The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association’s 2011/12 Toyota Symphonies for Youth (TSFY) concert series at Walt Disney Concert Hall begins on Saturday, November 5, and Saturday, November 12, at 11 a.m., with two performances of an original concert production that shares composer Felix Mendelssohn’s journey through foreign and exotic landscapes far away from his home and his beloved sister Fanny – a journey expressed through music that both transforms and inspires. Dudamel Fellow Mihaela Cesa-Goje brings Mendelssohn’s Mystical Landscapes to life through the composer’s music, conducting the Los Angeles Philharmonic in excerpts from the Hebrides Overture (Fingal’s Cave) and Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 56, “Scottish.”

Conductor Mihaela Cesa-Goje, a hand-selected participant of the Dudamel Fellowship program, leads the LA Phil for both performances. The Dudamel Fellowship program gives each participating Fellow the opportunity to develop his/her craft and enrich his/her musical experience through personal mentorship and participation in the LA Phil’s orchestral and education programs. Winner of the 2009 Taki Concordia Conducting Fellowship, Cesa-Goje has been the recipient of several other conducting prizes and awards. The most recent is the 2010 Women Conductor Grant from the League of American Orchestras. Also, in 2003 she was awarded the Sandor Vegh Prize by the Romanian Mozart Society for an outstanding performance of Mozart’s Der Schauspieldirektor at the Cluj National Opera, Romania. In 2005, she completed her Conducting Diploma at the Royal Academy of Music in London and was awarded the Irene Burcher Prize. In 2009, she was selected as one of the three young Romanian conductors to debut at the Romanian Athenaeum, the most important concert hall in Romania. Her conducting mentor is Maestra Marin Alsop; she also studied with Harold Farberman, Gustav Meier and Florentin Mihaescu.

Cesa-Goje is currently the Conductor of the Harmonia Cordis International Classical Guitar Festival. Mihaela has appeared as guest conductor of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Florida Orchestra, Colorado Symphony, Hartford Symphony, Transylvania State Philharmonic, Sibiu Philharmonic, Dinu Lipatti Philharmonic, Oradea Philharmonic, and Targu Mures Philharmonic.

The ultimate family event, combining fun and fantasy, the TSFY concert series at Walt Disney Concert Hall introduces the world of classical music to children through imaginative and original story-telling that features the orchestra in a theatrical setting. This series of captivating orchestral concerts for children (ages 5-11) is led by the LA Phil’s Dudamel Conducting Fellows and directed by theater artists. Before every concert, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Walt Disney Concert Hall becomes a musical playground with hands-on art making, musical activities, dance, and storytelling or theater. Workshops take place in the lobby spaces one hour prior to the performance. Judi Garratt, Los Angeles Unified School District Elementary Theatre Teacher for the Arts Education Branch, coordinates all pre-concert activities.

The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, under the vibrant leadership of Music Director Gustavo Dudamel, presents an inspiring array of music from all genres – orchestral, chamber and Baroque music, organ and celebrity recitals, new music, jazz, world music and pop – at two of L.A.’s iconic venues, Walt Disney Concert Hall (www.laphil.com) and the Hollywood Bowl (www.hollywoodbowl.com). The LA Phil’s season at Walt Disney Concert Hall extends from October through May, and throughout the summer at the Hollywood Bowl. With the preeminent Los Angeles Philharmonic at the foundation of its offerings, the LA Phil aims to enrich and transform lives through music, with a robust mix of artistic, education and community programs.

Toyota Symphonies for Youth is generously sponsored by Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

Leadership support for the LA Phil's education and community programs is provided by Fidelity Investments, the Annenberg Foundation, Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts, Amgen Foundation, The Rose Hills Foundation, The Lee and Hope Landis Warner YOLA Student Fund, The Maxwell H. Gluck Foundation, The James Irvine Foundation, The Walt Disney Company, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, the Eisner Foundation, Anita Hirsh, Ronus Family Foundation, JPMorgan Chase, Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation, Los Angeles Philharmonic Committee, Los Angeles Philharmonic Affiliates, City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts.

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011, at 11 AM

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2011, at 11 AM

WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL, 111 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles



Toyota Symphonies for Youth



Mendelssohn’s Mystical Landscapes



LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC

MIHAELA CESA-GOJE, conductor

CODY HENDERSON, writer

ROBIN LARSEN, director

MATT BAUER, Felix Mendelssohn

DANA GREEN, Fanny Mendelssohn

DAVE CHAMPAGNE, Actor/Bagpiper

ADELE HEATHER TAYLOR, dancer

RYAN SANDBERG, dancer

RAND RYAN, lighting designer

ELA ERWIN, costume designer

CRYSTAL MUNSON, stage manager

Pre-Concert Activities Creative Team



JUDI GARRATT, activities coordinator

MARY LOUISE FRAUCHIGER, dance

CANDY DANZIG, theater/storytelling

PAT TUTTLE, visual arts

ANDREW GRUESCHOW, music

Tickets ($21) are on sale now at the Walt Disney Concert Hall Box Office, online at LAPhil.com, or via credit card phone order at 323.850.2000. For information, please call 323.850.2000.