Music By Respighi, Saint-Saëns, Schubert, Massenet, Ponce,
and Bizet is Featured in Sounds About Town Program

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2006, 2:00 PM

The Colburn Orchestra makes its debut as part of the Los Angeles Philharmonic's Sounds About Town Series at Walt Disney Hall for the 2006/2007 season, with Music Director Yehuda Gilad conducting. The program on Saturday, October 28, at 2 p.m., is highlighted by violinist Joshua Bell who performs Saint-Saëns Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, Schubert's Ave Maria, Massenet's "Pourquoi me reveiller" from Werther, and Estrellita by Ponce. Also on the program is music by Respighi and Bizet. The Sounds About Town Series furthers the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association's goal of nurturing tomorrow's performers by providing opportunities for leading youth ensembles to perform at Walt Disney Concert Hall.

YEHUDA GILAD is one of today's most dynamic and charismatic conductors. Gilad's guest conducting appearances have brought him critical acclaim in the United States and throughout Europe. In 1987 he became the first Israeli-born conductor to perform in China, and he has since conducted numerous engagements in Beijing and Shanghai. In addition to guest conducting engagements, he serves as Conductor and Music Director of the Colburn Orchestra and the 20th Century Unlimited concert series in Santa Fe, New Mexico. From 1982 until 1988 Gilad was Music Director of the Santa Monica Symphony Orchestra. An accomplished clarinetist, Gilad has performed with the Marlboro Festival, Bowdoin Music Festival, San Francisco Chamber Music Festival, and the Israel Philharmonic. Yehuda Gilad is also a renowned teacher. At the USC Thornton School of Music, he has developed one of the most sought-after clarinet studios in the world. His success as a teacher is illustrated by the success of his students, many of whom are competition-winning performers and principal players in ranking orchestras throughout the world. He has earned numerous accolades, including the Distinguished Teacher Award from the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars, the Teacher of the Year Award from the Colburn School, the Israel-America Cultural Foundation Scholarship, and the Robert Simon Award in Music. His former teachers include Herbert Zipper, William Schaefer, Mitchell Lurie, and Giora Feidman. In addition, he participated in numerous master classes with Sergiu Celibidache and the late Leonard Bernstein.

Grammy Award-winning violinist JOSHUA BELL has been captivating audiences worldwide for over two decades with his poetic musicality. He came to national attention at the age of 14 in a highly acclaimed orchestral debut with Riccardo Muti and the Philadelphia Orchestra. A Carnegie Hall debut, the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant and a recording contract further confirmed his unique presence in the music world. Equally at home as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestra leader, Bell's career is exceptionally varied. Now in his thirties, he continues to perform regularly with the world's leading symphony orchestras and conductors. At the same time, his restless curiosity and multifaceted musical interests have taken him in exciting new directions, forging a unique career that has earned him the rare title of classical music superstar. In addition to his concert career, Bell enjoys chamber music collaborations with artists such as Pamela Frank, Steven Isserlis and Edgar Meyer as well as occasional collaborations with artists outside the classical arena including Josh Groban, Bobby McFerrin, Chick Corea and James Taylor. Bell and his two sisters grew up on a farm in Bloomington, Indiana. As a child, he indulged in many passions outside of music, becoming an avid computer game player and a competitive athlete. He placed fourth in a national tennis tournament at age 10 and still keeps his racquet close by. Bell received his first violin at age four after his parents, both psychologists by profession, noticed him plucking tunes with rubber bands he had stretched around the handles of his dresser drawers. By 12 he was serious about the instrument, thanks in large part to the inspiration of renowned violinist and pedagogue Josef Gingold, who had become his beloved teacher and mentor.

The COLBURN ORCHESTRA is the premier orchestra of the prestigious Colburn Conservatory of Music, a division of the Colburn School. For over 55 years, the Colburn School has been dedicated to offering the highest quality performing arts education to young people as early as possible in their lives. Since 2003, the School has also provided exceptionally talented students the opportunity to continue their musical performance training through accredited degree, diploma, and certificate programs. Located in downtown Los Angeles, across from the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the School is currently constructing an impressive addition to its popular campus. The new 326,000 sq. ft., 12-story expansion is an important component of the ongoing revitalization of the downtown area. It is scheduled to open in Fall 2007.

The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, under Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen, presents the finest in orchestral and chamber music, recitals, new music, jazz, world music and holiday concerts at two of the most remarkable places 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 programs, community concerts and children's programming, ever seeking to provide inspiration and delight to the broadest possible audience.

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2 PM

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

Sounds About Town

THE COLBURN ORCHESTRA

YEHUDA GILAD, conductor

JOSHUA BELL, violin

RESPIGHI The Birds

SAINT-SAËNS Introduction and Rondo capriccioso

SCHUBERT Ave Maria (arr. for violin and orchestra)

MASSENET Pourquoi me reveiller (arr. for violin and orchestra)

PONCE Estrellita (arr. for violin and orchestra)

BIZET Symphony in C

Tickets ($15-$39) are on sale now online at LAPhil.com, at the Walt Disney Concert Hall Box Office, or via credit card phone order at 323.850.2000. When available, choral bench seats ($15) will be released for sale to selected Philharmonic, Colburn Celebrity Recital, and Baroque Variations performances beginning at noon on the Tuesday of the second week prior to the concert. A limited number of $10 rush tickets for seniors and full time students may be available at the Walt Disney Concert Hall Box Office two hours prior to the performance. Valid identification is required; one ticket per person; cash only. Groups of 12 or more may be eligible for special discounts for selected concerts and seating areas. For all information, please call 323.850.2000.

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