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  • WDCH
  • LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC PERFORMS "SYMPHONIES FOR SCHOOLS"
  • Jan. 9, 2002
  • “The Evolution of the Orchestra” and

    “The Power of Music: World War II”

    FOUR FREE CONCERTS FOR 12,000 LOCAL STUDENTS

    FEBRUARY 6, 7 AND 8 AT THE DOROTHY CHANDLER PAVILION

    12,000 local students will hear the Los Angeles Philharmonic in six free concerts as part of the Symphonies for Schools annual education program, with two concerts at 10 a.m. and 11:15 a.m., on Wednesday, February 6, and a concert at 10 a.m. on both Thursday, February 7 and Friday, February 8.

    New this year, the concerts have been tailored to fit the students’ grade-level. Third, fourth, and fifth graders will attend “The Evolution of the Orchestra” on February 6, while middle and high school students come to hear “The Power of Music: A Musical Exploration of World War II” on February 7 and 8. All concerts will be led by Associate Conductor Miguel Harth–Bedoya and hosted by actor John de Lancie and will take place at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

    At this year’s Symphonies for Schools concerts, elementary students learn how the orchestra evolved throughout history, starting with Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. The program demonstrates the subsequent growth of the orchestra to include various instruments and the emerging role of the conductor, using the music of Mozart, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky and Adams.

    “The Power of Music” will teach older students about how classical music, written by various composers (including Beethoven, Copland, Barber, Bruch), was played during World War II to convey messages to the general public and to war intelligence. The concert includes music that celebrated victory or was used as propaganda.

    All teachers participating in Symphonies for Schools are required to attend a workshop prior to the concerts, to learn about the music to be performed and how to integrate this music into their curricula. Students are then brought to the Music Center to hear the live performance. Participating students range in age from 8-17 years old and attend 175 area elementary, middle, and high schools. Approximately 6,000 are elementary students, 3,000 middle school students; the remaining 3,000 are high schoolers.

    Los Angeles Philharmonic Associate Conductor MIGUEL HARTH-BEDOYA is Music Director of the Fort Worth Symphony, a title he holds with both the Eugene Symphony in Oregon and the Auckland Phiharmonia in New Zealand. One of the most exciting young conductors in America, his active guest conducting schedule includes appearances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, the Seattle Symphony, the Quebec Symphony, the Puerto Rico Symphony, and the Mexico National Symphony. Festival appearances include Grant Park, Tanglewood, Rencontres Musicales d’Evian in France, the Domaine Forget International Festival in Quebec, and the Musicarchitettura International Festival in Italy. Born in 1968 in Lima, Peru, Miguel Harth-Bedoya holds degrees in conducting from The Curtis Institute of Music and The Juilliard School.

    Host JOHN DE LANCIE’s career spans the areas of stage, movies and television where he has proven himself to be an actor, director and producer of note. He has appeared in over 100 TV shows, including his best-known role as Picard’s bothersome adversary “Q” on Star Trek, The Next Generation. He co-owns a production company with Leonard Nimoy, Alien Voices, which has produced projects for Simon & Schuster, TNT, New Line, The Sci-Fi Channel, California School Systems. Mr. de Lancie’s love of music began as a child in Philadelphia, where he listened to Saturday night concerts at Philadelphia’s Academy of Music. He has performed as a speaker and narrator with the New York Philharmonic, The Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Milwaukee Symphony.

    The Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Symphonies for Schools program is brought to you in part by Anonymous, Citigroup, The Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation, The William Randolph Hearst Foundations, Morgan Stanley, The Times Mirror Foundation, Union Bank of California Foundation, United Airlines, The Weingart Foundation, Winnick Family Foundation, The Los Angeles County Arts Commission, the Cultural Affairs Department of the City of Los Angeles and The California Arts Council (a State Agency). Symphonies for Schools would not be possible without the extraordinary support and ongoing participation of the Philharmonic Affiliate Committees.

    The concerts on Thursday and Friday for secondary schools are supported by the Los Angeles Junior Philharmonic Committee.

    For more information on Symphonies for Schools or other Los Angeles Philharmonic education programs, call 213/972-0705.

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  • Contact:

    Elizabeth Hinckley 213/972-3034