Steve Pence News

The Los Angeles Master Chorale, led by Grant Gershon, Kiki & David Gindler Artistic Director, today announced its 2021-22 season and long-awaited return to Walt Disney Concert Hall, following the venue’s closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Set sail on an audio-fueled journey into our 2014 production of 'Billy Budd.' Brace yourself for stormy seas and emotional swells as you endeavor through the story of the H.M.S. Indomitable and its crew. 

The Los Angeles Master Chorale, led by Associate Conductor Jenny Wong, will perform Fauré's Requiem on March 28 & 29 at Walt Disney Concert Hall in a program that pairs the lush work with Frank Martin's exquisite Mass for Double Choir, a personal contemplation of God rooted in chant, and Roxanna Panufnik's Zen Love Song, a contemporary contemplation of loss based on Edo Komoriuta, a traditional Japanese lullaby.

On Saturday evening February 22, 2020, Los Angeles Opera presented a vocally glorious rendition of Gaetano Donizetti's Bel Canto opera Roberto Devereux. Roberto was one of the loves of England's Elizabeth I, so the opera is centered around their relationship and Roberto's forbidden love for Sara, the wife of the Duke of Nottingham.

On Saturday evening, November 16, 2019, Los Angeles Opera presented Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Emanuel Schickaneder's 1791 singspiel, The Magic Flute. The unusual production, which involved the appearance of screens reminiscent of 1920s silent films, was originally devised by Barry Kosky, Suzanne Andrade, and Paul Barritt for Berlin's Komische Oper. 

Following performances in Los Angeles, California and Poznań, Poland, Jenni Brandon and Oliver Mayer's '3 Paderewskis' will have its official world premiere on Wednesday, November 20, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Terrace Theater.

Los Angeles Opera opened its 2019-2020 season with Barrie Kosky's production of that most popular of operas, Giacomo Puccini's LA BOHEME. With minimal scenery from Rufus Didwiszus, Kosky's cast made the audience believe they were in the garret and at the toll gate. Only the scenery for the Café Momus was completely fleshed out.

On June 8 at 8:00 PM, the Long Beach Symphony wraps up its classical series season with enduring music of pomp and unity: Handel's Royal Fireworks Music and Beethoven's epic 9th Symphony. The concert will take place in the Terrace Theater of the Long Beach Performing Arts Center (300 E. Ocean Boulevard).

From the moment the amazing James Conlon-conducted orchestra began their crisp, lively 'Overture' to 'Quartet Finale,' the close of Act One; this remarkable production of CANDIDE entranced the Dorothy Chandler audience. Then after a short intermission, these talented performers and musicians had the audience right back in the palms of their skilled hands, beyond the tears-inducing finale 'Make Our Garden Grow,' to the extended and most deserved standing ovation for the cast, orchestra, and creatives.

Join us for an uplifting celebration of the human spirit as we close out our 2016-2017 Classics Series on Saturday, April 29 at Ambassador Auditorium with an Ode to Joy withBeethoven's Symphony No. 9. The concert will also feature Vaughan Williams' Serenade to Music and a special performance of Holst's Choral Hymns from the Rig Vedafeaturing David Lockington on Cello with the Los Angeles Children's Chorus. 

The Pasadena Symphony closes out its 2016-2017 Singpoli Classics Serieswith Beethoven Symphony No. 9 on April 29 with both matinee and evening performances at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. at Ambassador Auditorium. This season finale will envelop audiences with voices from the Donald Brinegar Singers, the JPL Chorus, and the Los Angeles Children's Chorus alongside four stellar solo vocalists: soprano Summer Hassan, mezzo soprano Tracy Van Fleet, tenor Arnold Livingston Geis and bass Steve Pence throughout the concert.

The Los Angeles Master Chorale (LAMC), led by Artistic Director Grant Gershon, presents two performances of Handel's Messiah, his most popular oratorio, on Sundays, December 6 and 20, at 7 pm, at Walt Disney Concert Hall.

On June 14th of this year, Mountainside Master Chorale will present a performance of Ein Deutsches Requiem Op. 45 (or A German Requiem) by Johannes Brahms to conclude their 14/15 Season.

The Los Angeles Master Chorale (LAMC), in one of the most highly anticipated collaborations of the season, joins forces with the renowned period instrument ensemble Musica Angelica Baroque Orchestra and the acclaimed Los Angeles Children's Chorus to present two historically informed performances of Bach's towering masterwork St. Matthew Passion, conducted by LAMC Artistic Director Grant Gershon, tonight, January 31, 2 pm, and Sunday, February 1, 2015, 7 pm, at Walt Disney Concert Hall.

The Los Angeles Master Chorale (LAMC), in one of the most highly anticipated collaborations of the season, joins forces with the renowned period instrument ensemble Musica Angelica Baroque Orchestra and the acclaimed Los Angeles Children's Chorus to present two historically informed performances of Bach's towering masterwork St. Matthew Passion, conducted by LAMC Artistic Director Grant Gershon, on Saturday, January 31, 2 pm, and Sunday, February 1, 2015, 7 pm, at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Soloists include Pablo Cora, tenor; Janelle DeStefano, mezzo soprano; Arnold Livingston Geis, tenor; Callista Hoffman-Campbell, mezzo soprano; Elissa Johnston, soprano; Jon Lee Keenan, tenor (Evangelist); Chung Uk Lee, bass (Jesus); Steve Pence, bass/baritone; Vincent Robles, baritone; Zanaida Robles, soprano; Anna Schubert, soprano; Laura Smith, mezzo soprano; and Nike St. Clair, mezzo soprano.

Imagine a festival with some of the world's most illustrious superstars of a certain age gathered together in one room. But instead of classics like Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Ingrid Bergman and Vivien Leigh - all unquestionably stars for the ages - the marquee names are eight of the world's most celebrated and rare Stradivarius violins brought together for the first time ever.

Imagine a festival with some of the world's most illustrious superstars of a certain age gathered together in one room. But instead of classics like Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Ingrid Bergman and Vivien Leigh - all unquestionably stars for the ages - the marquee names are eight of the world's most celebrated and rare Stradivarius violins brought together for the first time ever.

The Los Angeles Master Chorale, considered one of the world's leading choir's, showcases its superlative artistry with a rare performance of Mozart's arrangement of Handel's beloved Messiah, conducted by Music Director Grant Gershon, Sunday, December 12, 2010, 7:00 p.m

The Los Angeles Master Chorale, considered one of the world's leading choir's, showcases its superlative artistry with a rare performance of Mozart's arrangement of Handel's beloved Messiah, conducted by Music Director Grant Gershon, Sunday, December 12, 2010, 7:00 p.m

On Sunday, Aug 23rd 2009, Upright Cabaret's incredibly popular 'Wicked Summer Nights' series at the Ford Amphitheatre drew to a close with a spectacular concert entitled 'Stephen Schwartz: Making Good' which set out to celebrate the works of the man who inspired the series, Mr. Stephen Schwartz.