LA Phil Teams Up with NPR's From the Top with Host Christopher O'Riley for Broadcast of Symphonies for Schools Concerts at Walt Disney Concert Hall

 

Concerts to Showcase Five Young Local Musicians

 

New Piece by Composer Fellow Esther Ollivier to Be Premiered by

Los Angeles Philharmonic

 

Los Angeles, CA (February 8, 2018) - The LA Phil teams up with NPR's From the Top with Host Christopher O'Riley, the preeminent showcase for young musicians, heard weekly on KUSC 91.5 FM, to record a radio broadcast featuring five extraordinary young classical musicians from across Los Angeles performing alongside the Los Angeles Philharmonic conducted by Paolo Bortolameolli. The broadcast will feature the world premiere of a new work, Brisé,  by Esther Ollivier, a member of the LA Phil's Nancy and Barry Sanders Composer Fellowship Program for high-school-age composers, and a performance by bassoonist John Anthony Gonzales, a member of the LA Phil's Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA) program. Christopher O'Riley and LA Phil Associate Concertmaster Bing Wang will join Osheen Manukyan (cello) to perform Piazzolla's Primavera Porteña.

 

The recordings will take place at Walt Disney Concert Hall on March 8 and 9, as part of the LA Phil's Symphonies for Schools Presented by Disney program for students from grades 6 through 12. In addition to these performances showcasing inspiring young musicians playing alongside the LA Phil, the recording event will include an entertaining mix of interviews and personal stories, hosted by Christopher O'Riley.

 

Performers and program include:

 

Chunyi Zhou (violin), 12, Irvine, CA

LALO - Rondo, from Symphonie espagnole, Op. 21, with the Los Angeles Philharmonic

 

John Anthony Gonzalez (bassoon), 17, Los Angeles, CA

MOZART - Allegro, from the Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra in B-flat major, K.191, with the Los Angeles Philharmonic

 

Esther Ollivier (composer), 17, Los Angeles, CA

Esther OLLIVIER - Brisé, performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic

 

Osheen Manukyan (cello), 18, Glendale, CA

PIAZZOLLA - Primavera Porteña, with Christopher O'Riley (piano) and LA Phil Associate Concertmaster Bing Wang (violin)

 

Ray Ushikubo (piano), 16, Riverside, CA

GRIEG - Allegro molto moderato, from the Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 16, with the Los Angeles Philharmonic

 

Performers' biographies can be found at fromthetop.org.

 

The program will broadcast on stations nationwide and by podcast in Spring 2018, with the date to be announced. From the Top can be heard on KUSC 91.5FM, Sundays at 6PM.

 

Leadership support for this program was provided by Disney and the Max H. Gluck Foundation.

 

The performance of Brisé, composed by Esther Ollivier, is part of From the Top's New Music Series, supported in part by the Amphion Foundation and the Aaron Copland Fund for Music

 

About Symphonies for Schools

The LA Phil's Symphonies for Schools program provides elementary schoolchildren an introduction to the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and middle and high school music students the opportunity to experience their "hometown A-team" orchestra, through free concerts annually at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Each teacher who applies to participate in this program attends a preparatory workshop focusing on either the curricular integration of the music or the connections to their music making. The program culminates in unforgettable concerts developed especially for these unique age groups. The 2018/19 application process will open in September 2018. More information about Symphonies for Schools can be found here.

 

About From the Top

From the Top is America's largest national platform celebrating the stories, talents, and character of classically-trained young musicians. Through live events, NPR and YouTube broadcasts, scholarships, and leadership programs, From the Top empowers these extraordinary young people to engage and inspire music lovers of all ages.

Support for From the Top's radio program is made possible through grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. It is also supported through the generous contributions of individuals and institutions as well as public radio stations. From the Top's founding partners are New England Conservatory and WGBH.

 

From the Top is an independent non-profit organization proudly based in Boston's vibrant cultural district. Learn more at fromthetop.org

 

The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, under the vibrant leadership of Music & Artistic 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 September 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.