The “World’s Most Recorded Piper” Eric Rigler (Lord Of The Rings: The Rings of Power, Outlander, Braveheart, Titanic) and multi-talented guitarist Dirk Freymuth return to create a night of acoustic holiday cheer. Drawing from traditional Irish & Scottish melodies featured in their PBS Special, Celtic Journeys: Songs & Soundtracks, and themes from Eric’s motion picture & television soundtracks, the artists will highlight music from the Christmas tradition - both familiar and lesser-known pieces from the British Isles, Ireland, and other Celtic Nations around Europe. Featuring special guest Hannah Crowley from Dublin, Ireland, singing in English, Irish & Scots Gaelic, Breton and Latin.
For over 40 years, Eric Rigler’s iconic solos on the Scottish bagpipes, Irish uilleann pipes & whistles have touched billions worldwide. From performing “Amazing Grace” at the funeral of President Ronald Reagan to hundreds of appearances, recordings and films, Eric has been referred to as “the most recorded piper in history.”
Currently featured in Amazon’s Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power and STARZ channel’s Outlander, Eric’s solos are familiar to audiences through films such as Braveheart, Titanic, Dungeons and Dragons, How To Train Your Dragon 2, Men In Black 3, Austin Powers, Million Dollar Baby, Troy, and Cinderella Man to television’s The Simpsons, South Park, Parks and Recreation, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, How I Met Your Mother, Black Sails and Battlestar Galactica. A native of Los Angeles, Eric has devoted his life to the Scottish bagpipes, Irish uilleann pipes & pennywhistles.
Eric’s diverse body of work also includes concerts with Paul McCartney, Bryan Adams, Josh Groban, Mike Oldfield and CDs by Faith Hill, Phil Collins, Keith Urban, Bette Midler, Meatloaf, Josh Groban, Rubén Blades, Barbra Streisand, Kenny Loggins, Engelbert Humperdinck, Tracy Chapman, Rod Stewart, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and many others.
Dirk Freymuth is a guitarist, producer, composer, and educator. His gifted and diverse talent on the guitar spans genres from being a member of the Minneapolis powerpop trio, Hindu Rodeo, to Dublin’s Baroque Orchestra of Ireland. As a studio player, he can be heard on more than a hundred recordings for artists such as the Kottonmouth Kings, The Proclaimers, John Gorka and many others. As a record producer, he has produced more than 50 albums in a wide range of genres. Recently, Dirk was ranked #61 on the Digital Dream Door ‘100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists’ list.
Having previously lived in Dublin and London, Dirk is also an Early Music multi-instrumentalist and historian who has worked with The Tallis Scholars, The Gabrieli Consort, Musicians of the Globe Theater, Circa 1500, and many others. He earned his doctorate in Early Music Performance at the University of Southern California,
LILY HONIGBERG violin, fiddle
Raised in a family of professional musicians in Washington, DC, fiddler, violinist and violist, Lily Honigberg dedicated herself to music at a young age. She holds a Master’s degree in Contemporary Improvisation from the New England Conservatory in Boston,
where he studied with James Tyler. Since 2011, Dirk has been teaching Audio Production, Historical Performance Practice, and various music ensembles and music history courses at both Western Oregon University and The New School in New York. He currently lives in New York City.
after completing a Bachelor of Music in classical violin. Much of her current musical styling steps out from her classical background and into the diverse landscape of pop, hip-hop, soundtrack and Irish traditional music. The Sun’s Valley, Lily’s latest album, is a testament to her nuanced interpretation of Irish fiddle and elegantly bridges tradition and innovation with her
Lily has been fortunate to tour with the National Youth Orchestra (2014) and has performed across America, including Carnegie Hall, Walt Disney Hall, the Millennium Stage, and on television’s The Late Late Show with James Cordon. She appears alongside Eric Rigler on the feature film soundtrack of Dungeons and Dragons (2023) and works across a variety of genres with artists like Finneas, Bebe Rexha, Denzel Curry, Kenny Hoopla, Alex Warren, and Felly. Lily is based in Los Angeles and is currently on tour with Country Music star, Dasha.
JAMES YOSHIZAWA percussion
James Yoshizawa is a versatile drummer, percussionist & educator living in Los Angeles, and is wellrecognized for blending unique percussion instruments from around the world with the drum set to create unique and compelling rhythms & textures. He began his musical training at age 11 playing in a Japanese folk music ensemble, as well as his middle school marching band and orchestra. He went on to earn a percussion performance degree at university where he was awarded a number of accolades & scholarships.
As a performer, he specializes primarily in jazz & Irish percussion but has extensive experience in
on stages all over the world such as the Taipei National Concert Hall. Locally, James regularly performs at The Blue Whale, Vibrato Jazz Grill, Vitellos, Sam First, The Segerstrom Center, The Greek Theater & many other venues. Some career highlights include being invited to the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival as a guest
HANNAH CROWLEY
vocals
Hannah Crowley is a singer/ songwriter from Dublin, Ireland, who currently resides in Los Angeles. After being awarded a scholarship and graduating from Berklee College of Music in Boston, she moved to LA in 2017, where she has been a regular performer on the LA music scene. Hannah released her debut single, Scrolling, followed by the song Teeth in the Water, and then her debut EP, Rewire, in October 2021. She played to a soldout audience at the renowned Hotel Cafe. Other notable performances include the Crypto.com Arena (formerly the Staples Center) for the LA Kings Ice Hockey team, where she performed her song R Father on St. Patrick’s Day in 2022. Renowned music blogs, including Le Future Wave and Come Here Floyd, have praised Hannah’s songwriting as “mellifluously immersive” with “memorable hooks,” highlighting her as a “promising artist to watch.”
Hannah effortlessly blends the timeless allure of the past with the vibrant energy of the present in her
artist since 2013, winning 1st place at the All-Ireland International Bones Championships in 2022, performing for President Barack Obama, and serving as the bodhran soloist and percussionist for the Broadway musical, Come From Away, in 2016.
music. By combining alternative pop elements with a nod to her Celtic influence, she delivers a refreshing and captivating sound that embodies what is exciting about music today. Her latest music, released in Autumn 2023, is available now alongside her earlier work on all streaming platforms.
Blind Boys of Alabama with Shemekia Copeland
SATURDAY, FEB. 22, 2025 | 8PM in partnership with KCRW
Experience an evening of soul-stirring music as two legendary forces in gospel and blues come together. With timeless harmonies and raw, emotive vocals, this performance promises to uplift and inspire.
“Credited with soundtracking the American Civil Rights movement ... they’re showing no signs of stopping.” - CNN
Zakir Hussain’s Masters of Percussion
SATURDAY, MAR. 22, 2025 | 8PM in partnership with KCRW
Widely celebrated as the undisputed tabla maestro of his generation, Hussain returns with his acclaimed Masters of Percussion - a breathtaking journey through rhythmic traditions of global music.
Zakir Hussain is the “indisputable tabla maestro”
Concessions
A wide variety of wine, beer, soft drinks and freshly prepared snacks will be available before the concert. Pre-order your concessions and skip the line!
Artist Drink Pick
Mulled Cider
We asked the artist for their favorite drink pick to feature at concessions! Mulled Cider was selected by Eric Rigler & will be available for purchase before the performance.
Sassenach Whiskey by Outlander’s Sam Heughan (Jaime Fraser)
Our mission is to Engage, Educate, and Elevate the Human Spirit
Soka Performing Arts Center strives to elevate humanity through transcendent experiences. Come experience our exquisite acoustics. Come to expand your understanding and appreciation of music. Come to forge community and emotional connections through the shared experience of live music.
Soka Performing Arts Center is located on the beautiful hilltop campus of Soka University of America in Aliso Viejo. Our facility includes the 1,042seat Concert Hall featuring world-class acoustics designed by master acoustician Yasuhisa Toyota, designer of the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and Suntory Hall in Tokyo, among many others. We also have an intimate 350-seat Black Box Theatre that allows for multiple seating configurations including club seating with bistro tables.
More than 750 performances have taken place since the center’s dedication on May 27, 2011. The 2024-25 season marks our thirteenth season presenting first-class programming in our world-class concert hall. We are continuing to expand our programming and outreach with the addition of a Children’s Concert Series and the only Great Pianists Series on the West Coast. From classical and jazz to world and contemporary music, the Soka Performing Arts Center has become a prized space for artists and audiences alike.
We are proud to be the home of the Pacific Symphony Chamber Orchestra. Our Sundays @ Soka Series with Pacific Symphony continues to be one of our most popular series year after year. Our presentations with other Orange County arts organizations have enabled us to reach further into our community to offer arts education and programming. Our partnership with the Philharmonic Society of Orange County includes our PSOC Series, which brings superlative artists to our stage. We also partner with PSOC for our Outreach Program, bringing over 7,000 school children to Soka Performing Arts Center to experience live performances with outstanding musicians.
With its world-class acoustics and first-class performances, Soka Performing Arts Center is quickly becoming one of the cultural jewels of Orange County.
OUR SUPPORTERS
DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE ($75,000+)
Dr. Kenneth & Sandra Tokita
Sam* & Lyndie Ersan
CONCERTMASTER ($10,000+)
Ms. Emi Maeda
STAGE CHAMPION ($5000+)
Yoshitomo & Takemi Daido
STAGE BENEFACTOR ($1000+)
Anonymous
OC Chinese Cultural Club
John and Sue Prange
Terumi Saito
Jochen Schumacher
Alex & Sandy Scott
Scott A Shuping
Anson and Marilyn Wong
PLATINUM CLEF ($500+)
Anonymous
Jeffrey Hendrix
Edward D. Jones
Jane A. Lynch
GOLD CLEF ($200+)
Judy Kaufman
Lorraine Leiser
Naomi Uchiyama
SILVER CLEF ($100+)
Renée Bodie
Sam Chang
Masako Inage
Debrah Jiang
Chiharu Nagai
Paul Porto
Thomas Prigorac
Jonia Suri
Joseph Whittaker
BRONZE CLEF ($25+)
Raquel Bruno
Kenneth Hanawa
Ryosuke Iga
Jeannette Pease
Joyce M Wrice
Taro Yamanashi
* Deceased
List current as of 09/26/2024
The Soka Performing Arts Center deeply appreciates the support of its sponsors and donors, and makes every effort to ensure accurate and appropriate recognition. Contact Renée Bodie, General Manager at (949) 480-4821 to make us aware of any error or omission in the foregoing list.
DONATE TO SOKA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
Your support helps ensure Soka Performing Arts Center fulfills its purpose: to engage, educate, and elevate the human spirit. Your gift supports the programming of world-class performances, provides transformative educational outreach experiences, and opens the opportunity to build engagement with our community by sharing the joy of live music.
CREATE
Our subscription and renewal program provides you with even more flexibility in our season packages*. With our enhanced program, you now have the power to curate your very own unique experience.
• 15% Discount for a 3 performance package
• 18% Discount for a 4 performance package
• 20% Discount for a 5+ performance package
*full details online at soka.edu/pac
OUR PARTNERS
• Blueport Jazz
• Philharmonic Society of Orange County
• Pacific Symphony
• Parnassus Society
SOKA PAC MANAGEMENT TEAM
Renée Bodie
General Manager & Artistic Director
John Morgan
Box Office Manager
Antoinette Rossman
House Manager/Assistant to the General Manager
Jaime Spataro
Marketing & Communications Manager
Joe Nicholls
Marketing & Communications Assistant
Steve Baker
Production Manager
Aadya Agrawal
Stage Manager
Jarmil Maupin
Internal Events Manager
Piano Tuners
Kathy Smith Lead Tuner
Ron Elliott
David Stoneman
David Vanderlip
Website soka.edu/pac
SOKA
Soka Performing Arts Center resides on the beautiful campus of Soka University of America. We thank the SUA Board of Trustees and the SUA Leadership Council for all of their support.
SUA BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Stephen S. Dunham, JD | CHAIR
Vice President and General Counsel Emeritus, Pennsylvania State University | Baltimore, Maryland
Tariq Hasan, PhD | VICE CHAIR
Chief Executive Officer, SGI-USA | New York, New York
Andrea Bartoli, PhD
President, Sant’Egidio Foundation for Peace and Dialogue | New York, New York
Matilda Buck
Benefactor | Los Angeles, California
Lawrence E. Carter, Sr, PhD, DD, DH, DRS
Dean, Professor of Religion, College Archivist and Curator, Morehouse College | Atlanta, Georgia
Andy Firoved
CEO, HOTB Software | Irvine, California
Jason Goulah, PhD
Professor of Bilingual-Bicultural Education and Director, Institute for Daisaku Ikeda Studies in Education, Director of Programs in Bilingual-Bicultural Education, World Language Education, and Value-Creating Education for Global Citizenship, College of Education, DePaul University | Chicago, Illinois
Clothilde V. Hewlett, JD
Commissioner of Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, State of California | San Francisco, California
Karen Lewis, PhD
Sondheimer Professor of International Finance and Co-Director, Weiss Center for International Financial Research, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Luis Nieves
Founder, Chairman Emeritus AUL Corp, Benefactor | Napa, California
Isabel Nuñez, PhD, MPhil, JD
Professor of Educational Studies, Dean of School of Education, Purdue University Fort Wayne | Fort Wayne, Indiana
Gene Marie O’Connell, RN, MS
Health Care Consultant, Associate Clinical Professor, University of California, San Francisco School of Nursing | Corte Madera, California
Adin Strauss
General Director, Soka Gakkai International-USA | Santa Monica, California
Yoshiki Tanigawa
Benefactor, Soka Gakkai | Tokyo, Japan
Gregg S. Wolpert
Co-president, The Stahl Organization | New York, New York
Edward M. Feasel, PhD
President, Soka University of America (ex-officio member) | Aliso Viejo, California
FOOD DONATION DRIVE
With the holidays approaching, Soka Performing Arts Center has partnered with the Laguna Food Pantry and will be collecting food donations for the most vulnerable in our community.
Collection bins will be located in the lobby for all December concerts. If you are able to, please consider donating some of these highly requested items:
