Student youth orchestra performs with Coldplay during the big game’s halftime show
Classical music gained some major cool points on Super Bowl Sunday when members of Harmony Project’s Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (YOLA) led by Maestro Gustavo Dudamel performed during the halftime show with Coldplay. Continue reading
Eli and Edythe Broad commemorate the opening of their new downtown museum with a two-day celebration
by Linda A. Rapka
In September, Los Angeles welcomed the new Broad Museum with an extravagant gala event befitting the long-awaited $140 million project of arts philanthropists Eli and Edythe Broad.
The two-day long pre-opening celebration shut down Grand Avenue to nearly 2,000 private of the Broads. A special structure was erected across the street from the museum specifically for the party, its million-dollar price tag proving no deterrent for it being torn down the next day. Before previewing the museum’s collection, guests enjoyed a private dinner with live music by the 48-piece Angel City Pops Orchestra plus conductor – a scale not typical for your average dinner party. Continue reading
“Matilda: The Musical” Local 47 orchestra at the Ahmanson — Back row: Jeff Driskill (woodwinds), David Mergen (cello), Anna Stadlman (bass), Sal Lozano (woodwinds), Matthew Smedal (music director, Pittsburgh Local 60-471), Dan Fornero (trumpet 1), Rob Schaer (trumpet 2), Robert Payne (trombone/contractor). Front Row: Bill Congdon (assistant music director, Charlotte Local 342/Las Vegas Local 369), Joshua Priest (percussion, NY Local 802), Thom Rotella (guitar).
Based on the beloved novel by Roald Dahl, “Matilda: The Musical” delighted audiences at the Ahmanson Theatre in a highly successful run May 28 through July 12. Continue reading
Full Throttle Band:
Nolan Wren – Leader/Drums
Bryan Archer – Guitar
Jeff Ramos – Bass
Nick Gilroy – Keyboards
Jayme Palmer – Vocalist
In December, we dropped by Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia to check out the Local 47 rock band performing at the theme park’s “Snowy Nights” evening concerts.
Dubbed the Mistle-Tones during the holiday season, the group entertained park goers with fun renditions of holiday tunes from a large stage set up outside the Full Throttle ride. Additional guest vocalist on the night of our visit was Actors’ Equity member Joe Donohoe. During the evening DJ sets, Local 47 member Ricky Lorek performed live drums.
The Full Throttle band also performed during the summers and Fright Fest Halloween-season “Voodoo Nights” in 2013 and 2014.
The entire cast and orchestra of “Into the Woods” on the stage of the Wallis Annenberg Center. The orchestra included AFM musicians from Oregon and Los Angeles, contracted by Dan Savant and led by Martin Majkut, who performed front and center on the stage during the entire three-hour performance. Photo: Kevin Parry
The Oregon Shakespeare Festival production of hit musical “Into the Woods” took Beverly Hills by storm during its run at the new Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts.
Martin Majkut conducted a small, talented orchestra contracted by Dan Savant comprising AFM members from Los Angeles and Oregon. The musicians were featured front and center on the stage during the entire three-hour performance. Continue reading
Photo by Linda A. Rapka
After 34 years of marriage and 33 years at the Dresden, Marty & Elayne Roberts are still going strong
Holding the record as the longest running live act at the same venue in the history of Hollywood, Marty and Elayne Roberts have been playing live music at the Dresden Room’s Lounge five nights a week for the past 33 years. For all of those years, the married performing duo has been protected under a union contract — an all-too-rare occurrence on today’s live music scene. In April, Linda A. Rapka stopped by the Dresden to chat with Marty and Elayne about how they keep things fresh after more than three decades. Continue reading
photo by Larry Mah
Live from Capitol Records, the musicians of the 86th Academy Awards performed remotely on Oscars night for the second year in a row.
Located just a few blocks away from the ceremony held at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre, the orchestra was again led by William Ross. Continue reading
by Linda A. Rapka
Varèse Sarabande Records closed out its yearlong 35th anniversary celebration with the Golden State Pops Orchestra with a heartwarming holiday concert at the Warner Grand Theatre Dec. 21.
Varèse Sarabande executive producer Robert Townson on stage with Maestro Steven Allen Fox, the orchestra, the evening’s featured performer vocalists, and flute soloist Sara Andon.
(Photos by Linda A. Rapka)
In honor of three and a half decades of releasing film music, Varèse Sarabande hosted a series of four concerts with GSPO during the orchestra’s 2012/2013 season. Produced and hosted by the label’s executive producer, Robert Townson, the December concert featured memorable scores from Hollywood’s holiday classics to seasonal film favorites.
It just isn’t the holidays until the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles presents its annual musical extravaganza, Holiday Spectacular: Festival of Carols, and their 2013 performance once again lived up to its name.
photo by Gayle Trombetta