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Los Angeles, CA (Wednesday, August 28, 2024) – The Colburn School, the internationally acclaimed institute for music and dance, today announced its 2024-25 season. The School’s rising stars and distinguished faculty collaborate with the world’s most renowned guest artists in exceptional orchestral, chamber, recitals, dance programs and more. Performances are offered for free or at low cost on campus and throughout the Los Angeles area.
The 2024-25 season welcomes the return of signature Colburn School programs, including performances by the Colburn Orchestra and the Colburn Chamber Music Society series, featuring collaborations with today’s leading artists from around the world alongside Colburn School students. The Colburn Presents series features acclaimed soloists, chamber musicians, and ensembles, and the Ziering-Conlon Initiative for Recovered Voices continues to present music by composers whose careers and lives were tragically cut short by the Nazi regime in Europe.
Distinguished conductors leading the Colburn Orchestra include Mexican conductor, Grammy-winner, and North Carolina Symphony Music Director Carlos Miguel Prieto; world-renowned composer and San Francisco Symphony Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen; Russian-American conductor Lidiya Yankovskaya; Music Director of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and New World Symphony Stéphane Denève; and Music Director of the Colburn Orchestra, Yehuda Gilad.
Colburn’s Conservatory of Music’s Negaunee Conducting Program, led by Salonen, who holds the Maestro Ernst H. Katz Chair of Conducting Studies, offers a unique opportunity for a select group of students, known as Salonen Fellows, to refine their craft and prepare for careers on the world’s most prestigious stages under Salonen’s guidance. This year, Salonen Fellows Aleksandra Melaniuk and Mert Yalniz will also conduct the Colburn Orchestra.
Distinguished artists appearing on the Colburn Chamber Music Society series include internationally renowned violinist Jennifer Koh; one of the world’s most versatile pianists, Louis Lortie; Professor in the Practice of Cello at Yale School of Music and former Principal Cellist of the BBC Symphony Orchestra Paul Watkins; principal clarinet of The Cleveland Orchestra and Colburn School alum Afendi Yusuf; and Professor of Chamber Music for the Colburn Conservatory, violist Jonathan Brown.
The Colburn Presents series welcomes celebrated soloists, chamber musicians, and ensembles for performances at the School, including a duo recital with violinist William Hagen and pianist Albert Cano Smit; a recital by alumni ensemble the Calidore String Quartet; two recitals by ensemble-in-residence Quartet Integra, one alongside the Calidore Quartet and the second with pianist Fabio Bidini; appearances by guitarist Marko Topchii, violinist Kerson Leong, and the Adrian Dunn Singers; and a duo recital with cellist Steven Isserlis and pianist Connie Shih.
“The Colburn School’s 2024-25 season exemplifies artistic excellence and unites our global artistic community in dynamic performances and enriching educational experiences,” said President and CEO Sel Kardan. “From orchestral concerts and dance programs to intimate recitals, master classes, and beyond, we are excited to share the exceptional talent and creativity of our students and faculty, as well as visiting guest artists. We invite everyone to join us in celebrating the vibrant future of music and dance.”
2024–25 Season Highlights
Colburn Orchestra
The premier ensemble of the Colburn Conservatory of Music performs throughout Southern California.
WAGNER Prelude from Tristan und Isolde NIELSEN Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra BRAHMS Symphony No. 3 in F Major
The season opens with an evening of soulful masterworks rife with musical and emotional turmoil. The ever-shifting textures and styles of Nielson’s single-movement clarinet concerto are paired with Brahms’s Third Symphony, which exudes the composer’s characteristic angst as it alternates between major and minor. The moody prelude to Wagner’s opera Tristan and Isolde rounds out the program.
At Pasadena’s Ambassador Auditorium.
SAARIAHO Lumière et Pesanteur SIBELIUS Violin Concerto in D Minor SIBELIUS Symphony No. 2 in D Major
Esa-Pekka Salonen returns to Walt Disney Concert Hall for an all-Finnish program. After an ethereal piece by Kaija Saariaho – a work dedicated to Salonen himself – the violin shines in Sibelius’s brooding Violin Concerto before the soaring melodies and triumphant timbre of Sibelius’s Second Symphony close out the concert. Presented by the LA Phil.
At Walt Disney Concert Hall.
STRAUSS Don Quixote ESMAIL RE|Member DEBUSSY La mer (The sea)
The journey of errant knight Don Quixote is depicted through solo instruments in Strauss’s tone poem of the same name. Debussy brings an undulating seascape to life in his famous La mer, and a piece by Renee Esmail uses a unique oboe duet to capture the uncertainty felt in concert halls in 2021.
SARAH GIBSON Painting the Floor SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 6 TCHAIKOVSKY Violin Concerto
The two critically-panned works on this program have since become audience favorites. Shostakovich’s Sixth starts with an achingly emotional slow movement before plunging toward a fast and fiery finish. In Tchaikovsky’s lively Violin Concerto, the virtuosic demands made on the soloist never fail to leave audiences awestruck. A David Hockney-inspired piece by Sarah Gibson opens the concert.
GERSHWIN An American in Paris RAVEL Piano Concerto in G Major DVOŘÁK Symphony No. 8
This afternoon of playful pieces begins with Gershwin’s An American in Paris, which paints a vivid picture of life in the French capital—bustling streets, car horns, and all. The musical fireworks continue in a jazz-influenced piano concerto by Ravel before the lively spirit and dance-like melodies of Dvořák’s Eight Symphony close out the program. Presented by The Soraya.
At Northridge’s The Soraya.
The Colburn Orchestra is generously underwritten by Eva and Marc Stern.
Colburn Chamber Music Society
The Colburn Chamber Music Society (CCMS) series features renowned guest artists joined on stage by Conservatory of Music students and faculty for a set of intimate performances.
MISSY MAZZOLI Lies You Can Believe In for String Trio NINA YOUNG Spero Lucem for Piano Quartet FAURÉ Piano Quartet No. 1 in C Minor SCHUMANN Piano Quartet in E-flat Major
A multifaceted artist with a passion for new music, violinist Jennifer Koh continually enchants audiences with her virtuosity and technical prowess. She takes the Colburn stage for a program blending classic and contemporary.
This concert is generously supported by the Jackson family, in memory of Adrian Daly for his angelic mentorship to students in the Colburn Academy and beyond.
SAINT-SAËNS Caprice sur des airs danois et russes FAURÉ Piano Quartet No. 2 ROUSSEL Divertissement for Winds and Piano HAHN Piano Quintet
Celebrated for his passionate playing and unique musical interpretations, award-winning French-Canadian pianist Louis Lortie boasts an impressive career as a soloist, chamber musician, and recording artist. He takes the stage for a program of innovative chamber works by French contemporaries Saint-Saëns, Fauré, Roussel, and Hahn.
Carlos SIMON be still and know for Piano Trio COLERIDGE-TAYLOR Clarinet Quintet WAGNER Lohengrin Prelude for Cello Quartet MOZART Horn Quintet BRITTEN Sinfonietta for Wind and String Quintets
Cellist Paul Watkins’s remarkable artistic resume includes membership in the famed Emerson String Quartet, eight concerto appearances at the BBC Proms, and regular performances with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. He curates a program sure to excite both wind and string lovers alike with its unique instrumental combinations.
This residency is generously supported by The Geeting Family.
MOZART String Quartet No. 1 in G Major STEVE REICH Different Trains for String Quartet and Tape SCHOENBERG Verklärte Nacht for String Sextet
Violist Jonathan Brown, Colburn’s newly appointed professor of chamber music, is a longtime member of the acclaimed Cuarteto Casals. With the quartet, he has performed in major concert halls across the globe and amassed a robust library of recordings. For his Colburn debut, Brown pairs Mozart’s charming String Quartet No. 1 with eclectic works by Schoenberg and Steve Reich.
PENDERECKI Quartet for Clarinet and Strings VILLA-LOBOS Quintette en forme de chôros BRAHMS Clarinet Quintet in B Minor
Cleveland Orchestra principal clarinet Afendi Yusuf has become an in-demand soloist and chamber musician thanks to his “clear, liquid tone, pitch-perfect intonation, and effortless technique” (Chicago Classical Review). The Conservatory alumnus returns to the Colburn stage for a program of quartets and quintets by Brahms, Villa-Lobos, and Penderecki.
Colburn Presents
Duncan McDougall, Violin; Yejin Hong, Cello; Yanfeng Tony Bai, Piano
RACHMANINOFF Trio elégiaque No. 1 JENNIFER HIGDON Piano Trio No. 1 SCHUBERT Piano Trio No. 2 in E-flat Major
Fresh off their 2024 Fischoff Chamber Music Competition win, Trio Azura performs an intimate concert of piano trio works by Rachmaninoff, Schubert, and Jennifer Higdon.
SCHUMANN Violin Sonata No. 2 DVOŘÁK Sonatina BARTOK Rhapsody No. 1 RAVEL Tzigane
The dynamic alumni duo of violinist William Hagen and pianist Albert Cano Smit take the Colburn stage once again for a program of Dvořák, Schumann, Bartok, and Ravel.
This concert is generously supported by the Jackson family as a loving tribute to Mr. Robert Lipsett for his teaching legacy in violin performing arts.
KORNGOLD String Quartet No. 1 in A Major, Op. 16 KORNGOLD String Quartet No. 2 in E-Flat Major, Op. 26 KORNGOLD String Quartet No. 3 in D Major, Op. 34
The acclaimed Calidore String Quartet returns to its alma mater for a week of intimate performances and master classes. Winner of BBC Music Magazine’s 2024 Chamber Award, Calidore has been praised for its “deep reserves of virtuosity and irrepressible dramatic instinct” (New York Times).
The Calidore String Quartet’s 2024 Colburn School residency is generously supported by Dot and Rick Nelson.
MARSALIS Selections from String Quartet No. 1 (‘At The Octoroon Balls’) (1998) KORNGOLD String Sextet, Op. 10 (1916) MENDELOSSHN String Octet in E-flat major, Op. 20 (1825)
FREDERIC HAND Undercurrents BACH Partita No. 2 in C Minor ARAUD DUMOND Comme un Hommage à Ravel RAVEL Pavane, Sonatine, Alborada del Gracioso (arr. Topchii) SHEVCHENKO Carpathian Rhapsody POULENC Sarabande DOWLAND Chromatic Fantasy MANGORE Un Sueño en la Floresta GIULIANI Six Variations LEO BROUWER La Gran Sarabande RODRIGO Toccata GRAEME KOEHNE A Closed World of Fine Feelings and Grand Design
Marko Topchii, winner of the 2023 Guitar Foundation of America International Concert Artist Competition, performs guitar classics, contemporary works, and unique arrangements.
SCHUMANN Piano Quintet in E-flat Major BRAHMS Piano Quintet in F Minor
Delight in an evening of masterworks performed by Van Cliburn-winning pianist Fabio Bidini and Quartet Integra, Colburn’s ensemble-in-residence. These talented musicians will bring to life Brahms’s and Schumann’s only piano quintets, two of the most popular in the genre.
BEETHOVEN Cello Sonata No. 2 in G Minor MARTINŮ Cello Sonata No. 2 BOULANGER Trois Pièces for Cello and Piano GRIEG Cello Sonata in A Minor
Superstar cellist Steven Isserlis comes to DTLA for a special duo recital with longtime collaborator Connie Shih on piano. “A musical force to be reckoned with” (Toronto Star), the pair brings a program of virtuoso cello sonatas by Beethoven, Martinů, and Grieg, plus a short piece by Nadia Boulanger. This “musical collaboration of rare intensity” (Bachtrack) is not to be missed!
This concert is generously supported by Laura Danly.
Adrian Dunn, Colburn’s Director of Choral Programs, leads a joyous musical celebration of Black History Month featuring acappella spirituals and original compositions for chorus. The program will be performed by the Adrian Dunn Singers, an all-Black professional ensemble founded by Dunn and dedicated to transforming classical music and the music industry at large.
POULENC Violin Sonata FAURÉ Violin Sonata No. 1 in A Major BOULANGER Deux Morceaux FRANCK Violin Sonata in A Major
Kerson Leong, described by the Toronto Star as “not just one of Canada’s greatest violinists but one of the greatest violinists, period,” performs a dynamic program of sonatas by Poulenc, Fauré, Boulanger, and Franck.
This concert is generously supported by the Jackson family, in honor of Seth Novatt for his opportunities given to outstanding young music talents in career development.
Recovered Voices
The Ziering-Conlon Initiative for Recovered Voices at Colburn brings to life important repertory by composers whose careers and lives were disrupted and destroyed during the years of the Nazi regime in Europe.
Pre-Concert Lecture featuring Maestro James Conlon and ARC Ensemble Artistic Director Simon Wynberg
KAUFMANN Sonatina No. 12 for Clarinet and Piano KANITZ String Quartet in D Major BLOCK Suite for Clarinet and Piano LAKS Quintet for Piano and Strings
Canada’s Grammy-nominated ARC Ensemble (Artists of The Royal Conservatory), a group dedicated to the recovery of suppressed and lost 20th-century music, performs a program of rarely-heard works for clarinet, piano, and strings.
Adam Millstein, Violin & Dominic Cheli, Piano
KAUDER Violin Sonata in A Minor KORNGOLD Marietta’s Lied KORNGOLD Serenade from Der Schneemann SCHOENBERG Phantasy ZEISL Brandeis Sonata
The dynamic duo of violinist Adam Millstein and pianist Dominic Cheli performs concert works by talented émigré, many of whom made Los Angeles their home. The innovative creations of these composers influenced each other and profoundly impacted the trajectory of 20th century music.
Aleksandra Melaniuk, Conductor | Alena Hove, Violin & Martha Chan, Flute
WEINBERG Concertino for Violin and String Orchestra, Op. 42 WEINBERG Concerto for Flute and String Orchestra, Op. 75 WEINBERG Chamber Symphony No. 1, Op. 145
Despite being a friend and contemporary of Shostakovich, the musical genius of Mieczysław Weinberg went unrecognized for much of the 20th century due to Soviet-Era suppression. This concert highlights three of Weinberg’s more than 150 works: a playful flute concerto, a concertino for violin and string orchestra, and a dramatic chamber symphony.
The Ziering-Conlon Initiative for Recovered Voices is made possible through the generous support of Marilyn Ziering alongside the many donors who are inspired by this incredibly important work at Colburn School.
Trudl Zipper Dance Institute
The Trudl Zipper Dance Institute is dedicated to developing the talent and ambitions of its students, from beginners starting in Youth Dance to aspiring professionals in the Dance Academy.
Sunday, November 3, 2024
Leading guest dance artists collaborate with Conservatory musicians in a performance at 2245, home to LA Dance Project, that illuminates the creative process.
Saturday, December 14, 2024
Enter into the wonder of the holiday season through this festive program of music and dance, featuring performers from all of Colburn’s dance programs.
Saturday, February 22, 2025
Stars from the world of tap dance present an inspired performance showcasing the dynamism and vitality of the art form today.
Tap Fest 2025 is generously supported by Aliza and Michael Lesser.
Sunday, March 30, 2025
Music Academy and Dance Academy students perform celebrated choreography paired with musical masterworks.
Saturday, May 24, 2025
Colburn Ballet, Modern and Dance Academy students close the year with a celebratory program featuring new choreography and beloved masterworks.
Community School of the Performing Arts
At the Community School, where all experience levels from beginner to advanced are welcome, students join together to perform in both chamber and larger ensemble settings.
Sunday, December 15, 2024
Selected through a rigorous and competitive audition process, top students from the Community School take the stage in a recital showcasing solo and chamber music.
Sunday, May 11, 2025
Music Academy
Colburn’s Music Academy provides pre-college training essential for exceptional young performers who want to dedicate themselves to music with an eye on becoming a professional.
BRAHMS Chorale Preludes, “O Gott, du frommer Gott” (arr. ANGERER)
MOZART Symphony No. 35, “Haffner”
SUK Serenade for Strings in E-flat Major
Sunday, April 20, 2025
details to be announced
Master Classes
Today’s leading soloists and musicians lead in-depth master classes with Colburn students, offering a rare glimpse into the artistic, creative, and learning processes.
Event Tickets
For all Colburn School events, reservations and tickets can be secured at colburnschool.edu/season. The Colburn School box office can be reached at boxoffice@colburnschool.edu or (213) 621-1050. Please visit colburnschool.edu/calendar to see everything that’s happening on campus.
About the Colburn School
A performing arts institution located in the heart of Los Angeles, the Colburn School trains students from beginners to those about to embark on professional careers. The academic units of the School provide a complete spectrum of music and dance education united by a single philosophy: that all who desire to study music or dance should have access to top-level instruction.
Each year, more than 2,000 students from around the world come to Colburn to benefit from the renowned faculty, exceptional facilities, and focus on excellence that unites the community.
The Colburn Center, designed by Frank Gehry, is a multi-faceted campus expansion of the Colburn School. Located across the street from the School’s existing campus at the intersection of Olive and Second Streets, the Colburn Center will enable the School to expand its mission of presenting programs for the public. Gehry’s design includes a 1,000-seat in-the-round concert hall named Terri and Jerry Kohl Hall, five professional-sized dance studios including a 100-seat studio theater, and gardens that bring fresh air and green spaces to the downtown landscape. The Colburn School broke ground on the Colburn Center on April 5, 2024. The completed project will join Gehry’s Walt Disney Concert Hall and The Grand complex to create the largest concentration of buildings designed by the architect in the world.
Contact:
Lisa Bellamore lbellamore@gmail.com 323-500-3071
Jennifer Kallend jkallend@colburnschool.edu 215-622-6195
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