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  • LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC ASSOCIATION OFFERS FREE TICKETS TO SPECIAL CONCERTS AT WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL DURING GRAND AVENUE FESTIVAL
  • Oct. 8, 2005
  • The L.A. Philharmonic Piano Trio, Children's Performances Performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Organ Recitals among Celebrations of Beethoven Unbound Theme

    SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8, 11 AM to 5 PM

    Grand Avenue Festival Sponsors: KUSC 91.5 FM, KPCC 89.3 FM, Metrolink, Metro, Performances Magazine and Union Bank of California. Special thanks to W.M. Keck Foundation, Karl H. Loring, Adele and Gordon Binder Foundation and David and Linda Shaheen Foundation for their generous support through the Endowment Fund. Additional support is provided by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, Los Angeles Philharmonic Affiliates, and MetLife Foundation.

    Downtown Los Angeles showcases its vibrant cultural center on Saturday, October 8, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the second annual Grand Avenue Festival. The Los Angeles Philharmonic presents musical performances free of charge throughout the day as part of the collaborative celebration between highly acclaimed and nationally renowned restaurants, theaters, concert halls, museums and other organizations. Free tickets to each concert are limited to four per person and will be available one hour prior to the performance at the Grand Avenue Festival Ticket booth, located at 2nd & Grand, adjacent to Walt Disney Concert Hall.

    The wide range of concerts and activities taking place in and around Walt Disney Concert Hall during the Grand Avenue Festival reflects the Los Angeles Philharmonic's innovative Beethoven Unbound festival, a multi-faceted project exploring the music of Beethoven during the 2005/06 season. In celebration of Beethoven and his artistic creativity, the LA Phil presents the composer's music in the Auditorium. The Los Angeles Philharmonic Piano Trio-featuring three of the orchestra's principal players: Principal Concertmaster Martin Chalifour, Principal Cellist Peter Stumpf and Principal Keyboardist Joanne Pearce Martin-kicks off the Main Hall concert festivities. In a special children's performance entitled Beethoven's in the House, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, led by Assistant Conductor Alexander Mickelthwate, invites audiences to experience an imaginary tour of Beethoven's childhood home on a journey to discover the famed composer's passion, determination and ability to inspire. In another of the day's concerts, Walt Disney Concert Hall Organ Conservator Phil Smith performs Beethoven works transcribed for the organ on the Hall's mighty 6,134-pipe instrument.

    Walt Disney Concert Hall's adjacent performance spaces-BP Hall and Keck Amphitheatre-host concerts throughout the day by artists who challenge musical boundaries-one of Beethoven's hallmarks. Among the artists performing are the John Coltrane-inspired Young Jazz Giants (winners of the 1999 John Coltrane Music Competition); cellist Jorane, celebrated in her native Quebec for her haunting voice and soulful playing; Karsh Kale, who infuses the sounds of his Indian heritage with rock and electronic music; and ukulele master Jake Shimabukuro, known for lightning fast fingers and revolutionary playing techniques. In addition, children's workshops take place in Walt Disney Concert Hall's gardens.

    Creating a sound that is distinctively her own, the haunting voice and soulful cello playing of JORANE (pronounced Jo-ran) captivate her audience by weaving a mesmerizing sonic dreamscape. A powerful performer, she illuminates the stage with the depth of her musical prowess, using her voice as a tool of improvisation and exploring the relationship between instrument and voice. Celebrated in her native Quebec, Jorane is on Six Degrees Records, and has toured internationally to support the release of her albums around the world.

    Fueled by the music of his Indian heritage and the influences of rock and electronic music from his American upbringing, KARSH KALE (pronounced Kursh Kah-lay) has become the spokesperson for a truly international music. The young producer/composer/ performer honed his music and producing skills in collaborations with Herbie Hancock, Sting, System of a Down's Serj Tankian, Moroccan master Hassan Hakmoun, Senegalese superstar Baaba Maal, and Ethiopian pop singer Gigi. He's a charter member of the super group Tabla Beat Science, playing and collaborating with Zakir Hussain, Ustad Sultan Khan, and Bill Laswell. One of the hottest remixer/DJs in New York, Kale envisions songs as performances, integrating the essence of a dance event and an organic, high-octane rock show.

    Martin Chalifour, Joanne Pearce Martin, and Peter Stumpf recently joined forces and formed THE L.A. PHILHARMONIC PIANO TRIO to explore the wonderful repertoire written for violin, cello and piano. All three artists met in 1981 while studying at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. Martin Chalifour began his tenure as Principal Concertmaster of the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 1995. Before coming to Los Angeles, Chalifour had joined the Cleveland Orchestra in 1990 as Associate Concertmaster and later held the position of Acting Concertmaster for two seasons. Chalifour appears frequently as a soloist and in recital, and he has toured with chamber ensembles throughout North America and Europe. He regularly performs in a number of summer music festivals including San Diego's Mainly Mozart Festival and Florida's Sarasota Music Festival. Born in Montreal, Canada, Chalifour graduated at the age of 18 with a unanimous First Prize from the Montreal Conservatory, and is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music. Peter Stumpf spent 12 years as the Associate Principal Cellist of the Philadelphia Orchestra, before joining the Los Angeles Philharmonic as Principal Cellist in 2002. He is a dedicated chamber musician, a member of the Johannes Quartet, and a frequent participant at the Marlboro Music Festival who has toured with "Music from Marlboro." He has also performed in concert with the Emerson String Quartet. An active recitalist, Stumpf has performed at the Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C., at Jordan Hall in Boston, and at the universities of Hartford and Delaware and has appeared as soloist with many orchestras, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Philadelphia Orchestra, as well as the Aspen Music Festival. Trained at the Curtis Institute and the New England Conservatory, Peter Stumpf began his professional career at the age of 16, playing in the Hartford Symphony and later serving on the cello faculty of the New England Conservatory of Music. As the Los Angeles Philharmonic's Principal Keyboardist, Joanne Pearce Martin appears frequently with the Philharmonic's chamber music and Green Umbrella series. A graduate of Philadelphia's Curtis Institute of Music, she has performed with many orchestras in the U.S. and abroad. Martin has appeared at major summer music festivals and on concert series spanning four continents as well as having performed on all of the major U.S. television networks.

    ALEXANDER MICKELTHWATE is the Los Angeles Philharmonic's new Assistant Conductor. Mickelthwate was born in Germany, where he played piano, organ, and cello in various ensembles. He earned his bachelor's degree in conducting and piano performance while in Germany and won a scholarship to attend the Peabody Institute of Music in Baltimore, Maryland. Upon continuing his musical studies in the United States he studied with many master conductors like Frederik Prausnitz, Robert Spano, Leonard Slatkin, Michael Tilson Thomas, and Seiji Ozawa. Following his graduate studies he conducted many orchestras including the Eos Orchestra in New York, Newark Youth Orchestra, Scarsdale (New York) Youth Orchestra, Baltimore Opera, Florida Grand Opera, El Paso Opera, Baltimore Symphony, the New Jersey Symphony, the Brooklyn Philharmonic, and the Cleveland Chamber Symphony, and served as the Assistant Conductor of the Atlanta Symphony before joining the Los Angeles Philharmonic in the beginning of its 2004 season.

    Known for his lightning fast fingers and revolutionary playing techniques, JAKE SHIMABUKURO is a complete master of the ukulele. The 28-year-old shatters musical boundaries, playing and creating music never before thought possible on the four-string, two-octave instrument. Viewing the ukulele as an "untapped source of music with unlimited potential," Jake has an ever-expanding repertoire including jazz, blues, funk, classical, bluegrass, folk, flamenco and rock. His performances captivate audience and fellow musicians alike, with intricate strumming and plucking techniques, electrifying high-energy grooves, and melodic, heartfelt ballads. His recordings have garnered numerous awards, and Jake has worked with countless artists including Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, Bobby McFerrin, John Hiatt, Les Paul, Fiona Apple, Diana Krall, Stanley Clarke, Blues Traveler, Jimmy Buffet, the String Cheese Incident, Stephen Bishop, and many more.

    PHILIP ALLEN SMITH is the Organ Conservator for Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Director of Music and Organist at Wilshire United Methodist Church, and Organist and Choir Director for Temple Israel of Hollywood. Active as a teacher in organ, piano, and voice, Smith has accompanied many choruses and soloists in Southern California, including the Ventura Master Chorale and the Los Angeles Master Chorale. He has played many concerts for the American Guild of Organists chapters in California, in addition to performing at the Region IX Convention of the AGO in Pasadena and countless venues throughout the United States and Europe. An active member of the American Guild of Organists, Smith has served as the Pasadena Chapter as Treasurer, Program Chair, Sub-Dean, and Dean. Currently he serves on the board of the Los Angeles Chapter and was Co-Chair for Hospitality for the National Convention of the American Guild of Organists in 2004.

    Pianist, keyboardist, composer, improviser, producer, engineer, Asher Fulero (a.k.a. SURROUNDED BY NINJAS) has worn many musical hats in his 28 years. A true musical chameleon, Fulero has recorded and performed in a host of differing musical styles including classical, jazz, hip-hop, reggae, funk, rock, blues, afro-Cuban and electronic acts. As a studio player, Asher has made a name for himself as an artist of the highest caliber, adding his signature sounds to albums across the spectrum. Recent releases include Garden of Days with SF-based singer/songwriter Jamie Byrd; Deliver, the new rock and funk masterpiece from the Scott Law Band, and the debut from Portland hippie-hop faves Luminous Fog.

    Special guests of Karsh Kale, the TAAL DANCE COMPANY offers a unique dance experience by fusing progressive styles with East Indian dancing. From elegant, statuesque poses to fast, rhythmic footwork set to modern electronic tabla beats, Taal combines years of experience by weaving the classically artistic and mesmerizing elements of Indian dance with the ethnic textures of contemporary global music. The company's talent, entertainment, and direction/choreography can be seen in stage productions, music concerts, film, music videos, cultural events, opening nights and private galas.

    Breaking free of his formal studies as a jazz and classical bassist, Mike Silverman (a.k.a. THAT 1 GUY) created a magnificently insane one-man show. An indispensable component of both his live and recorded performances is a one-stringed, homemade musical creation called The Magic Pipe; it is seven feet of galvanized steel and hardware store trinkets, brought to life by an array of electronic gadgets. When That 1 Guy performs, his imagination is his only guide: in an infectious, innovative style, the mild-mannered artist and his Magic Pipe lead fans of the musically bizarre down an unpredictable path of musical exploration.

    Nurtured by the late, legendary drummer Billy Higgins, the YOUNG JAZZ GIANTS represent a new generation of young musicians raised on hip-hop while respecting and reinventing the language of jazz. Winners of the 1999 John Coltrane Music Competition, the giants are: Kamasi Washington, tenor saxophone; Robert Miller, drums; Miles Mosley, acoustic bass; Stephen Bruner, electric bass; Cameron Graves, piano; Brandon Colman, keyboards; Ryan Porter, trombone; and Teris Martin, alto sax. The Young Jazz Giants' sensational musicianship and instinct are peerless; they blend Coltrane's soul-stretching impulse with Davis' explosive bebop and Hancock's Headhunter concept into a unique, progressive sound often dubbed "jazz with urgency."

    EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:

    All concerts listed below take place in and around WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL, 111 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, as part of the Grand Avenue Festival on Saturday, October 8, 2005, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

    Walt Disney Concert Hall - Auditorium



    The L.A. Philharmonic Piano Trio

    Martin Chalifour, violin

    Peter Stumpf, cello

    Joanne Pearce Martin, piano

    11:00-11:30 AM

    Selections to be announced


    Beethoven's in the House (children's performance)

    Los Angeles Philharmonic

    Alexander Mickelthwate, conductor

    12:15-12:55 PM

    and 1:35 - 2:15 PM

    BEETHOVEN Overture to Fidelio

    BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major (1st Movement)

    BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 5 (1st Movement)

    BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 9 (4th Movement)


    Organ Performance

    Phil Smith, organ

    3:00-3:30 PM

    and 4:15-4:45 PM

    BEETHOVEN selections transcribed for organ


    Gardens at Walt Disney Concert Hall

    11:00 AM-5:00 PM

    Children's Workshops: Beethovens's Conversation Books

    Hosted by Rosanne Kleinerman and Elmira Adamian

    Keck Amphitheatre (Garden Level) at Walt Disney Concert Hall

    Surrounded by Ninjas

    11:30 AM-12:00 PM

    and 12:30-1:00 PM

    Karsh Kale with special guests the Taal Dance Company

    1:30-2:00 PM

    and 2:30-3:00 PM

    That 1 Guy

    3:30-4:00 PM

    and 4:30-5:00 PM

    BP Hall at Walt Disney Concert Hall

    Young Jazz Giants

    11:00-11:30 AM

    and 12:00-12:30 PM

    Jake Shimabukuro

    1:00-1:30 PM

    and 2:00-2:30 PM

    Jorane

    3:15-3:45 PM

    and 4:15-4:45 PM

    Tickets, limited to four per person and free of charge to all ages, are required to attend the Los Angeles Philharmonic's presentations during the Grand Avenue Festival. Tickets are available one hour prior to each performance on a first-come, first-serve basis at the Grand Avenue Festival Ticket Booth, located at 2nd & Grand, adjacent to Walt Disney Concert Hall. Capacity is limited and tickets cannot be resold. For additional information, please visit any www.laphil.com or call 323.850.2000.

    Grand Avenue Festival Sponsors: KUSC 91.5 FM, KPCC 89.3 FM, Metrolink, Metro, Performances Magazine and Union Bank of California. Special thanks to W.M. Keck Foundation, Karl H. Loring, Adele and Gordon Binder Foundation and David and Linda Shaheen Foundation for their generous support through the Endowment Fund. Additional support is provided by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, Los Angeles Philharmonic Affiliates, and MetLife Foundation.

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  • Contact:

    Contacts: Adam Crane, 213.972.3422; Cathy Williams, 213.972.3689