Colburn School, Celebrating 20 Years On Grand Avenue, Announces 2018–2019 Concerts And Events

On the 20th anniversary of its historic relocation to Grand Avenue, a move made possible through the generosity and vision of founding benefactor Richard N*E*R*D Colburn, that helped set in motion the development of Los Angeles's Downtown cultural corridor, the Colburn School will present a 2018-2019 season that brings together some of today's greatest International Artists with extraordinary faculty members and exceptional Colburn School students.

Taking place on Grand Avenue and throughout the Los Angeles community, the season's wide-ranging programs will also offer a preview of the new opportunities that are coming through the Colburn School's campus expansion project. Designed by Frank Gehry, the expansion will provide two new performance venues, an outdoor performance area, and dance rehearsal center, broadening the Colburn School's contributions to the cultural and civic life of Downtown Los Angeles.

"We are pleased to present our 20th season on Grand Avenue and throughout Southern California featuring a rich array of music and dance performances by our gifted students, distinguished faculty, and renowned guests artists," says CEO Sel Kardan. "Colburn School's commitment to our community continues through performances of exceptional artistry at affordable ticket prices at our downtown campus and from the San Fernando Valley to Orange County."

2018-19 Season Highlights Details

To help celebrate Scotland's Year of Young People, the Colburn Orchestra led by Stéphane Denève is performing at the Edinburgh International Festival (August 20, 2018), and will then travel to Dublin (August 22, 2018), for the ensemble's first overseas appearances. The program includes Esa-Pekka Salonen's Nyx, Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances, and Barber's Violin Concerto, performed by Colburn Conservatory student Simone Porter, who makes her debut with Denève. Porter, an Avery Fisher Career Grant recipient, has been recognized as an emerging artist of impassioned energy, musical integrity, and vibrant sound. The Los Angeles Times declared Porter "on the cusp of a major career."

New York City Ballet principal dancer Joaquin De Luz will be joined by a Colburn Conservatory cellist to perform Jerome Robbins's "A Suite of Dances" for See the Music, Hear the Dance (October 19, 2018). In this solo tour-de-force, originally choreographed for Mikhail Baryshnikov, the dancer is accompanied by three movements from Bach's Cello Suites. The performance is followed by a talk-back with the performers hosted by Jenifer Ringer, Dean of Colburn School's Trudl Zipper Dance Institute.

At its annual gala event, "Celebrate Colburn," Valery Gergiev, general director and artistic director of the Mariinsky Theatre and chief conductor of the Munich Philharmonic, conducts the Colburn Orchestra, with pianist and Colburn Conservatory student Dominic Cheli, at Walt Disney Concert Hall (October 23, 2018). Applauded by MusicWeb International for his "splendid playing...great skill and technical prowess," pianist Dominic Cheli is First Prize winner of the 2017 Concert Artists Guild Competition. During a post-performance gala dinner, Gergiev will be honored with the Richard D. Colburn award, along with fellow honoree, acoustician Yasuhisa Toyota, who is collaborating with architect Frank Gehry on the Colburn School's campus expansion, including the building of an 1100-seat concert hall-the Colburn School's first venue for full-scale orchestra performances-along with a 600-seat theater for dance and vocal performance, an outdoor performance venue, and a dance rehearsal center.

Esa-Pekka Salonen, Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor for London's Philharmonia Orchestra, Composer-in-Residence at the New York Philharmonic, and Conductor Laureate of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, returns to conduct the Colburn Orchestra at The Soraya (January 31, 2019). The program features two of Richard Strauss's greatest orchestral works, Til Eulenspiegel and Also sprach Zarathustra, as well as Mozart's Clarinet Concerto performed by Colburn Conservatory student Cristina Mateo Sáez, who won second prize in the prestigious Jacques Lancelot International Clarinet Competition, a biennial competition which takes place alternately in France and in Japan.

Percussionist She-e Wu, performs a program entirely consisting of works by living composers, including her own Blue Identity on the Colburn Chamber Music Society (CCMS) series (October 28). Wu is a celebrated educator and performer who has appeared in festivals and with major orchestras across the world. She teaches at Northwestern University. Legendary Georgian pianist Eliso Virsaladze also visits for CCMS, a rare North American appearance for the artist, with a program of Haydn, Mozart, and Schumann (March 8).

Ramón Ortega and Scott St. John, recently appointed to Colburn School's esteemed faculty, perform on the Colburn Chamber Music Society (CCMS) series. Since spring 2008, Ortega has been the Principal Oboe of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, and in fall 2018 he will take over as Principal Oboe at the Los Angeles Philharmonic. St. John, a former member of the renowned St. Lawrence String Quartet, will serve in the newly created role of Director of Chamber Music to lead the chamber music programs in the Colburn School's degree-granting Conservatory of Music and pre-college Music Academy. Also appearing on the CCMS series is percussionist She-e Wu, pianist Eliso Virsaladze, and Colburn School faculty members Fabio Bidini, piano; Martin Beaver, violin; Paul Coletti, viola; and Clive Greensmith, cello.

World-renowned pianist and Colburn School's Artist-in-Residence Jean-Yves Thibaudet joins acclaimed cellist Gautier Capuçon to teach a joint master class. Before coming together, they will also give individual master classes, as will She-e Wu and Eliso Virsaladze. All master classes are open to the public (November 30, 2018).

Kelly Ann Sloan, Ballet Chair of the Trudl Zipper Dance Institute, will present her new work Postcards and Pliés from L.A., featuring more than 80 students from all levels in this charming love letter to Southern California. Postcards and Pliés from L.A. takes the audience on a trip full of iconic Southern California pastimes, from shopping on Rodeo Drive to a desert oasis in Palm Springs (May 12, 2019).

Colburn in the Community

The artistry of Colburn School students and faculty can be enjoyed on stages throughout the greater Los Angeles community with performances that feature a broad range of repertoire in a variety of programs, from orchestral concerts and solo recitals to ballet and jazz performances. Ensuring accessibility for all, the Colburn School continues its tradition of presenting these programs at affordable prices or for free.

From contemporary works to the most beloved standards, the Colburn Orchestra's performances showcase the spectacular talent of the Colburn School's flagship ensemble. In addition to the Colburn Orchestra's performances with Valery Gergiev at Walt Disney Concert Hall and Esa-Pekka Salonen at The Soraya, Music Director and Conductor Yehuda Gilad also brings the Colburn Orchestra to The Soraya with violinist and Conservatory of Music student Felicity James, in a program that includes Glazunov's Violin Concerto and Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5 (December 9, 2018).

In collaboration with the Soka Performing Arts Center in Aliso Viejo, the Colburn@Soka: Artists on the Rise recital series, now in its second season, features outstanding young soloists and chamber ensembles, specially chosen by the Colburn faculty for their artistry and professional potential. This season, pianist HyeJin Kim, violinist Aubree Oliverson and Colburn School's Viano String Quartet perform in the series. Praised by critics for her "passionate ... polished and expressive," performances, Hyejin Kim is one of South Korea's most thrilling young classical stars. Kim first attracted international attention at age seventeen when, as the youngest participant, she won third prize in the prestigious Busoni Competition in Italy. Since then, she has received numerous awards including prizes at the 2008 Hong Kong International Piano Competition and the Toronto International Piano Competition. In 2016, Aubree Oliverson was awarded a Presidential Scholarship. She has been a fellow at the Aspen Music Festival and will give a solo performance in Aspen this summer as winner of its concerto competition. The Viano String Quartet recently earned top honors at the 2018 Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition and won the Silver Medal at the Senior String Division of the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, the largest and oldest competition in the country for chamber music. The Viano Quartet includes violinists Hao Zhou and Lucy Wang, violist Aiden Kane, and cellist Tate Zawadiuk, all Colburn School students.

The Colburn Community School's long-running participation in LACMA's Sundays Live series continues. These free programs feature professional and emerging musicians in a one-hour performance on the stage of LACMA's Leo S. Bing Theater. Each concert is streamed live at lacma.org and can be heard as a podcast on kusc.org. The Colburn School also continues its free performances at the Steinway Gallery in Beverly Hills, featuring Colburn School faculty and Conservatory of Music students.

The Community School's Colburn Jazz Workshop will perform at the Catalina Jazz Club as part of its Young Artist Jazz Series. These students have garnered multiple Spotlight semifinal honors and grand prizes, YoungArts Awards, and DownBeat Magazine Student Music Awards. Proceeds from the evening will go to the Community School's Colburn Jazz Workshop.

The Community School of Performing Arts and Trudl Zipper Dance Institute will present an exciting performance at Glendale's Alex Theatre bringing together the Colburn Youth Orchestra, Colburn Chamber Orchestra, Colburn Youth Dance, Colburn Concert Choir, and Young Men's Chorus in a collaborative production, featuring George Gershwin's An American in Paris.

The Colburn School has one of the most intensive and successful community engagement programs in Los Angeles. The program's distinguishing feature is its strong commitment to providing access to the highest quality experience and instruction through a full spectrum of opportunities, including access to the school's mainstream educational programs in its Community School of Performing Arts (CSPA), the Music Academy, the Trudl Zipper Dance Institute, and the Colburn Conservatory of Music.

Colburn School's Community Engagement Week, taking place November 3-10, will involve the entire Colburn School community in discussions, performances, and community-based activities. Throughout the week, students, faculty, and staff will engage in community-focused programs throughout Southern California.

2018-19 Season by Series or Category

Colburn Orchestra

Under the batons of Music Director and Conductor Yehuda Gilad and a roster of notable guest conductors, the Colburn Orchestra season brings the ensemble to The Soraya, Pasadena's Ambassador Auditorium, and Walt Disney Concert Hall.

August 15, 7:00 pm | The Soraya (formerly VPAC)

(tour kick-off; invited audience)

Christopher Lees, guest conductor

Simone Porter, violin

Esa-Pekka SALONEN Nyx

BARBER Violin Concerto

RACHMANINOFF Symphonic Dances

September 29, 7:30 pm | Ambassador Auditorium

Catherine Larsen-Maguire, guest conductor

Emma Wernig, viola

BACH Orchestral Suite No. 1

WALTON Viola Concerto

MOZART Symphony No. 39

The lively British conductor Catherine Larsen-Maguire opens the season with the winner of Colburn's concerto competition, violist Emma Wernig.

GALA CONCERT

October 23, 7 pm | Walt Disney Concert Hall

Valery Gergiev, guest conductor and honoree (Richard D. Colburn Award)

Dominic Cheli, piano

Program to be announced

At its annual gala event "Celebrate Colburn" Valery Gergiev, general director and artistic director of the Mariinsky Theatre and chief conductor of the Munich Philharmonic, conducts the Colburn Orchestra, with pianist and Colburn Conservatory student Dominic Cheli, at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Applauded by MusicWeb International for his "splendid playing...great skill and technical prowess," pianist Dominic Cheli is First Prize winner of the 2017 Concert Artists Guild Competition. During a post-performance gala dinner, Gergiev will be honored with the Richard D. Colburn award, along with fellow honoree, acoustitian Yasuhisa Toyota, who is collaborating with architect Frank Gehry on the Colburn School's campus expansion, including the building of an 1100-seat concert hall-the Colburn School's first venue for full-scale orchestra performances-along with a 700-seat flexible studio theater for dance and vocal performance, and a 100-seat cabaret-style space.

December 9, 3 pm | The Soraya (formerly Valley Performing Arts Center)

Yehuda Gilad, Music Director and Conductor

Felicity James, violin

BERNSTEIN Slava! A Political Overture

GLAZUNOV Violin Concerto

SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No 5

The Colburn Orchestra's Music Director leads the orchestra in a powerful program featuring rising star Colburn Conservatory student Felicity James.

January 31, 8 pm | The Soraya

Esa-Pekka Salonen, guest conductor

Cristina Mateo Sáez, clarinet

STRAUSS Til Eulenspiegel

MOZART Clarinet Concerto

STRAUSS Also Sprach Zarathustra

Esa-Pekka Salonen returns to conduct the Colburn Orchestra at The Soraya in a program of Strauss and Mozart, featuring Colburn Conservatory student Cristina Mateo Sáez , who will perform Mozart's Clarinet Concerto. Cristina Mateo Sáez was awarded second prize in the prestigious Jacques Lancelot International Clarinet Competition, a biennial competition which takes place alternately in France and in Japan.

March 2, 8 pm | Walt Disney Concert Hall

Xian Zhang, Guest Conductor

The Colburn Orchestra performs for the first time under the baton of the lively and dynamic New Jersey Symphony Music Director Xian Zhang.

April 13, 8 pm | Ambassador Auditorium

Claus Peter Flor, guest conductor

Alyssa Katahara, harp

GINASTERA Harp Concerto

BRUCKNER Symphony No. 4

This season finale concert features Colburn Conservatory student Alyssa Katahara performing Ginastera's lyrical harp concerto and Bruckner's "Romantic" Symphony under the baton of esteemed German conductor Claus Peter Flor.

Colburn Chamber Music Society

Conservatory students perform with a roster of today's most compelling artists on this series of intimate ensemble performances.

September 23, 7 pm | Zipper Hall

Ramón Ortega, oboe

MOZART Oboe Quartet

MOZART Oboe Quintet

KOECHLIN Sonata for Seven
GOUNOD Petite Symphonie

Colburn School oboe faculty and newly appointed principal oboist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic makes his Colburn School debut.

October 28, 3 pm | Zipper Hall

She-e Wu, percussion (guest artist)

David SAMPSON Just Keep Moving
Tim FERCHEN Partials of Colors
Andy AKIHO LIgNEouS 1
Kevin PUTS And Legions Will Rise
She-e WU Blue Identity

Innovative percussionist She-e Wu presents a varied and dynamic program of chamber music, including her own work.

November 7, 7 pm | Zipper Hall

Martin Beaver, violin

Paul Coletti, viola

Clive Greensmith, cello

Fabio Bidini, piano

DOHNÁNYI Serenade for String Trio in C Major
CLARKE Piano Trio
SCHUMANN Piano Quartet in E-flat Major

Artist faculty and renowned chamber musicians come together in a program including Hungarian composer Dohnányi's Serenade for String Trio, the harmonically rich but lesser known Piano Trio by Rebecca Clarke, and Schumann's beloved Piano Quartet.

February 10, 3 pm | Zipper Hall

Scott St. John, violin

STRAVINSKY L'Histoire du Soldat (trio version)

John Adams String Quartet

SCHUBERT "Trout" Quintet

Eminent chamber musician and new Colburn faculty member performs John Adams's First Quartet, which the artist premiered in 2009.

March 8, 7:30 pm | Zipper Hall

Eliso Virsaladze, piano (guest artist)

HAYDN Piano Trio in F Major
MOZART Piano Quartet in G Minor
SCHUMANN Piano Quintet in E-flat Major

This legendary Georgian pianist makes a rare North American appearance with a program of classical and romantic favorites.

Faculty Recitals

All concerts are free and take place in Thayer Hall, unless otherwise noted.

Michael Yoshimi

Saturday, September 8, 2018 at 7:30 pm

Michael Yoshimi, clarinet

Javier Morales-Martinez, clarinet

Hui Wu, piano

Béla KOVACS Shalom Aleichem, Rov Feidman

WIDOR Introduction and Rondo

BERNSTEIN Sonata

SCHUMANN Romances

DEBUSSY Premiere Rhapsodie

MENDELSSOHN Concertpiece No. 1, Op. 113

Clarinetist Michael Yoshimi takes the stage with his former student, Community School of Performing Arts alumnus Javier Morales Martinez.

Ian Pritchard
Saturday, September 15 at 7:30 pm

Ian Pritchard, harpsichord

Colburn Baroque Ensemble

BACH Partita No. 6 in E Minor, BWV 830

BACH Italian Concerto in F Major, BWV 971

BACH Triple Concerto in A Minor for Flute, Violin and Harpsichord, BWV 1044

The Colburn Baroque Ensemble, dedicated to performing the earlier works of Western classical music, presents an evening of Bach partitas and concertos.

Noah Meites and Jordan Nelson

Thursday, October 5 at 7:30 pm

Noah MEITES, Composer

Jordan NELSON, Composer

HOCKET, Piano Duo

This program of music by faculty Noah Meites and Jordan Nelson includes two world premieres, performed by Conservatory of Music students and HOCKET, the duo comprising pianists Sarah Gibson and Thomas Kotcheff.

Rossetti Piano Trio

Sunday, October 7 at 3 pm

Rossetti Piano Trio

Henry Gronnier, violin

Vardan Gasparyan, cello

Rina Dokshitsky, piano

BEETHOVEN Piano Trio in B-flat Major, WoO 39

BEETHOVEN Piano Trio in G Major, Op. 1 No. 2

BEETHOVEN Piano Trio in B-flat Major, Op. 97, "Archduke"

CSPA Faculty Showcase

Saturday, October 13 at 6 pm | Zipper Hall

Faculty from throughout the Community School of Performing Arts come together for this annual performance.

David Young

Sunday, February 3 at 7 pm

David Young, double bass

Special Guests

Aimée Kreston
Saturday, February 10 at 7 pm

Aimée Kreston, violin

Inga Kapoula Gartner, piano

ELFRIDA ANDRÉE Sonata

CLARA SCHUMANN Two Romances

RAVEL Sonata

BEETHOVEN Violin Sonata No. 5 in F major, Op. 24 "Spring"

Marina Ensemble
Saturday, February 23, 2019 at 7:30 pm

Andrea Sanderson, guest violin

Michael McLean, faculty viola

Nancy Yamagata, faculty cello

Rae Kate Shen, guest piano

Kenton Youngstrom, faculty guitar

Can Canbolat, faculty violin

David Young, faculty bass

Janelle DeStefano, guest mezzo-soprano

BACH "Erbarme dich" from St. Matthew Passion

BOCCHERINI Guitar Quintet No. 4 in N*E*R*D Major

SCHUBERT Theme & Variations from the "Trout" Quintet

PIAZZOLLA Le Grand Tango (arr. by McLean)

Michael Chipman

Sunday, March 17 at 3 pm

Michael Chipman, baritone

Vanessa Fadial, piano

BEETHOVEN An die ferne Geliebte

POULENC Tel Jour, Telle Nuit

BARBER Three Songs, Op. 10

MUSTO Vive Sweet Love

LISZT Canzone di Petrarca

Tina Qu

Sunday, March 17 at 6 pm

Tina Qu, Violin
Andrew Picken, Viola
Jacob Braun, Cello
Peter Lloyd, Bass
Inga Kapouler Gartner, Piano

SAINT-SAËNS Havanaise
STRAUSS Violin Sonata
SCHUBERT "Trout" Quintet

Paul Coletti

Faculty Recital

Sunday, April 7 at 7 pm

Paul Coletti, Viola

Works by Rachmaninoff, Clarke, and Coletti

Additional faculty recitals to be announced