grew up with. As a child, I had no notion about geographic and cultural boundaries; I was raised in a family of musicians spanning at least three generations. My parents and relatives exposed me to a vast array of music worldwide, which influenced my thoughts and feelings about music to the point where I became fascinated by the fact that sound always moved me more than anything else.

Can you share more about your work É Gol, which involves the audience? What role do you feel audiences should play in art making?

Your works play around with mixing genres and cultural influences, and often even involve the audience. How would you describe your aesthetic?

É Gol began as a conversation with conductor Cristi Macelaru, MD of the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music. He had gone to one of my performances with Keita Ogawa (percussion) and enjoyed watching us interact with the audience. He remarked, "Wouldn't it be fun to do this with an orchestra?" and that stayed in my mind. Months passed, and one night I dreamed of how to make it work - it was such a vivid dream. And then we

I love listening to all kinds of music, so my playing with different genres comes from that idea. My aesthetic is fluid in that it evokes multiple ideas that might not fit together initially, but I enjoy finding their connections. This is probably also why I invite the audience to

COVER SPOTLIGHT 5


"A Serious Triple Threat" – San Francisco Chronicle made it happen at the festival. I thought it was a onetime thing, but it has been performed so much more than other pieces, and next year it's making its UK debut with the London Philharmonic. To me, this means that audiences are ready for new experiences.

Orchestras can be a vital part of a community's artistic landscape, and they could embrace the opportunity to engage with the local community to create powerful partnerships. Educational programs that introduce young people to concert music can also open up new perspectives and enrich the lives of those involved. And, of course, more adventurous programming featuring larger-scale works by living composers can bring communities together in new ways.

Recently, your work for the LA Phil, titled Boitatá, received critical acclaim. Can you share more about the piece and its influences? Boitatá is a fiery serpent, a protector of the Amazon forest according to a legend that goes back at least 400 years. My hope was to bring attention to this old story that seems to repeat itself through the centuries and get worse as time goes by: the destruction of our rainforest in the name of greed. The music aims to embody the heroic essence of this creature and the people who created it. This legend is a reminder that corruption and crimes against nature should not go unnoticed.

In addition to being a composer and performer, you are also in demand for artist and board retreats. What happens when a group of nonmusicians get together to create with you? In my workshops, I use the language of music as a non-verbal communication tool. We explore sounds and conducting techniques in playful ways that people can quickly grasp and use to create in-the-moment compositions that they present to all participants at the end of a session. The goal is to get people to explore their voices, not only sonically speaking, but also getting them comfortable in front of an audience.

As a composer who also actively concertizes on stage - as a singer, guitarist, percussionist, and pianist - what drives your choice of instrument or mode of expression? How much does your performing influence your composition work?

Which of your recent works are you most excited about, and why?

Composing and performing influence each other to a certain point, but not consciously. I rarely play my music; I prefer performing music by other composers. But then the composer/arranger in me makes their music sound more like something I would do. This is why I love popular music and jazz so much. The fact that there can be endless versions of a tune and still be that tune in its essence.

I was commissioned by Teatro Municipal of São Paulo to write my first fully orchestrated operatic work, Isolda.Tristão: A Mesma Lenda Outra. It's surprisingly a timely story today. I took a lot of care to paint the narrative and musical story of the myth of Tristan and Isolda, told in our current times and dealing with the horrors of the refugee crisis that we are going through.

What do you think orchestras should be thinking about as we head into the next 10 years?

To learn more about Clarice and her projects, see pages 13, 14, and 30.

COVER SPOTLIGHT 6


YVES DHAR Cellist / Educator / Innovator Cadenza Artist Yves Dhar is the cellist, educator, and innovator behind the groundbreaking new orchestral work, Automation. Cadenza interviewed the artist to learn more!

These last two seasons have seen you debut and perform a powerful new work, unlike any other in the orchestral performance space, by Adam Schoenberg: Automation. What was the inspiration and what are you trying to say with the work?

Yves, you are known for thinking outside the box when it comes to everything from repertoire to presentation. What inspires you to create such unique projects and what is your favorite to date?

Automation has definitely consumed me not only in the last two years with its debut and performances but the last five years since we started production prepandemic. There are just a ton of bells and whistles that went into making this one-of-a-kind orchestral experience. When I first approached my great friend Adam Schoenberg about writing me a piece for cello and orchestra, we both agreed we wanted something extraordinary, something that would give audiences that “WOW! factor. We also wanted to burst through the classical bubble and relate to the everyday person. So as Adam and I got coffee at Lincoln Center, with our smart phones glued to our hands, we couldn’t stop thinking about our love/hate relationship with tech. We kept dreaming of how a “21st-century concerto” about tech would look and sound … and down the rabbit hole we went.

Oh boy – that’s a doozy of a question to start with! For me, the only thing better than seeing, hearing, experiencing something that makes you go “WOW!” is to then be able to look around, nod and grin with others like kids who just tasted ice cream for the first time. You feel so special. You feel so connected. You can’t wait to tell your friends about it later – in person or nowadays on social media. You cherish that memory long after it was made. That’s what seeing music live has always been to me. And now as a performer and producer, I live to create those types of moments for anyone, anywhere, anytime. As for favorite projects, hmm … that’s really tough, there are just so many. The ones that stick out are probably those outside the concert hall: sharing Dvorak’s homesick melodies with detainees at Rikers Island; jamming on Terry Riley’s in C with Bert from Sesame Street and 60+ elementary students making music on iPads; curating a five-course food, wine and music soiree with three Michelin star chef Daniel Boulud. Each of those projects took a lot of prep and outside-the-box thinking, but to witness those “WOW!” moments in real time makes all that planning worth it.

What screams 21st-century tech more than a virtual hologram? I jumped on the CGI and VFx train to produce a holographic rival cellist. Equally adept at film and concert scores, Adam harnessed acoustic and electronic instruments to build an analog-meets-digital sound world. Why not Artificial Intelligence? Siri and Alexa run our lives; we complain to chatbots and press “2” for customer assistance; we self-checkout at Walmart. So when Adam happened upon some Computer Science colleagues at Occidental College

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT 7


who could develop an AI algorithm that composes music, A.G.N.E.S. (Automatic Generator Network of Excellent Songs) was born and we threw everything into producing a double concerto for human and AI cellists.

Get rid of tuxes? Dial back Beethoven programming? Maybe. But do those really move the needle? More so than anything, orchestras need to find better ways to relate to everyday people. Take Shakespeare – most people today think he’s boring and outdated. Yet the hip Broadway show &Juliet makes him fun and relatable for sold-out audiences.

What are we trying to say? Automation is less a statement and more about asking those burning questions about how we live with tech and AI. Can AI create music that moves us? Will humans be replaced? And now with the explosion of ChatGPT and other AI-generative tools, these questions are more pertinent than ever. I’m not sure we intended it from the beginning, but more so than anything, Automation unveils what it really means to be human … and it just so happens to do so with thrilling, breathtaking music!

What tools can orchestras use to help new listeners Film? Storytelling? Trending topics? Diverse voices? Automation does that with AI and holographic projections while still keeping music the focus. My next production, Variations on a Rococo Scene, reframes Tchaikovsky’s beloved concerto performed live with seven film vignettes by a diverse cast of directors (think 19th-century score meets the film Paris, je t’aime). The possibilities are endless. But orchestras need to be more proactive in commissioning, programming, and promoting experiences that instantly connect with today’s listener.

What kind of technical equipment is required for orchestras to present Automation? Hmm, I’m not sure you have proper security clearance for that information! Jokes aside, I knew from the beginning that if all levels of orchestra were going to program Automation, we needed it to be budget-friendly, transportable and relatively simple to set up. My model was the Star Wars live-score-to-film concerts that are popular these days. So, in a nutshell, Automation needs orchestras to provide an HD projector, a PA system or speakers, mics and mixer, things that almost all orchestras have access to these days. I provide almost all the other tech including a special holographic 20’ scrim and a loaded MacBook Pro with all video and audio content. What’s the point of producing a work to attract everyday audiences if we can’t make it available to them everywhere?

In addition to being in demand as a performer, you also work with communities, students, and executives delivering leadership training, music instruction, and a healthy dose of inspiration to a wide cross section of participants. Yes, I am passionate about sharing the joys of live music with everyone. Whether it’s co-founding nonprofits to inspire students and underserved communities, teaching aspiring musicians the leadership and entrepreneurial skills to develop their own artist-led initiatives, or consulting for business and cultural organizations so that music can reach wider, more diverse audiences, no stone goes unturned when it comes to using music to make the world a better place!

What do you think orchestras should be thinking about as we head into the next 10 years? This is a question I literally lose sleep over. Probably the million-dollar question is how can orchestras attract new and bigger audiences to be more viable?

Learn more about Yves Dhar and his projects on pages 11, 16, and 24.

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iCADENZA ARTICLE Find more at iCadenza.com

iCadenza Tips: New Rules for Playing - and Winning The Game of Life by Julia Levitan

loss than we are motivated by gain. This is a natural phenomenon that lies at the root of our selfpreservation mechanism. Because it's so natural, it's a very common approach to life. However, if you're honest with yourself, is this allowing you to achieve your most heartfelt dreams?

Some of the greatest heroes throughout history were born out of tumultuous times. Why? Because when we're faced with challenges, we grow. But so often, people give up before the battle even starts, or they view their struggle into growth as a reprimand, a sore spot, and then they use it against themselves to diminish their power. But heroes choose a different path: Heroes activate their resilience muscle.

Option 3: Playing to Lose This is when we feed our addictions or constantly make choices that create challenges in our life. It can be conscious or unconscious, but in consistently repeating and opting into these choices, we're playing to lose. Many of my clients, myself included, have had times in our lives where we've been addicted to a certain set of behaviors - even work - that were very detrimental. Is our commitment to our dreams important enough to replace these distractions and unhealthy habits with ones that are more supportive of our long term success?

Each of us is extraordinary. You were born to do great things. Every great hero has experienced the paralysis of fear. But here’s the good news: courage is not the absence of fear; instead, it’s the willingness to adopt a resilient mindset and step back into the game of life. Armed with that mindset, you can truly win in life, on your own terms. This blog post is the first of a series that will be available on iCadenza.com on the New Rules of Playing - and Winning - The Game of Life.

Option 4: Playing to Win This requires committing not just to achieving goals but also to enabling the evolution of your soul, your wisdom, your higher self. It's committing to the reality that you want to create in your life, to the impact that you want to create in the world, and to crafting your life structure around those things. It calls for a willingness to take a bigger, bolder, and more generous perspective towards yourself. When you allow yourself to see your own potential and potency, your horizon will grow, and your capacity for impact and success will grow with it. This may seem obvious but it's anything but easy. It requires training new muscles every day and facing fear. But consider the potential: What will your world look like when you win?

What game are you playing? There are four common approaches to playing the game of life, and it's helpful to isolate which one you've been opting to play. It's possible that up until this point, your playing mode has been on a default setting, influenced by your upbringing, friends, or other external forces. However, awareness can often be curative. Know that how you choose to play from today forward is entirely up to you. Option 1: Playing to Play For those who play to play, life is one giant party. There's little consideration of consequences, of the effect on the long term or on others. The sole objective of the game is to maximize play. It's a fun way to experience life, but it is also often aimless and without impact or deeper satisfaction.

Subsequent blog posts will explore what Playing to Win looks like and how to rewrite life's Rules to craft a winning path.

Option 2: Playing Not to Lose You're playing it safe, and you're really trying to make sure that whatever happens, you don't lose. This choice often stems from a psychological principle called loss aversion: the idea that we are intrinsically built to be more afraid of

iCadenza is a coaching and consulting firm for professional musicians and arts organizations. Learn more and schedule a complimentary consultation at www.icadenza.com.

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THE ROSTER

ARTISTS

Variations on a Rococo Scene: Concerto + Silent Film Triple Concerto for PROJECT Trio by Quinn Mason Lara Downes, New Works for Piano and Orchestra Double Concerto feat. Clarice Assad & Tessa Lark A Life in Music: Sergio and Clarice Assad Voices of Women LISTEN: Theatrical Production About Evelyn Glennie Cosmic Reflection Aaron Dworkin's The American Rhapsody Automation: A Cinematic Concerto feat. AI cello Moon River & Me: Henry Mancini Centennial Celebration Celebrating Ella: Live from the Apollo Judy Collins Terry Barber Lara Downes with Brian Stokes Mitchell Spencer Day Will Martin The Mute Siudy Garrido Flamenco Presents: Amor Brujo Salute to Vienna, New Year's Eve Concert Tangorium A Fuego Lento March of the Penguins Hercules vs Vampires Frankenstein Yves Dhar Aldo López Gavilán Lara Downes Vanessa Perez Kelly Hall-Tompkins Laurie Rubin Ariadne Greif Daniel Ho Trio The Gavilán Brothers PROJECT Trio Clarice Assad Nolan Gasser Bruce Broughton Quinn Mason José Luis Domínguez Grant Gershon Jeffrey Schindler Elliott Forrest Elkhanah Pulitzer


Co-Commissioning Opportunities

Variations on a Rococo Scene VARIATIONS ON A ROCOCO SCENE

Silent Film Commission

TRIPLE CONCERTO

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"[Dhar's playing is] technically and interpretatively outstanding" - Strad Magazine Perhaps owing to the composer’s love for the ballet, Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme often feels like a montage of dramatic scenes. Cellist and producer Yves Dhar brings this iconic 19th century concerto to modern light by setting its live performance to a series of silent film vignettes about everyday love. Each variation/ vignette pair will feature a different film director of distinct cultural and stylistic background. Held together by Tchaikovsky’s score and a common thread of the feeling we hold most dear, the whole work will open our eyes to the many ways we express love in today’s world. Learn more about Yves Dhar on page 24

TRIPLE CONCERTO

FOR PROJECT TRIO BY QUINN MASON

High-Octane Commission "[PROJECT Trio]...First rate playing grounded in Classical Music" - Wall Street Journal "What’s impressive...is Mason’s command of complex orchestral textures…[he] is a most impressive talent, and I look forward to hearing more from him." - Dallas Morning News With a configuration of double bass, tenor sax, and a beat-boxing flutist, high-energy chamber music ensemble, PROJECT Trio, is working on an exciting new commission by 27-year-old composer, Quinn Mason. Approximately 15 minutes in length, this commission will be written in 3 movements, with the form fast-slow-fast. As it is specifically for PROJECT Trio, the piece will showcase their unique instrumentation and strengths playing together with an orchestra as well as their individual talents. This concerto is sure to be a 'crowd rouser' in terms of its energy!

Learn more about PROJECT Trio on page 29 Learn more about Quinn Mason on page 33

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FEATURED COMMISSIONS

LARA DOWNES

NEW WORKS FOR PIANO AND ORCHESTRA “Lara Downes is a perfect artist for our time, a champion of new and neglected music, an extraordinary communicator, a passionate advocate for our art form.” - Maestra JoAnn Falletta

DECLARATION: A Musical Tribute to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness July 4, 2026, marks the 250th anniversary of the United States, founded on the principle that its citizens should be guaranteed the unalienable rights of “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness”. American pianist Lara Downes observes this anniversary with a triptych featuring three new works that reflect on the complicated history of that audacious and elusive promise, and express the hope for its fulfillment. AMERICAN KALEIDOSCOPE: Rhapsody in Blue at 100

In February 1924, George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue was premiered in New York City, capturing the exuberant essence of what the composer called “a musical kaleidoscope of America—our vast melting pot...” In 2024, Lara celebrates the centenary of Gershwin’s masterpiece with a vibrant new arrangement of this American classic by Puerto Rican composer Edmar Colón, expanding the “kaleidoscope” with musical elements reflecting the century of immigration and transformation that has produced the multicultural sound of America in our own time. This buoyant and joyful new take on a beloved American classic launches Lara’s American Rhapsodies project, a kaleidoscopic series of commissions by composers who represent many different versions of being and becoming American. Adding to the original instrumentation, this arrangement features flexible instrumentation designed to include regional artists who reflect site-specific musical traditions and community histories, such as batá, conga, bongo, shekere, guitarrón, shakuhachi, guzheng, and electronics.

AMERICAN RHAPSODIES Billy Childs Gerald Clayton Juan Pablo Contreras Viet Cuong Aldo López-Gavilán

Quinn Mason Arturo O’Farrill Iván Enrique Rodríguez Derrick Skye Christopher Tin

A commissioning opportunity for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 seasons.

Honored as 2022 Classical Woman of the Year by Performance Today


Co-Commissioning Opportunities

DOUBLE CONCERTO FEAT. CLARICE ASSAD & TESSA LARK

Latin/Folk/Jazz Commission "[Assad]...a talent beyond compare." - All Music Guide

DOUBLE CONCERTO

"[Lark]...provided a lovely lyricism and rhythmic inflection that connected palpably." - artsBHAM

A LIFE IN MUSIC

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As we prepare to celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States, we must recognize the musical diversity that has flourished throughout the Americas. From the colorful rhythms of Latin America to the soulful jazz born in New Orleans, the sounds of this continent are rich, varied, and constantly evolving. To celebrate this incredible diversity and bridge the gap between South and North American music, Brazilian-born composer/performer Clarice Assad and Kentucky-native violinist Tessa Lark will join forces to co-write and perform a double concerto for piano, voice, violin, and standard-sized orchestra.

A LIFE IN MUSIC

Family Rooted Guitar & Voice Commission "A veritable musical dynamo." - San Francisco Classical Voice Family, love, and a musical bond have driven these two incredibly inspired musicians and father-daughter pair to create a piece that celebrates their life in music. Long-time collaborators Sergio and Clarice Assad who were recently nominated for a GRAMMY® for Best Contemporary Music for their album with Third Coast Percussion, Archetypes - will again join forces to create A Life in Music, a piece for guitar, voice, and orchestra. This story-telling musical rhapsody in concerto form aims to evoke many endearing, sweet, complicated, and challenging emotions that come with profound relationships. It is an ode to a life in music, a reflection of the in-depth bond and respect the father and daughter share.

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Co-Commissioning Opportunities

VOICES OF WOMEN Multidisciplinary Commission "[Vasudevan]...can only be described as amazingly purposeful...constantly investigating fresh questions on existentialism and personal identity.” - Vogue "[Assad]...A fresh singer and pianist who is also a first-rate story-teller."– Jazz Times

VOICES OF WOMEN

This multimedia project was created as a collaboration between Indian-born dancer/choreographer Preeti Vasudevan and Brazilian-born composer/performer Clarice Assad. It is the story of two immigrant-American female artists, living in the US by choice, who form a synthesis between each of their ancestral roots while making meaning of living in an adopted land. Their stories are interwoven by connecting with the voices of indigenous female poets from three regions (USA, Brazil, India) who represent the deep truths of their land and ancestors. The performance includes live music with orchestra, dance, and theatre alongside multimedia projection.

LISTEN

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LISTEN

Inclusive Family-Friendly Commission "Radiant" — Publishers Weekly This blending of dance, music, and theatre is a lively and imaginative interpretation of Shannon Stocker’s book, Listen, the story of hearing-disabled Scottish percussionist, Dame Evelyn Glennie. Perfect for families, this multimedia piece turns the phrase "no you can't" on its head and connects audiences to the power of overcoming challenges in pursuit of one’s dreams. The story of young Evelyn underscores inclusion, equality, courage, and curiosity about the unique talents that each of us possesses. Performances include ASL and musical interpretation for those impacted by audism or hearing limitations as integral parts of the choreography, story, and production. Listen calls for everyone to see and hear things differently - like experiencing our senses magically for the first time in our lives. A co-commission spearheaded by the National Symphony Orchestra, seeking additional commissioners.

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SYMPHONY PROJECTS

COSMIC REFLECTION

COSMIC REFLECTION

Narrated Symphonic Work

AARON DWORKIN'S THE AMERICAN RHAPSODY

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Through its music and text, this 45-minute narrated symphonic work conveys the majestic 13.8-billion-year history of the Universe, commissioned in 2009 by NASA and Stanford University to commemorate the 1st International Symposium of the FERMI Space Telescope. Cosmic Reflection presents the story of our Universe in an educational and aesthetic manner: from the Big Bang and Inflation to the birth and death of the first stars as Super Novae; from the birth of galaxies to the rise of life on Earth; and the eventual cold dissipation of the Universe. With a score by critically acclaimed composer and architect of Pandora Radio’s Music Genome Project Nolan Gasser, and a libretto by popular physicist Lawrence Krauss and members of the Stanford University physics community, this work is accompanied by a stunning video created by the visual design team at NASA Goddard and jaw-dropping images from the newly launched James Webb Space Telescope. Malcolm McDowell, the brilliant English actor, has signed on to narrate the work — both for media releases and for forthcoming live performances in the US and internationally (schedule permitting).

AARON DWORKIN'S

THE AMERICAN RHAPSODY

Spoken Word Multimedia Performance “Dworkin’s innate musicality and sense of timing serve him well in exploiting the dramatic arcs, musical peaks and valleys, and transitions of mood...” – Rosalyn Story, Violinist.com Spoken by Aaron Dworkin, 2005 MacArthur Fellow and founder of the Sphinx Organization, this spoken word multimedia orchestral work tells the story of the USA through the prism of the life and words of America’s first President, George Washington, set to Samuel Coleridge Taylor’s Symphonic Variations on an African Air. The American Rhapsody is a tribute to the ideals of courage, freedom and commitment. It is also a story of vulnerability and the progression of humanity through the great injustices which plague our history. The victories and agonies of our past not only resonate with but inform our present as our nation seeks to find a pathway toward a more unified future.

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FEATURED PROJECT

AUTOMATION A Cinematic Concerto This groundbreaking human/artificial intelligence "double" concerto explores the conflicts and connections between man and machine through a captivating journey that appeals both to regular season ticket holders and new, younger audiences. Franco-West Indian cellist Yves Dhar and his holographic AI counterpart ("AGNES") interact on stage with the orchestra in a trail-blazing new composition by GRAMMY® nominated, Emmywinning composer Adam Schoenberg that features cello, halldorophone, electronics, orchestra and projected visuals.

With extraordinary use of visual and audio technology, a lush orchestral score, and a powerful storyline, we are proud to be representing one of the most poignant yet easy to produce, high tech projects that has emerged on the orchestral scene. Learn more about Yves Dhar on page 24

AUTOBOOK MA NOW TION !

“Automation is perhaps one of the best new pieces that have been performed by our Orchestra in many years. The piece was like a rollercoaster ride I didn’t want to end. Stunning from first note to last. I am still craving to hear more.” – Arts-Louisville.com


SYMPHONY PROJECTS

MOON RIVER & ME Henry Mancini Centennial Celebration

MOON RIVER & ME

“Monica Mancini is…the glamorous vocal equivalent to diamonds flashing.” – New York Times 2024 marks the centennial birthday of this musical giant, and we honor Henry Mancini’s mastery with a concert celebration of his film scores and beloved standards. During his 40-year career, Mancini became a household name and won 4 Oscars, 20 GRAMMYs® (including the first Album of the Year), a Golden Globe, and a posthumous GRAMMY® Lifetime Achievement Award. Accompanied by vocals and film montages, this tribute features works ranging from The Pink Panther Theme to Moon River, as well as favorites such Charade and The Shadow of Your Smile. It’s a true family affair — starring his daughter and double GRAMMY® nominee, vocalist Monica Mancini, and son-inlaw, Gregg Field (winner of 8 GRAMMYs® and Latin GRAMMY® “Producer of the Year”), on drums and producing the show. This show will be highly publicized in 2024 with CBS behind-the-scenes documentaries about new Mancini recordings featuring John Williams, Herbie Hancock, Arturo Sandoval, and Quincy Jones.

CELEBRTING ELLA: LIVE FROM THE APOLLO

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CELEBRATING ELLA: LIVE FROM THE APOLLO

Jazz Tribute

“An evening of music worthy of Lady Ella herself" - Downbeat Magazine A blockbuster celebration of the life and legacy of Apollo Legend and Queen of Jazz, Ella Fitzgerald. This “spectacular show” (Downbeat Magazine) employs a rotating cast of star-studded talents such as Patti Austin, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Audra Day, and Niki Haris, each of whom embodies a different period of Ella’s decades-long, genrechanging career. Produced by eight-time GRAMMY® winning producer Gregg Field, CELEBRATING ELLA features fan-favorite Ella tunes, intertwined with stories told by the musicians who knew the down to earth, humble woman behind the legend. CELEBRATING ELLA, Live from the Apollo is presented in partnership with G Studio Digital, Concord Records, New York's Apollo Theatre, and the Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation.

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SYMPHONY PROJECTS

JUDY COLLINS: THE WILDFLOWER TOUR

Folk Singer Icon

“Collins has earned that ‘legend’ distinction as much by interpreting and inspiring songs as she has by writing or singing them…” – Edmonton Journal With an impressive career spanning over fifty years, legendary singer/songwriter Judy Collins has thrilled audiences worldwide with her unique blend of interpretative folk songs and contemporary themes. Her stunning rendition of Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now” from her landmark 1967 album, Wildflowers, has been entered into the GRAMMY® Hall of Fame.

JUDY COLLINS

This transcendent artist takes audiences through gorgeous renditions of standards from the American Songbook, as well as some of the most beloved songs from her catalog of more than 50 releases accompanied by brand new arrangements for symphony. Her beloved Wildflowers orchestral program includes several original pieces from her 2022 album, Spellbound (with all songs written by Judy and nominated for a 2023 GRAMMY®). Judy Collins is represented in partnership with Fleming Artists.

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TERRY BARBER

TERRY BARBER

Classical/Crossover Countertenor “... performances of great vitality and verve” - LA Times

With an extraordinarily broad vocal range and natural fluency in many musical styles, rare countertenor Terry Barber has been featured on some of the world’s most storied stages and has worked with many of the music industry’s most prestigious figures. As a past member of the GRAMMY® winning group Chanticleer, his voice can be heard on every major record label with a range of artists from Madonna to the London and New York Philharmonics. Terry's programs include a broad range of repertoire, and he is committed to making his performances simultaneously accessible, enjoyable, and inspirational. Orchestral Programs Include: Classical for Everyone The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber The Christmas Presence EleMenTrio: “A Modern 3 Tenors”

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LARA DOWNES W/ BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL

SYMPHONY PROJECTS

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LARA DOWNES with BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL A New World A-Comin' - The Birth of the American Sound "A musical ray of Hope." - NBC News Broadway legend and two-time Tony Award Winning Brian Stokes Mitchell and trailblazing pianist Lara Downes join together for a revelatory evening of music and conversation reflecting on the transformative expansion of music from the first half of the 20th century. Celebrate the musical legacies of George Gershwin, Duke Ellington and other pivotal composers who shaped the sound and spirit of American music as we know it today. This project originated with the Boston Pops, and the artists perform beloved classics including Sophisticated Lady, Lush Life, and Rhapsody in Blue, as well as rare musical gems from the Golden Age of American music. Learn more about Lara and her projects on pages 12 and 25

SPENCER DAY

SPENCER DAY

Pop Jazz Singer/Songwriter "cool jazz sensibilities, cleverly crafted tales" - The Washington Post Spencer Day, the #1 Billboard charting pop/jazz singer and songwriter, has headlined venues from Birdland and Lincoln Center to the Hollywood Bowl and London’s West End. Known for his unique sense of humor and distinctive original songs, his recent project “Broadway by Day” celebrates the unlikely friendship between jazz and musical theatre with swinging numbers from A Chorus Line, South Pacific, Hello, Dolly!, and more. Spencer has been called “prodigiously talented” by The Village Voice, “Compelling” from Time Out NY, and “Brilliant” by The San Francisco Chronicle. *Orchestral Programs Include: Broadway by Day A Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald A Tribute to Frank Sinatra *Complete orchestration for 18-piece big-band

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ENSEMBLES SYMPHONY PROJECTS

WILL MARTIN Entertainer /Vocalist

“A once in a generation talent ... he is head and shoulders above any other international artist around at present” - Dickon Stainer, Universal Music’s Global Classics

WILL MARTIN

Internationally acclaimed vocalist and entertainer Will Martin - the youngest man in history to top the UK Classical Charts has grabbed the attention of audiences around the world with his mesmerizing stage presence, versatile and expressive voice, charming and humorous personality, and keyboard prowess. Live performances have included world-renowned venues and festivals such as the Royal Albert Hall in London, the Hampton Court Palace Festival in Thames, and the Basel Military Tattoo. Orchestral Programs Include:

Will Martin Sings Dean Martin Inspirations By Request

THE MUTE A SILENT LOVE STORY

Innovative Symphonic Silent Theatre

"Impressive, original and moving." - Stavanger Aftenblad The Mute is an innovative theatrical piece that uses only music as language, with no spoken words - creating a performance project that is truly singular. In this beautiful love story, we meet elderly characters Tom and Jenny who show us snippets of their life together. Through these glimpses of the past, we come to know their personalities, how their lives have merged, and what brought them to where they are today. The theatrical concept plays with the idea of what happens when you remove the ability to communicate through spoken words and how to fill that void. In The Mute, the void is filled with music, body language, scenography, and a complete symphony orchestra on stage. In 2019, The Mute premiered at Norway's Stavanger Konserthus to outstanding reviews and played seven soldout performances. In the same year, it won the Hedda Prize for both "Performance of the Year" and for "Best Scenography, Costume Design, and Mask."

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THE MUTE

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SYMPHONY PROJECTS

SIUDY GARRIDO FLAMENCO PRESENTS:

AMOR BRUJO Flamenco/Dance Theatre

“The new introduction included Garrido’s solo dance as a widow in black in ecstatic mourning. It was mesmerizing…” - LA Times

AMOR BRUJO

Siudy Garrido Flamenco reimagines and expands upon the original masterpiece by Manuel de Falla, Amor Brujo (“Love, the Magician”), which premiered in 1915 and again with additional orchestration in 1925. It tells the story of Candelas, a young widowed gypsy tormented by the specter of her late husband, and her struggle to adapt to life without him. With her established brand of expert fusion of the timeless and the contemporary, Artistic Director and Choreographer Siudy Garrido tells this dramatic story of spells and sorcery from the perspective of flamenco, in which the voice of the traditional mezzo-soprano singer is substituted with gorgeous and moving Flamenco singing. Originally commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic, it premiered at Walt Disney Concert Hall with four sold-out performances and has since been staged alongside many prestigious Philharmonic orchestras on famed stages, including Los Angeles’ Hollywood Bowl. Two versions are available: 45 minutes and 75 minutes. 21

SALUTE TO VIENNA

SALUTE TO VIENNA New Year's Eve Concert "One of the most wonderful music concerts of this or any year.” – Chicago Critic This dazzling performance evokes a golden age of Viennese music, brimming with energy, merriment, and romance. It is a glorious re-creation of the beloved Neujahrskonzert, the concert that has welcomed the New Year for more than 80 years in Vienna and all over the world. Led by a witty and charming conductor who is an expert in Viennese music, Salute to Vienna brings the music of Johann Strauss to life with European singers, ballroom dancers, and members of esteemed ballet companies. Backed by the Strauss Symphony of America, the performance is rich with selections from beloved operettas, elegant dances, lively overtures, and the beautiful Blue Danube Waltz. Celebrate the start of the New Year with Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert, delighting audiences in North America for more than 25 years!

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SYMPHONY PROJECTS

TANGORIUM Fiery Multimedia Performance "[Tangorium is] one of the best set of pops charts I've seen." - Joseph Johnson, principal cello of Santa Fe Opera and Toronto Symphony Orchestra

TANGORIUM

Created and eloquently performed and narrated by internationally-acclaimed musical duo, Bridge & Wolak, TANGORIUM portrays stories of Tango through diverse cultural contexts that created its voice. This multimedia show for full orchestra + clarinet and accordion soloists pays homage to intimate Tango classics of the 1930s through Piazzolla's Tango Nuevo, to epic symphonic-tangos that uniquely fuse the music of grandmasters like Bach & Beethoven with modern musical genres such as French Cabaret, Rock, Tango Club and even Heavy Metal. These steamy musical collisions are expressed in the emotionally provocative and sensual language of Tango, enhanced with on-screen films, animations, and pre-recorded shadow puppetry. One critic remarks "Attending felt like being present at one of the forefronts of world culture...with the benefit of a medium and mood that was inviting and mood-lifting rather than alienating or cerebral."

A FUEGO LENTO

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A FUEGO LENTO

A Latin American Celebration “Latin exuberance, European refinement and great energy…” San Francisco Sentinel, USA A Fuego Lento is a new collaboration between two brilliant Latin American pianists and a multi-genre arranger. With the goal of adapting the classical piano music concert to the vibrant, colorful musical traditions of Latin America, this collective aims to pull together audiences with music that will celebrate life and inspire reflection. Pianists Vanessa Perez and Kristhyan Benitez join forces with music arranger Stephen Buck to fuse the virtuosic and expressive tradition of classical piano with the artistry and reach of popular and folk styles. Vanessa recently collaborated with Bill Murray on both the concert tour and film version of Beyond Worlds: The Cradle of Civilization, Kristhyan won the 2021 Latin GRAMMY® for Best Classical Music Album, and Stephen is the man behind some of the most innovative, entertaining, and stimulating concert experiences today. Learn more about Vanessa Perez on page 25

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MARCH OF THE PENGUINS/HERCULES VS VAMPIRES

FILM WITH ORCHESTRA

FRANKENSTEIN

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WARNER BROS. PRESENTS:

HERCULES VS VAMPIRES

Film with Live Orchestra

“The score was rich in harmony, clever in melodic line, and especially brilliant in orchestration” - Classical Voice of North Carolina

MARCH OF THE PENGUINS

Film with Live Orchestra & Voices

“A delightful, wholesome experience for the family.” - Washington Post Oscar-winner for Best Documentary in 2005 and the secondhighest grossing documentary of all time, this beloved documentary with beautiful, sweeping music offers a familyfriendly experience. In this production, the film screening is accompanied by a live orchestra conducted by Maestro Jeffrey Schindler, conductor of the original movie soundtrack and one of the most prolific music directors in Hollywood. Orchestrations are available for either full or reduced symphonic orchestra. 2025 will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the film’s release!

Fresh and full of fun, an atmospheric new operatic score by composer Patrick Morganelli provides the perfect accompaniment to Italian filmmaker Mario Bava's gorgeously gaudy world of the 1961 film "Hercules in the Haunted World." Combining mid-century pop culture and opera while synchronizing live music with film, Hercules vs. Vampires allows the actors projected on the silver screen to sound like opera singers for one night. The production has been staged with the Los Angeles Opera, Nashville Opera, Arizona Opera and the North Carolina Opera.

Suggested Instrumentation: 35-55 players total. Strings, 3 Winds, 4 Brass, 4 Percussion, 1 Piano, 1 Harp, 1 Synthesizer

Suggested Instrumentation: Nine singers and mid-sized orchestra of 26 players. Full orchestra instrumentation also available.

Read more about Maestro Jeffrey Schindler on page 33

FRANKENSTEIN Film with Live Orchestra

“The audience was riveted to their seats. The power of the live music with the classic film was hypnotic.” - Rob Tomaro, Cashbox Canada This is the ultimate audience experience for a truly iconic film and is a popular addition to any season, particularly Halloween programming. The 1931 cinematic masterpiece, Frankenstein, was originally released without a musical score, thus inspiring prolific composer/conductor Michael Shapiro to fill the void by creating an original soundtrack 70 years later. In this production, Shapiro’s lush and atmospheric 70-minute score is performed live under the film with various alternative instrumentations. Currently, the score is available for Symphony Orchestra (full), Chamber Orchestra (15 players), Wind Ensemble (9 players), and Operatic Ensemble (in any instrumental configuration with the addition of 5 SATBB solo voices or choir). Small Chamber Orchestra Instrumentation Option: 15 players total: 5 Strings, 4 Winds, 4 Brass, 1 Percussion, 1 Piano

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INSTRUMENTAL SOLOISTS

YVES DHAR Cellist

Highlighted Works Include: Beethoven: Triple Concerto, Opus 56 Dvorak: Concerto in B minor, Opus 104 Elgar: Concerto in E minor, Opus 85 Kabalevsky: Concerto no. 1 in G minor, Opus 49 Saint-Saens: Concerto no. 1 in A minor, Opus 33 Shostakovich: Concerto no. 1 in E-flat major, Opus 107 Read more about Yves' special AI project with composer Adam Schoenberg, Automation, on pages 11 and 16

ALDO LÓPEZ-GAVILÁN

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ALDO LÓPEZ-GAVILÁN

Classical & Jazz Pianist

YVES DHAR

“…the richly textured sounds of Yves Dharamraj’s cello all contributing amply to the sense of Brahmsian warmth.” – New York Times Captivating audiences with his lush tone “that might be described as something akin to rich old wood” (Boston Musical Intelligencer), Yves Dhar has earned a worldwide reputation as a “technically and interpretatively outstanding” (STRAD) cellist. Known for his charm, innovation, and innate ability to connect with audiences, the Franco-West Indian cellist is invited by leading orchestras, presenters and arts organizations to perform, inspire and innovate on the world’s major stages. Past highlights include appearances at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center (New York); the Kennedy Center (DC); Orchestra Hall, Ravinia Festival, and Chicago Cultural Center (Chicago); and Disney Hall (LA).

“...dazzling technique and rhythmic fire, LópezGavilán is something to behold.” - The Seattle Times Aldo López-Gavilán is an internationally renowned jazz and classical pianist/composer from Havana, Cuba. Dubbed a “formidable virtuoso” by The London Times, Aldo excels in both the classical and jazz worlds performing his own electrifying compositions with orchestra that are easily adaptable for any audience. His first piano concerto, Emporium, is an electrifying addition to any orchestra program: the piece begins with vibrant and upbeat rhythms to set the tone of the performance, then becomes more complex and intricate as it showcases Aldo’s virtuosic skill performing intricate solos and duets with other members of the ensemble, then culminates with a stunning and powerful finale. Past and upcoming performances include Classical Tahoe Festival Orchestra, Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra, Orquesta Sinfónica de Caldas, Festival Napa Orchestra West Michigan Symphony, Shreveport Orchestra, Alexandria Symphony Orchestra, Lancaster Symphony Orchestra. Read more about Aldo's orchestral repertoire with his brother on page 28

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INSTRUMENTAL SOLOISTS

LARA DOWNES Classical Pianist

LARA DOWNES

"Expect glamour with substance” - WQXR, New York's Classical Music Station

VANESSA PEREZ

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American pianist Lara Downes is an iconoclastic trailblazer whose dynamic work as a sought-after performer, Billboard Chart-topping recording artist, NPR personality, curator, and arts advocate positions her as a cultural visionary on the national scene. Called “an explorer whose imagination is fired by bringing notice to the underrepresented and forgotten” (The Log Journal), Lara seeks inspiration from the legacies of history and collective memory to create a series of acclaimed performances that serve as gathering spaces for her listeners to find common ground and shared experience. Downes’ recent and upcoming onstage adventures include guest appearances with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Boston Pops, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Louisville Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, and Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Highlighted Works Include: Florence Price: Concerto in One Movement George Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue Billy Strayhorn/Chris Walden: A Lovesome Thing: Billy Strayhorn Suite Duke Ellington: New World A-Comin’ Adolphus Hailstork: Piano Concerto #2, The Peaceable Kingdom (for Lara) Margaret Bonds: Credo

“Lara and I hit it off instantly! She is a thoughtful artist and a wonderful collaborator. Most importantly, she is a terrific human being." Maestro Thomas Wilkins

VANESSA PEREZ Classical Pianist "a kind of wild intensity that was often breathtaking ..." - Washington Post A frequent collaborator with violinist Daniel Hope, cellist Jan Vogler, and actor Bill Murray, and recently featured on the show Mozart In The Jungle, Perez is widely regarded for her bold, passionate displays of technical virtuosity and keen sensitivity. A product of the energized musical culture of Venezuela, Ms. Perez “is not to be taken lightly” (The Washington Post). Performance highlights include the Gilmore International Keyboard Festival, a collaboration with the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra under John Axelrod in Germany, concerts with the Orquesta de la Juventud Simon Bolivar under Gustavo Dudamel in Caracas, working with Conductor Nikolaj Znaider and the Teresa Carreño Youth Orchestra, the Casals Festival, and the Chopin Festival in Mallorca. Highlighted Works Include: Ravel: Piano Concerto in G Prokofiev: Concerto No. 3 Mozart: D minor No. 20 Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2 Falla: Nights in the Gardens of Spain The following double piano concerti: Poulenc, Mozart (No.10 K365), and Latin Rhapsody Read more about Vanessa's orchestral duo program, A Fuego Lento, on page 22

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FEATURED SOLOIST

KELLY HALL -TOMPKINS Classical Violinist

Recognized as a 2017 “New Yorker of the Year“ by the New York Times and frequent collaborator with violinist Mark O’Connor and conductor Keith Lockhart, Kelly HallTompkins has appeared with many of America’s most prestigious orchestras and was the “Fiddler” violin soloist for a 13-month run on Broadway in Fiddler on the Roof. Also acclaimed as “the versatile violinist who makes the music come alive” (New York Times), with “searing intensity” (American Record Guide), Kelly is trailblazing an innovative, creative and entrepreneurial career as a soloist and chamber musician. Highlighted Works Include: Wynton Marsalis: Violin Concerto in D The Fiddler Expanding Tradition: Orchestrated selections from Fiddler on the Roof Florence Price: Violin Concerto No. 2 Errollyn Wallen: Concerto Grosso Recent & Upcoming Collaborators: Madison Symphony Orchestra; Rhode Island Philharmonic; Elgin Symphony; California Symphony; Symphony Tacoma; Memphis Symphony; Oakland Symphony (Marsalis, Violin Concerto); Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (Music of Bruce Adolphe); Allentown Symphony (Barber, Violin Concerto); Orlando Symphony (Price, Violin Concerto); Western Piedmont Symphony (Bruch, Violin Concerto)

B KELL OOK Y TOM HALLPKIN NOW S !

“A tonal mastery, a technical command, and a strength of personality.” – Fanfare Magazine


VOCAL SOLOISTS

LAURIE RUBIN

Mezzo -Soprano

“a young mezzo-soprano whose voice is darkly complex and mysteriously soulful” - Los Angeles Times

LAURIE RUBIN

Having performed around the world in recital, opera, and with orchestra, Laurie Rubin’s mezzo-soprano voice, spirit and story captivate audiences like no other. Born blind, Rubin has concertized with orchestras and opera companies worldwide to tremendous acclaim, including high praise from the New York Times chief classical music critic Anthony Tommasini, who wrote that she possesses “compelling artistry,” “communicative power,” and a voice that displays “earthy, rich, and poignant qualities.”

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Highlighted Works Include: Lisa Bielawa: Centuries in the Hours (for conductorless Chamber Orchestra, written for Rubin) Bruce Adolphe: Do You Dream in Color? (for Chamber Orchestra, written for Rubin) Haydn: Scena di Berenice Poulenc: La Voix Humaine (partially staged) The Girl I Am (Autobiographical pops program featuring arrangements by Jenny Taira with music from Dear Evan Hansen, Into the Woods, The Greatest Showman, Carousel, and more)

ARIADNE GREIF

ARIADNE GREIF

Soprano

"...one of the most searingly painful and revealing operatic performances of recent times..." - NY Times Greif, praised for her "luminous, expressive voice" (NYTimes), her "elastic and round high notes" (classiqueinfo), and her "mesmerizing stage presence" (East Anglian Daily Times), began her opera career as a ‘boy’ soprano in the Los Angeles area and at the LA Opera, eventually making an adult debut singing Lutoslawski’s Chantefleurs et Chantefables with the American Symphony Orchestra. She starred in roles ranging from Therese/Tirésias in Poulenc’s Les Mamelles de Tirésias, singing a “thoroughly commanding and effortless” run at the Aldeburgh Festival, a "sassy" Adina in The Elixir of Love with the Orlando Philharmonic, to Sappho in Atthis by Georg Friedrich Haas, for which the New York Times noted her “searing top notes” and “dusky depths,” calling it “a solo highwire act for Ms. Greif...a vehicle for Ms. Greif’s raw, no-holdsbarred performance.” Her mesmerizing voice has her gracing halls across the globe, appearing alongside The Knights, Metropolis Ensemble, Gabriel Kahane, Mélange, and others. Highlighted Works Include (soprano solo): Mahler: Symphony No. 4 Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 Mahler: Des Knaben Wunderhorn Britten: Les Illuminations Berg: Sieben Frühe Lieder Alma Mahler—all songs Mozart: Requiem

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ENSEMBLES

DANIEL HO TRIO Hawaiian Multi-Instrumentalist “One of the undisputed masters of the instrument” - Ukulele Magazine Daniel Ho’s simple philosophy of presenting music with sincerity and artistry has earned him six consecutive GRAMMY® Awards, number-one albums on national airplay charts, and top-ten albums on Billboard.

DANIEL HO TRIO

Showcasing his prodigious skill on ukulele, slack key, and piano, Daniel has performed his original compositions with several orchestras as a soloist and as a trio along with the GRAMMY® nominated Hālau Hula Keali'i o Nālani, a revered dance-andvocals group known for its commitment to ancient hula and Hawaiian culture.

Highlighted Works Include: Haiku, solo ukulele with orchestra Waimea Bay, piano with orchestra When You Grow Up, piano lullaby with orchestra Soaring on Dreams, piano, cello, and drums with orchestra

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THE GAVILÁN BROTHERS

THE GAVILÁN BROTHERS Electrifying Cuban Duo “Aldo is a skilled jazz improviser with an impressive technique…while Ilmar’s soaring violin rose above the fray with memorable melodies...” - The Boston Musical Intelligencer Aldo López-Gavilán – an internationally renowned jazz and classical pianist/composer – and his brother Ilmar Gavilán – GRAMMY® winning violinist and first violinist of New York’s famed Harlem Quartet – are performing together as The Gavilán Brothers and are taking the U.S. by storm after being featured in the PBS documentary Los Hermanos / The Brothers, which tells the story of their separate but parallel lives as musicians. Past orchestral appearances include Chautauqua Festival Orchestra, Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional (Cuba), Orquesta de Cámara Música Eterna, Orquesta de Cámara de la Habana, Orquesta Juvenil Amadeo Roldán, and New England Conservatory’s Youth Philharmonic Orchestra.

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PROJECT TRIO

FEATURED ENSEMBLE

Chamber Ensemble

PROJECT Trio is a passionate, high energy chamber music ensemble comprised of three virtuosic composer/performers from Brooklyn, New York. Blending their classical training with an eclectic taste in musical styles, the group has made an impact on audiences of all ages.

Highlighted Works Include:

The Wall Street Journal hailed the Trio for their “wide appeal, subversive humor, and first-rate playing.” The New York Times has called beatboxing flutist Greg Pattillo “the best in the world at what he does." PROJECT Trio has performed with several orchestras around the country, including the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and many more.

“The level of virtuosity is high and the players always come through” - Donald Rosenburg, The Plain Dealer

Scatter for PROJECT Trio and Orchestra by Adam Schoenberg Upcoming New Work for PROJECT Trio by Quinn Mason PROJECT Trio repertoire, including original music and arrangements Education Concerts/Family Pops program

PRO BOOK JECT NOW TRIO !


COMPOSERS

ALDO LÓPEZ-GAVILÁN Composer / Pianist

“López-Gavilán is not only a formidable virtuoso, but also exceeds in works that require extraordinary color and fascinating sounds." - The London Times

His work has been played by orchestras such as the Classical Tahoe Festival Orchestra, Boulder Philharmonic, Orquesta Sinfónica de Caldas, Festival Napa Orchestra, West Michigan Symphony (2021), Shreveport Orchestra (2022), Puget Sound Symphony Orchestra (2022) and soon with the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas, Alexandria Symphony Orchestra and Lancaster Symphony Orchestra.

Highlighted Works Include: Oceans to Cross, piano concerto for pianist Lara Downes - currently seeking additional cocommissioning orchestras Emporium, Aldo's first piano concerto Concertino for clarinet and orchestra Learn more about Aldo as a soloist on page 24

CLARICE ASSAD

ALDO LÓPEZ-GAVILÁN

Aldo's authentic voice has a genre-defying sound rooted in European classical traditions, Latin jazz, and Afro-Cuban rhythms. Drawing from a range of colors associated with Schumann and Ravel's work, Aldo's compositions weave a layered tapestry described as magical, optimistic, and at its core, deeply soulful.

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A powerful communicator renowned for her musical scope and versatility, Brazilian-American Clarice Assad is a significant artistic voice in the classical, world, pop, and jazz genres. The GRAMMY® nominated composer, celebrated pianist, inventive vocalist and educator is acclaimed for her evocative colors, rich textures, and diverse stylistic range. The prolific composer has more than 70 works to her credit, including numerous commissions for Carnegie Hall, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Boston Youth Orchestra, Chicago Sinfonietta, San Jose Chamber Orchestra, the Bravo! Vail Music Festival, and the La Jolla Music Festival, among others. Her compositions have been recorded by some of the most prominent names in classical music, including percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, and oboist Liang Wang. Assad’s music has been performed by the London Philharmonic (upcoming 2024), Tokyo Symphony, Queensland Symphony, and the Orquestra Sinfônica de São Paulo. She has served as a composer-in-residence for the Albany Symphony, the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, New Century Chamber Orchestra, and the Boston Landmarks Orchestra.

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CLARICE ASSAD

Composer / Performer

"Clarice Assad is quite simply a phenomenon who has streaked across the world’s musical landscape like one of those comets that appears just once in a lifetime." – Latin Jazz Network


COMPOSERS

NOLAN GASSER Composer “Gasser’s work definitively accomplished everything it set out to do, and then some: the music was mesmerizing.” – Oakland Tribune

NOLAN GASSER

Dr. Nolan Gasser is a critically acclaimed composer, pianist, and musicologist – most notably, the architect of Pandora Radio’s Music Genome Project and the company’s chief musicologist from its founding in 1999.

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With a Ph.D. in Musicology from Stanford University, his original compositions have been performed in such prestigious venues as Carnegie Hall, David Geffen Hall (Lincoln Center), the Kennedy Center, La Salle Pleyel (Paris), and the Rose Bowl (Pasadena), among many others. Classical compositions include an opera, The Secret Garden, commissioned by San Francisco Opera; The World Concerto for cello, erhu, oud, sarangi, and orchestra, premiered by Maya Beiser; Cosmic Reflection for orchestra and narrator, premiered at the Kennedy Center and recorded by the Baltimore Symphony; and an oratorio, Repast: An Oratorio on the Life of Booker Wright, premiered at Carnegie Hall. Learn more about Cosmic Reflection on page 15

BRUCE BROUGHTON

BRUCE BROUGHTON

Composer

“Award-winning composer Bruce Broughton received the Lifetime Achievement Award as one of a handful of 'Hollywood Greats' who have contributed on the highest level to the film experience.” – WME Entertainment GRAMMY® nominated and Emmy award-winning composer Bruce Broughton is best known for his many film scores such as Silverado, Tombstone, The Rescuers Down Under, The Presidio, and Miracle on 34th Street (1994), as well as his television themes including JAG, Dinosaurs, and Steven Spielberg’s Tiny Toon Adventures.

Highlighted Works Include: Cello Concerto Piccolo Concerto Viola and Strings, commissioned by St. Martin in the Fields

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COMPOSERS/CONDUCTORS

QUINN MASON Composer/Conductor "His music rises like rays of sun to come alive with bright colors...[and] flows easily into a...melancholy reverie" – Herald-Tribune on Sarasota Orchestra performance

As a conductor, Quinn studied with Marin Alsop, James Ross, Miguel Harth-Bedoya, and others. He has guest conducted with orchestras around the country, including: the National, Hartford, and West Virginia Symphony Orchestras; Houston Ballet Orchestra; and the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles.

Highlighted Works Include: A Joyous Trilogy Toast of the Town Inner City Rhapsody Learn about commissioning opportunities on pages 11-12

JOSÉ LUIS DOMÍNGUEZ Composer/Conductor “José Luis Dominguez in an indisputably exalted situation...” - Las Últimas Noticias Chilean composer/conductor José Luis Domínguez is a prominent talent on international orchestral and operatic stages. His conducting is described as “unrivaled, magnificent and with exemplary gesturing” (El Mercurio). Recent commissions as a composer include the ballet La Casa de Los Espíritus (The House of Spirits), which premiered with the Orquesta Filarmónica de Santiago and was hailed an “absolute triumph.” Other commissions include a Violin Concerto for Jason DePue, Oboe Concerto for Jorge Pinzón with the Orquesta Filarmónica de Bogotá in Colombia, and upcoming violin, harp, cello concerti. Recent and upcoming appearances have included the Houston Symphony, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Orquesta Filarmónica de Buenos Aires, the Orquesta Sinfónica de Chile, the Orquesta Sinfónica Universidad de La Serena, the Orquesta de Cámera de Chile, and the world-renowned Semanas Musicales de Frutillar held in Frutillar, Chile, at Teatro del Lago. José Luis is Music Director of Bucks County Symphony Orchestra and Temple University-Boyer College of Music, and Artistic Director of New Jersey Youth Symphony Orchestra.

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JOSÉ LUIS DOMÍNGUEZ

As a composer, his music has been or will be performed and commissioned by over 100 renowned orchestras including, among many others: the National Symphony Orchestra; the San Francisco, Detroit, Seattle, Utah, Fort Worth, Dallas, Vermont, Memphis, Richmond, Amarillo, Kansas City, Knoxville, and New Haven Symphonies; the Minnesota and Sarasota Orchestras; the Rochester, Buffalo, and South Carolina Philharmonics; Italy’s Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI; and the UK’s Sheffield Philharmonic.

QUINN MASON

Quinn Mason (b. 1996) is a composer and conductor based in Dallas, TX, and is Artist-in-Residence of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra. He recently served as the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Classical Roots Composer-in-Residence - the youngest composer to fill that role - and as the inaugural composer-in-residence for the Austin radio station KMFA.


GRANT GERSHON / JEFFREY SCHINDLER

CONDUCTORS/ DIRECTORS

JEFFREY SCHINDLER

GRANT GERSHON

Conductor

Conductor

“Conductor Jeff Schindler is nothing short of ideal.” - Josep Pascual, Spanish critic

“In the pit, Grant Gershon could do no wrong.” - Opera Today

Jeffrey Schindler enjoys a dynamic international career that takes him from concert podiums around the world, to the scoring stages of Hollywood, to the recording studios of London. Jeffrey’s award-winning artistry melds imaginative and illuminating performances with expressive and powerful technique, impeccable scholarship, and vibrant energy. He has conducted nearly 150 performances of Harry Potter, Star Wars, Amadeus, and many other film with live orchestra productions in partnership with CineConcerts, AVEX, and others.

Grant Gershon has led performances at San Francisco Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, National Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Wolftrap, and beyond. He currently serves as Artistic Director of the Los Angeles Master Chorale, and as Resident Conductor of the Los Angeles Opera. Composer John Adams says, “Grant Gershon is one of those rarities we call the complete musician. My respect for his musicality - for his conducting, his extraordinary musical intuition and his formidable ear - knows no bounds.”

Learn about about Jeffrey conducting the live film with orchestra score, March of the Penguins, on page 23

ELLIOTT FORREST / ELKHANAH PULITZER

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ELLIOTT FORREST

ELKHANAH PULITZER

"I let the music and visuals waft over me and got completely lost in the beauty.” - Long Beach Symphony Patron

“Powerfully impressive... fearless in (her) dramatic imagination.” – San Francisco Chronicle

Director

Multimedia Designer/Director Elliott Forrest custom tailors the concert experience - from high-concept projects to pops concerts - through the design and imaginative use of integrative multimedia. Forrest has been a partner for directed programs at venues that include the Los Angeles Philharmonic, The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Houston Symphony, the New York Philharmonic, The Atlanta Symphony, The Pasadena Pops and the Little Orchestra Society in New York.

Known for her bold, nuanced, and innovative stage direction, Elkhanah is an esteemed director of opera and theatre. Exploring the intersection between music and theatre through innovation and hybridized forms, she has directed projects with the LA Phil, New York Phil, Mostly Mozart Festival at Lincoln Center, LA Opera, SF Opera, SF Symphony, The Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, Boston Lyric Opera, West Edge Opera, and many others.

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