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  • Conductor Perry So Leads Los Angeles Philharmonic in Toyota Symphonies for Youth Concerts:
    Vivaldi’s Four Seasons
  • Jan. 16, 2010
  • Perry So is one of four Dudamel Fellows hand-selected to participate in the 2009/10 Dudamel Fellowship Program

    SATURDAY, JANUARY 16, 2010, AT 11 AM and
    SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 2010, AT 11 AM
    PRE-CONCERT WORKSHOPS FOR CHILDREN AT 10 AM

    The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association’s 2009/10 Toyota Symphonies for Youth (TSFY) concert series at Walt Disney Concert Hall continues on Saturday, January 16, at 11 a.m., with an original concert production designed to educate young audiences about musical interpretation, using excerpts from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons as the centerpiece of the story. Conductor Perry So makes his Los Angeles Philharmonic debut for this performance, which repeats on Saturday, January 23, at 11 a.m.

    Perry So is a hand-selected participant of the Dudamel Fellowship Program, which provides each fellow the opportunity to develop his craft and enrich his musical experience through personal mentorship and participation in the LA Phil’s orchestral and education programs.

    Written by Cody Henderson, the story explores the power of music through the eyes of a stubborn weather reporter who demands that the weather (and therefore the music) remain perfectly sunny and delightful all of the time. However, as the musicians rebel against the status quo, venturing into each concerto of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, the weather reporter is pleasantly surprised to discover that change is not necessarily a bad thing, and that music is powerful enough to evoke a pleasant breeze or a cold winter storm.

    The TSFY concerts are orchestral theater – an art form that specializes in featuring the orchestra in a theatrical setting.  On Saturday, February 27 and March 6, the TSFY series continues with “Beethoven’s in the House,” led by conductor and Dudamel Fellow Diego Matheuz; on Saturday, April 10 and April 17, the 2009/10 TSFY series concludes with “A Celebration of Dance,” featuring conductor and Dudamel Fellow Christian Vásquez.

    Before every concert, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Walt Disney Concert Hall becomes a musical playground with hands-on art making, musical activities, dance, and storytelling or theater.  Workshops take place in the lobby spaces one hour prior to the performance. Judi Garratt, Los Angeles Unified School District Elementary Theatre Teacher for the Arts Education Branch, coordinates all pre-concert activities.

    The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, under the vibrant leadership of Gustavo Dudamel, presents the finest in orchestral and chamber music, recitals, new music, jazz, world music and holiday concerts at two of the most remarkable locations anywhere to experience music – Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Hollywood Bowl. In addition to a 30-week winter subscription season at Walt Disney Concert Hall, the LA Phil presents a 12-week summer festival at the legendary Hollywood Bowl, summer home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and home of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. In fulfilling its commitment to the community, the Association’s involvement with Los Angeles extends to educational concerts, children's programming and community concerts, ever seeking to provide inspiration and delight to the broadest possible audience.

    Perry So was awarded first prize at the Fifth International Prokofiev Competition in St. Petersburg, Russia in April 2008. So has conducted the St Petersburg Camerata, St Petersburg Symphony Orchestra, and the Greater Bridgeport Symphony Orchestra.  He has also worked with the Staatskapelle Weimar in a workshop hosted by the Deutsche Orchesterverein.  He is currently assistant conductor of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2007, he founded YUE, a summer festival in Huangshan, China, centered on an orchestra consisting of Chinese and American young musicians, and serves as its music director.

    Toyota Symphonies for Youth is generously sponsored by Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. with significant support provided by the Marie Baier Foundation. The Amgen Foundation is a leading supporter of music education at the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Additional support for the Philharmonic's Education and Community Programs is provided by: Annenberg Foundation, Capital Group Companies Charitable Foundation, City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, the James and Paula Coburn Foundation, The Dana Foundation, the Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation Inc., Edison International, Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation, The Green Foundation, William Randolph Hearst Foundation, Clarence E. Heller Charitable Foundation, Kashper Family Foundation, Karl H. Loring, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, Los Angeles Philharmonic Affiliates, B.C. McCabe Foundation, MetLife Foundation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts, Dick and Sally Roberts, Rose Hills Foundation, and the Weingart Foundation.

    EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:

    SATURDAY, JANUARY 16, 2010, at 11 AM

    SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 2010, at 11 AM


    WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL, 111 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles



    Toyota Symphonies for Youth



    Vivaldi’s Four Seasons



    LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC

    PERRY SO, conductor

    SARAH COOK, host

    INGRID CHUN, violin

    ROBERT GUPTA, violin

    MITCH NEWMAN, violin

    STACY WETZEL, violin

    DEBBIE DEVINE, director

    CODY HENDERSON, writer



    Pre-Concert Activities Creative Team



    JUDI GARRATT, activities coordinator

    MARY LOUISE FRAUCHIGER, dance

    CANDY DANZIG, theater/storytelling

    PAT TUTTLE, visual arts

    ANDREW GRUESCHOW, music

    Tickets ($20) are on sale now at the Walt Disney Concert Hall Box Office, online at LAPhil.com, or via credit card phone order at 323.850.2000.  For information, please call 323.850.2000.

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  • Contact:

    Sophie Jefferies, sjefferies@laphil.org, 213.972.3422; Lisa Bellamore, lbellamore@laphil.org, 213.972.3689; For photos: 213.972.3034