Henry Segerstrom News

Teachers and school administrators, PTA members, community partners, nonprofit organizations and others interested in presenting world-class artists at assemblies or teach art workshops at their sites are encouraged to attend Segerstrom Center for the Arts' annual Arts Teach Showcase today, April 29 from 8:45 a.m. to 1:16 p.m. in the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall.

The heartwarming and hilarious one-man show, Snowflake, starring Gale LaJoye returns to Segerstrom Center for the Arts this weekend, April 26 & 27 in Samueli Theater.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts has announced its 2014 - 2015 Family Series. Eight shows will feature an array of talented international artists who will entertain and inspire families gathered for the spontaneous thrill and joy of live theater. Each performance will be preceded by an hour of free audience engagement activities themed to the show. Performances are in the Center's Samueli Theater unless otherwise noted.

The internationally-acclaimed Pacific Chorale in Orange County, CA will be presenting a new work created by American opera composer Jake Heggie, and the versatile librettist Gene Scheer entitled 'THE RADIO HOUR'. The choral opera will be conducted by Pacific Chorale's Artistic Director, John Alexander, and stage-directed by James R. Taulli. The premiere work will be performed by the organization's chamber choir, The John Alexander Singers, accompanied by an 8-member ensemble of musicians who are members of Pacific Symphony. The performance is on Sunday, May 18 at 5:30 p.m. at the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa, CA. Scroll down to see an interview with composer Jake Heggie and conductor John Alexander!

Yoshiki, Asia's foremost rock icon and multi talented music superstar, will bring his new live show, Yoshiki Classical, to Segerstrom Center for the Arts for a special one-night-only concert tonight, April 25 at 8 p.m. in the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall.

International rock icon Yoshiki has announced three new concert dates across Asia to his highly anticipated Yoshiki Classical tour. X Japan's founder and leader will bring his first classical concert tour to Taipei, Taiwan, as well as, Tokyo and Osaka, Japan. The newly added concert dates follow Yoshiki's recently announced Bangkok, Thailand performance. Yoshiki, Asia's foremost rock icon and multi talented music superstar, will embark on the Yoshiki Classical tour at Segerstrom Center for the Arts tonight, April 25 at 8 p.m. in the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall before setting off across North America, Europe and Asia, culminating in Yoshiki's native Japan.

Singer and songwriter Amos Lee will make his Segerstrom Center for the Arts debut on Wednesday, August 6 at 8 p.m. in the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall as part of the second leg of his 2014 Mountains of Sorrow, Rivers of Song Tour. His recent fall and winter headline tour included sold-out shows at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, ACL Live in Austin and the Beacon Theatre in New York City. Lee will be joined by band members, Freddie Berman, drums; Zach Djanikian, mandolin; Annie Clements, bass and vocals; Andy Keenan, guitar, banjo and vocals; and Jaron Olevsky, keyboards.

Proudly celebrating the dedication, artistry and extraordinary talent of its young musicians, Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra (PSYO) presents the 2013-14 Concerto Competition winners in its season finale concert this Mother's Day! Under the guidance of Music Director Alejandro Gutiérrez, PSYO is being quickly recognized as one of the most outstanding youth orchestras in the country. The premier training ensemble in Orange County, PSYO draws musicians of the highest caliber from across Southern California—five of whom have been chosen to perform as soloists in this concert. Cellist Matthew Gustafson from Long Beach, tuba player David Freeman from Corona, violinist Sydney Mariano from Irvine and flutists Ramakrishnan Kumaran from Hemet and Gloria Liu from Irvine are highlighted in concertos by Haydn, Vaughan Williams and Lalo, as well as Borne's “Carmen Fantasy.” To conclude, the Youth Orchestra performs Tchaikovsky's stunning Fifth Symphony.

PSYWE's season finale celebrates musical learning with programming that makes connections between classical and contemporary composers. The concert is set for Sunday, May 11, 1:30 p.m. at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Costa Mesa, CA.

Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble's season finale celebrates musical learning with programming that makes connections between classical and contemporary composers. The concert begins with two wind ensemble arrangements of Bach's music: “Who Puts His Trust in God Most Just” (arr. James Croft), originally a chorale for four parts, and “Fugue in G Minor” (arr. Lucien Calliet), a masterful combination of counterpoint and harmony. Next is Eric Whitacre's “Sleep,” a smooth composition with drawn-out harmonies inspired by Robert Frost's poem, “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.” The concert concludes with Frank Ticheli's Symphony No. 2, which was composed in 2003 as a tribute to James Croft, director of bands at Florida State University. Its movements—“Shooting Stars,” “Dreams Under a New Moon” and “Apollo Unleashed”—are an evocation of the heavens, tying back to the concert's first number, not just with the dedication to Croft, but with a brilliant finale that quotes the chorale work by Bach. Tickets are $12 with general admission seating. For more information or to purchase tickets, call (714) 755-5799 or visit www.PacificSymphony.org.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts and THE BOOK OF MORMON, winner of nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical, are pleased to announce a lottery ticket policy for the Orange County engagement, May 13 - 25, 2014. The production will conduct a pre-show lottery at the Segerstrom Hall box office, making a limited number of tickets available for $25 each.

Pacific Symphony presents the perfect story to introduce children to the sounds of the orchestra—Prokofiev's wildly popular and charming “Peter and the Wolf”—which wraps up this season's Family Musical Mornings series, presented by Farmers and Merchants Bank. The imaginative duo from Magic Circle Mime Co., Maggie Petersen and Doug MacIntyre, tie comedy and movement to the music to illustrate the story of Peter, a brave young boy who must outsmart a wily wolf to help save his animal friends. Along with Assistant Conductor Alejandro Gutiérrez, the Symphony's principal musicians interact with the mimes and become characters in the story, as Benjamin Smolen (flute) plays the Bird, Jessica Pearlman (oboe) plays the Duck and Benjamin Lulich (clarinet) plays the Cat. With the thundering timpani of the Hunters and the French-horn sounds of the stalking Wolf, Prokofiev's thrilling music alerts children to the powerful stories music can tell.

Gleaming with glamour and virtuosity, Sarah Chang, one of the world's foremost violinists, returns to Pacific Symphony to perform Jean Sibelius' Violin Concerto, which takes full advantage of the violin's expressive range, from the rippling high chords to the growling alto notes. With an international career that spans more than two decades, Chang enthralls once again-this time alongside guest conductor Tito Muñoz, who recently served as music director of two esteemed organizations in Lorraine, France. Muñoz leads the orchestra in Dvo?ak's Symphony No. 8, optimistic and bright, filled with folk music and Bohemian dances. Opening the concert and having its West Coast premiere is a sensuous work by Adam Schoenberg, 'Finding Rothko' (2006). Inspired by four bold paintings by American Abstract Impressionist painter Mark Rothko, the work is a musical depiction of the emotions Schoenberg felt embodied in each of the paintings.

Gleaming with glamour and virtuosity, Sarah Chang, one of the world's foremost violinists, returns to Pacific Symphony to perform Jean Sibelius' Violin Concerto, which takes full advantage of the violin's expressive range, from the rippling high chords to the growling alto notes. With an international career that spans more than two decades, Chang, the “thrill seeker” who made Mendelssohn “sizzle” (Orange County Register) when she opened the Symphony's 2011-12 season enthralls once again—this time alongside guest conductor Tito Muñoz, who recently served as music director of two esteemed organizations in Lorraine, France. Muñoz leads the orchestra in Dvo?ák's Symphony No. 8, optimistic and bright, filled with folk music and Bohemian dances. Opening the concert and having its West Coast premiere is a sensuous work by Adam Schoenberg, “Finding Rothko” (2006). Inspired by four bold paintings by American Abstract Impressionist painter Mark Rothko, the work is a musical depiction of the emotions Schoenberg felt embodied in each of the paintings.

Pacific Symphony's critically-acclaimed American Composers Festival (ACF) continues for the 14th year with "From Screen to Score: New Concert Music by Famous Film Composers"-who happen to be four of today's biggest Hollywood heavy-hitters: John Williams ("Star Wars," "Raiders of the Lost Ark," "E.T., the Extra Terrestrial"), Howard Shore ("Lord of the Rings," "The Hobbit," "Hugo"), James Horner ("Titanic," "Star Trek," "Apollo 13") and Elliot Goldenthal ("Alien 3," "Batman Forever" and "Batman and Robin"). Together, these iconic composers boast 11 Oscars and countless billions of box office dollars. They also hold the ironic position of simultaneously being the most-heard orchestral composers ever (the soundtrack for "Titanic" sold 30 million copies), yet their music is the least performed.

International rock icon Yoshiki has announced three new concert dates across Asia to his highly anticipated Yoshiki Classical tour. X Japan's founder and leader will bring his first classical concert tour to Taipei, Taiwan, as well as, Tokyo and Osaka, Japan. The newly added concert dates follow Yoshiki's recently announced Bangkok, Thailand performance. Yoshiki, Asia's foremost rock icon and multi talented music superstar, will embark on the Yoshiki Classical tour at Segerstrom Center for the Arts on Friday, April 25 at 8 p.m. in the Rene?e and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall before setting off across North America, Europe and Asia, culminating in Yoshiki's native Japan.

Pacific Symphony's critically-acclaimed American Composers Festival (ACF) continues for the 14th year with “From Screen to Score: New Concert Music by Famous Film Composers”—who happen to be four of today's biggest Hollywood heavy-hitters: John Williams (“Star Wars,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “E.T., the Extra Terrestrial”), Howard Shore (“Lord of the Rings,” “The Hobbit,” “Hugo”), James Horner (“Titanic,” “Star Trek,” “Apollo 13”) and Elliot Goldenthal (“Alien 3,” “Batman Forever” and “Batman and Robin”). Together, these iconic composers boast 11 Oscars and countless billions of box office dollars. They also hold the ironic position of simultaneously being the most-heard orchestral composers ever (the soundtrack for “Titanic” sold 30 million copies), yet their music is the least performed.

Fluff, a tale of lost toys, makes its West Coast premiere this weekend, April 5 & 6 in Samueli Theater as part of Segerstrom Center's Family Series.

Grammy nominated, Golden Globe 'Entertainer of the Year' and multi-platinum selling artist Engelbert Humperdinck will perform at Segerstrom Center for the Arts for one night only on Saturday, September 20 at 7:30 p.m. in Segerstrom Hall. The charismatic and consummate entertainer will please audiences and "Humperdinckers" alike with music from his vast catalogue, including hits such as "Quando, Quando, Quando," "Release Me," "The Last Waltz," "Spanish Eyes" and many more tender ballads. London Times calls him, "The premier voice of the 20th Century."

Teachers and school administrators, PTA members, community partners, nonprofit organizations and others interested in presenting world-class artists at assemblies or teach art workshops at their sites are encouraged to attend Segerstrom Center for the Arts' annual Arts Teach Showcase on April 29 from 8:45 a.m. to 1:16 p.m. in the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. During this free action-packed and fun-filled day, attendees can watch live performances on three stages, experience hands-on workshops and meet with the talented teaching artists to explore unique and wonderful ways of presenting customized programs for upcoming events.