Pressroom
2011
Works by Stravinsky, Bartók, David Lang, and György Ligeti Reflect “Ancient Noises” at LJS C Concert
La Jolla, Calif. (November 11, 2011) — The second concert of the La Jolla Symphony Chorus (LJS C) “Stravinsky Circus!’ season highlights a choreographed version of Igor Stravinsky’s Les Noces on December 3-4, 2011 in Mandeville Auditorium, UCSD. The program begins with the local premiere of Pulitzer Prize-winning composer David Lang’s Grind to a Halt, followed by Béla Bartók’s magical Cantata Profana. The second half leads off with György Ligeti’s daring work for 100 metronomes, Poème Symphonique followed by Les Noces. Music Director Steven Schick and Choral Director David Chase share the podium in this concert. Guest artists include pianist Aleck Karis, red fish blue fish, Allyson Green and Lux Boreal dancers, soprano Jessica Aszodi (2011 LJS C Young Artists’ Competition vocal winner), mezzo-soprano Martha Jane Weaver, tenor Chad Frisque, and bass-baritone Phil Larson. Read More
Chorus to Perform Free Concert to Commemorate 10th Anniversary of 9-11 Attacks
La Jolla, Calif. (July 29, 2011) — The La Jolla Symphony & Chorus, (LJS&C) will perform a free concert under the baton of Choral Director David Chase at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church on Sunday, September 11, 2011, at 3:00 p.m. The performance is part of the “Rolling Requiem” project, a nationwide musical movement to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the 9-11 attacks with performances of Mozart’s Requiem. Participating choruses from New York to Hawaii will perform the Requiem with each chorus beginning at 3:00 p.m. their local time, uniting singers throughout the continent as performances roll across the time zones. Read More
La Jolla Symphony Chorus to Perform at Carnegie Hall
La Jolla, Calif. (July 19, 2011) — The La Jolla Symphony & Chorus, (LJS&C) conducted by choral director David Chase, will take to the celebrated stage of Carnegie Hall to perform Benjamin Britten’s “Spring Symphony” on May 27, 2012. Also joining the La Jolla Symphony Chorus in New York City will be the San Diego North Coast Singers children’s choir. Read More
The Season Closes Under the Influence of Haydn
La Jolla, Calif. (May 12, 2011) — The La Jolla Symphony & Chorus (LJS&C) concludes the 2010-2011 season the weekend of June 4-5 in a program that explores the music of Haydn and the meaning of classicism. Choral director David Chase conducts chorus, orchestra and four soloists in Haydn’s last major work, Harmoniemesse, and assistant orchestra conductor Nicholas Deyoe leads the orchestra in Brahms’ Variations on a Theme by Haydn and Shostakovich’s First Symphony. Soloists in the Harmoniemesse are soprano Cindy Choi (2010 Young Artists Winner), mezzo-soprano Katherine Lundeen, tenor Richard Geiler, and bass David Marshman. Read More
LJS&C Observes the Season with Bach’s Monumental “Saint Matthew Passion” in Two Powerful Performances
La Jolla, Calif. (April 1, 2011) — The La Jolla Symphony & Chorus (LJS&C) observes the Easter season with the best of choral music, J.S. Bach’s largest and most dramatic work, The Passion According to St. Matthew, on April 30 and May 1. Almost operatic in its spectacle and impact, this music requires two orchestras, adult and children choruses, and vocal and instrumental soloists. LJS&C Choral Director David Chase conducts. Read More
LJS&C Announces 2011-2012 Season
La Jolla, Calif. (March 24, 2011) — The La Jolla Symphony & Chorus (LJS&C) announces its 2011-2012 season themed: “Stravinsky Circus.” Offering a varied retrospective of this 20th century master through six works threaded throughout the season, concerts will also highlight the music of Beethoven, Brahms, Verdi, Mozart, Schumann, and contemporary composers, including David Lang and John Adams. Read More
Concerti Concert Features Premiere of “Concerto for Florist”
La Jolla, Calif. (February 22, 2011) — The La Jolla Symphony " Chorus (LJS"C) stretches the conception of the concerto on March 12-13, 2011 in Mandeville Auditorium on the UCSD campus. Conductor Steven Schick begins the program with Serge Prokofiev’s Concerto No. 2 for Violin, with the brilliant 16-year-old Hannah Cho as soloist, and concludes the program with the greatest orchestral concerto of them all – Béla Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra. In between, a complete surprise: the world premiere of Mark Applebaum’s Concerto for Florist and Orchestra, featuring ornamental horticulturalist James DelPrince as soloist. Read More
LJS&C Announces Winners of Annual Young Artists Competition
La Jolla, Calif. (February 4, 2011) — The La Jolla Symphony " Chorus (LJS"C) announces the winners of its 51st annual Young Artists Competition, which was held on January 29, 2011, on the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) campus. Thirty (30) contestants ages 14 to 28 from San Diego County and Baja California competed for eight (8) cash prizes in vocal and instrumental categories. Read More
A Concert of Contrasts: Debussy Frames Premieres of Works by Phil Kline and Iannis Xenakis
La Jolla, Calif. (January 13, 2011) — The La Jolla Symphony & Chorus (LJS&C) presents its third concert of the 56th season, Face the Music, with Music Director Steven Schick conducting works by Claude Debussy, a world premiere by Phil Kline with contemporary ensemble Real Quiet, and the U.S. premiere of the original (alpha) version of Iannis Xenakis’ Metastasis. Read More
2010
Honorary Artistic Board Includes Music World Luminaries
La Jolla, Calif. (October 6, 2010) — The La Jolla Symphony & Chorus (LJS&C) announces the formation of its first Honorary Artistic Board. The distinguished panel of musicians and composers are a who’s who in contemporary music and include Academy-award nominated composer Philip Glass and Pulitzer-prize winning composers David Lang and Bernard Rands. All have links to the LJS&C through works the ensemble has performed (and sometimes premiered) and support its mission of programming diverse, often adventurous, music in addition to the standard classical repertoire. Read More
Rare Performance of Beethoven Masterpiece, "Missa Solemnis"
La Jolla, Calif. (November 10, 2010) — The La Jolla Symphony " Chorus (LJS"C) under the baton of Steven Schick, performs Ludwig van Beethoven’s rarely-heard masterpiece Missa Solemnis on December 4th and 5th in Mandeville Auditorium, UCSD. The second concert in a season themed Face the Music: Experiences for the Ears and the Eyes, the weekend performances present audiences with one of the great spectacles of the early 19th century and the first San Diego performance of this masterpiece in more than 20 years. Joining the orchestra and chorus will be guest soloists soprano Natalie Mann, mezzo-soprano Ava Baker Liss, tenor Tom Oberjat, and bass-baritone Tom Corbeil. Read More
The LJS"C’s 56th Season, “Face the Music,” Opens with Mahler, Bernstein, Scriabin - and a Light Show
La Jolla, Calif. (October 6, 2010) — The La Jolla Symphony & Chorus (LJS&C) opens its 2010-2011 season -- Face the Music: Experiences for the Ears and the Eyes -- with an ear- and eye-opening concert conducted by Music Director Steven Schick on October 30-31. The colorful, multi-media program begins with Leonard Bernstein’s Overture to Candide followed by Alexander Scriabin’s Prometheus with pianist Noriko Kawai and “color organ” and video projections by video artist Ross Karre. The concert concludes with Gustav Mahler’s mighty Symphony No. 1 in D Major. Read More
San Diego Premiere of Benjamin Britten's "War Requiem"
La Jolla, Calif. (May 13, 2010) — The La Jolla Symphony & Chorus (LJS&C) concludes the 55th season with music director Steven Schick leading the orchestra, chorus, and special guests soprano Kathleen Halm, tenor Chad Frisque, bass-baritone Abdiel Gonzalez, and the St. Paul Cathedral Choristers’ youth chorus in the local premiere of Benjamin Britten’s monumental War Requiem. Read More
Honoring Poland’s Musical Legacy in the 20th Century and a U.S. Premiere
La Jolla, Calif. (Feb. 17, 2010) — The La Jolla Symphony & Chorus (LJS&C) presents its fourth concert of the 55th season with Choral Director David Chase conducting orchestra, chorus, and soloists in music from two of Poland’s most notable composers: Karol Szymanowski and Krzysztof Penderecki. Read More
“AMERICAN ACCENTS” OFFERS DVORAK, CHARLES IVES, AND LOU HARRISON’S PIPA CONCERTO WITH SOLOIST WU MAN
La Jolla, Calif. (January 13, 2010) — The La Jolla Symphony & Chorus (LJS&C) on February 6-7 presents a concert of perspectives on and about America: Charles Ives’ Three Places in New England, Lou Harrison’s Concerto for Pipa & String Orchestra with internationally renowned soloist Wu Man on pipa (Chinese lute), and Antonin Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 in E minor (New World). LJS&C Music Director Steven Schick conducts. Read More
2009
Leonard Bernstein’s “Mass” Makes San Diego Debut with La Jolla Symphony & Chorus
La Jolla, Calif. (November 16, 2009) — Grab your tie-dyes and your love beads and come back to the Age of Aquarius as La Jolla Symphony & Chorus (LJS&C) presents Leonard Bernstein’s stunning Mass, a San Diego premiere, on December 4, 5 and 6. Described as a theater-piece for singers, players, and dancers, the LJS&C production incorporates classical music, three choruses, two dance sequences, and jazz and rock ensembles. Ken Anderson, director of the UCSD Gospel Choir, performs the lead of the “Celebrant.” Other guest artists joining the orchestra and chorus include the North Coast Singers’ 30-voice children’s choir - Caprice, dancers Alison Dietterle Smith and Tonnie Sammartano, and members of the UCSD Jazz Ensemble. Read More
Hillcrest and Carlsbad Concerts Feature La Jolla Symphony Chorus, Organist Jared Jacobson and A Cappella Ensemble, “Soliphony”
La Jolla, Calif. (November 11, 2009) — On November 21 and 22, the La Jolla Symphony Chorus (LJSC) presents the latest in its Sacred Voices Series, The Mass Project. The two performances feature the 130-voice chorus, a new a cappella ensemble called “Soliphony,” and special guest Jared Jacobson on organ. The Saturday concert is at 7:00 pm at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral in Hillcrest. Sunday’s concert begins at 4:00 pm at Carlsbad Community Church in Carlsbad. Read More
55th Season Opens with San Diego Premiere, Bartok and Beethoven
La Jolla, Calif. (October 8, 2009) —On the weekend of October 31-November 1, La Jolla Symphony & Chorus (LJS&C) opens its 55th season with a celebration of songs and dances, offering wonderful examples of each. Bartok’s lively Romanian Folk Dances and Beethoven’s quintessential invitation to the dance, his Seventh Symphony, frame a program that includes three beautiful songs by Argentinean-Israeli-American composer Osvaldo Golijov and Bartok’s white-hot Miraculous Mandarin Suite. Read More
LJS&C Offers an Adventurous New Season – (e)Merging Voices
La Jolla, Calif. (August 27, 2009) — The La Jolla Symphony & Chorus (LJS&C)announces its 2009-2010 season – (e)Merging Voices. The 55th season highlights the ensemble’s 120-voice chorus on three of the six concert weekends in major choral works as varied as Leonard Bernstein’s Mass, with its brash mix of classical music and pop culture, and Benjamin Britten’s monumental War Requiem. The season also brings different “voices” in the musical world to local audiences, including Chinese pipa player Wu Man and Grammy-award winning soprano Susan Narucki in their debut performances with the LJS&C. Read More
Emmy Win for Philip Glass Concert Documentary
La Jolla, Calif. (June 16, 2009) — The La Jolla Symphony & Chorus (LJS&C) and UCSD-TV’s co-production of “La Jolla Symphony & Chorus: Philip Glass’ Cello Concerto” received an Emmy Award in the Entertainment--Program or Special category at the June 13 ceremony in San Diego. UCSD-TV’s Arts and Humanities Producer John Menier accepted the award. Read More
The “DNA of Music” Season Concludes in “Hope” with Mahler’s Mighty Symphony No. 2
La Jolla, Calif. (May 11, 2009) — The La Jolla Symphony & Chorus (LJS&C) presents its final concert of the season on the weekend of June 6-7, 2009, concluding a season-long exploration of the DNA of Music with “Hope.” Music Director Steven Schick conducts the orchestra, chorus, and guest artists soprano Laurinda Nikkel and mezzo-soprano Martha Jane Weaver in Gustav Mahler’s epic Symphony No. 2, “The Resurrection.” Read More
Cellist Maya Beiser and U.S. Premiere Highlight May 2-3 Concerts
La Jolla, Calif. (April 9, 2009) — The La Jolla Symphony & Chorus (LJS&C) presents its fifth in the DNA of Music series with a concert titled Passion. Music Director Steven Schick conducts orchestra, chorus, and special guests in a program that features acclaimed cellist Maya Beiserperforming Elgar’s Cello Concerto, the U.S. premiere of The General drawn from music by Beethoven with text by noted music critic Paul Griffiths,and Beethoven’s moving Elegy for chorus and string orchestra. Read More
“Music & Art in the Afternoon” at Encinitas Library
La Jolla, Calif. (March 31, 2009) — The first in a series of music and art events in support of music education is being presented by the La Jolla Symphony & Chorus (LJS&C). “Music & Art in the Afternoon” will be held on Sunday, April 26, 2009, at 2:30 p.m. in the Community Room of the Encinitas Library. Read More
Rare Concert Staging of Stravinsky’s “Oedipus Rex” Plus Holst and Debussy
La Jolla, Calif. (February 23, 2009) — The La Jolla Symphony & Chorus (LJS&C) presents its fourth concert of the 54th season continuing a season-long exploration of the “DNA of Music.” In this concert we explore the theme of “Perspective” as Choral Director David Chase conducts an extraordinary program that engages a cast of soloists and divides the chorus in two. Read More
"The Motet Project" Offers Retrospective of Sacred Choral Music
La Jolla, Calif. (January 7, 2009) - La Jolla Symphony Chorus presents and performs The Motet Project - a series of six motets that surveys sacred choral music from the Renaissance to 20th century - at San Rafael Parish Catholic Church, Rancho Bernardo, on Sunday, February 22 at 4:00 pm. Read More
Rare Concert Staging of Stravinsky’s “Oedipus Rex” Plus Holst and Debussy
La Jolla, Calif. (January 7, 2009) - The La Jolla Symphony & Chorus (LJS&C) presents its fourth concert of the 54th season continuing a season-long exploration of the “DNA of Music.” In this concert we explore the theme of “Perspective” as Choral Director David Chase conducts an extraordinary program that engages a cast of soloists and divides the chorus in two. Read More
A Celebration of the Lincoln-Darwin Bicentennial
La Jolla, Calif. (January 6, 2009) - La Jolla Symphony Chorus continues a season-long exploration of the DNA of Music in a concert titled "Home," with special guests Cecil Lytle and Renee Calvo. Read More
