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  • LIONEL BRINGUIER MAKES DEBUT APPEARANCE AS ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR LEADING LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC IN FIRST TOYOTA SYMPHONIES FOR YOUTH CONCERTS OF 2007/2008 SEASON
  • Sep. 29, 2007
  • NORTHERN LIGHTS: THE MUSIC OF SIBELIUS PART OF SIBELIUS UNBOUND AT WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL

    SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, AT 11 AM and

    SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6, AT 11 AM

    PRE-CONCERT WORKSHOPS FOR CHILDREN AT 10 AM

    The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association's 2007/2008 Toyota Symphonies for Youth (TSFY) concert series at Walt Disney Concert Hall begins on Saturday, Sept. 29, at 11 a.m., with Northern Lights: The Music of Sibelius, an original production that explores Sibelius' connection between nature and sound. New Assistant Conductor Lionel Bringuier leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and host Rob Bowers guides young audiences through a musical journey that transforms Walt Disney Concert Hall into the land of Northern Lights as part of the season-opening Sibelius Unbound festival. The program repeats on Saturday, October 6, at 11 a.m.

    Written by Ed Barguiarena, the story explores Sibelius' connection between the eye and ear. Everything Sibelius experienced in his natural environment produced a corresponding sound, from the scent of a fresh snowfall, to the reflection of light playing in the leaves, these scenes he heard as music. Northern Lights: The Music of Sibelius encourages audiences to explore their own perceptions of the world around them through audience participation, listening activites, and a performance by the Los Angeles Philharmonic that features Sibelius' famed tone poem, Finlandia, and excerpts from Lemminkäinen's Return.

    The TSFY concerts reflect major themes of the Los Angeles Philharmonic's 2007/2008 season, adapted for younger audiences through orchestral theater - an art form that specializes in featuring the orchestra in a theatrical setting. On Saturday, December 1 & 8, the Toyota Symphonies for Youth concert series celebrates The Spirit of Bach; on Saturday, March 1 & 8, TSFY continues with The Composer is Dead, an orchestral collaboration between author Lemony Snicket and composer Nathaniel Stookey; and on Saturday, April 12 & 19, the 2007/08 TSFY series concludes with Berlioz' Fantastic Symphony. 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.

    Conductor LIONEL BRINGUIER begins his two-year appointment as Assistant Conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic in September 2007. Bringuier was selected through a competitive process that included over 150 applicants from around the world. In his first season as Assistant Conductor, Lionel Bringuier conducts many of the Philharmonic's education and community concerts. He will lead other concerts as scheduled, including subscription concerts at the world-renowned Hollywood Bowl, the Philharmonic's summer home, and a Green Umbrella new music series concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Bringuier also serves as the cover conductor for Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen or guest conductors throughout the orchestra's subscription season and on tour. In addition, his duties include serving as a member of the planning team for the educational series Toyota Symphonies for Youth.

    JACKIE BANKS returns to the LA Philharmonic after the summer repertory season with Theatricum Botanicum. Jackie moved to LA from Chicago where she worked in various theatre management and design positions. A member of Actor's Equity and a graduate of Bradley University she has enjoyed working with theatre and dance companies in Pennsylvania, Virginia, New York, Illinois, Indiana, and California.

    ED BARGUIARENA is an accomplished music producer, arranger, composer, and musician. He has collaborated in a variety of creative endeavors, including film, television, theater, dance, recordings, and live performances. His expertise as a composer and performer encompass jazz, rock, folk, electronic, and various genres of world and classical music. He has been commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Education Department, the Mark Taper Forum, the Los Angeles Opera, Francisco Martinez Dancetheatre, and others. In 2004, his work as an arranger received a BBC Jazz Innovator nomination for Billie & Me, a tribute to Billie Holiday featuring: Dianne Reeves, Nancy Wilson, Dee Dee

    Bridgewater, Joan Osborne, Rokia Traore, Terri Lyne Carrington, and others. As a composer he has received grants and awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Ford Foundation, the ASCAP Foundation, and the American Music Center.

    ROB BOWERS is excited to be appearing again with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra - in the 1970's he was the featured narrator for many different works of music including Scheherazade and Pictures at an Exhibition. Aside from acting, he is a composer, lyricist, stage director, Award-winning musical director, playwright and Teaching Artist for the Los Angeles Music Center Education Division. In 2001, he was awarded the Professional Artists in Schools Award for Lifetime Achievement. Families in LA have seen productions of his musicals Beauty and the Beast, SideShow Rag and shows with his own Rob Bowers and the Rock Salt Company. Adults might have seen his nightclub performances at The Cinegrill, The Rose Cafe and Cabaret, and The Gardenia, or caught a production of his newest musical (a Vampire-Cinderella story) called Bite Me!.

    Toyota Symphonies for Youth is generously sponsored by Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. Additional support is provided by the Amgen Foundation, Marie Baier Foundation, Capital Group Companies Charitable Foundation, Smith Barney Citigroup Foundation, Edison International, Employees Community Fund of Boeing California, Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation, William Randolph Hearst Foundation, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, Los Angeles Philharmonic Affiliates, B.C. McCabe Foundation, MetLife Foundation, Morgan Stanley, David and Linda Shaheen Foundation, and the State Street Corporation.

    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, SEPTEMBER 29, at 11 AM

    SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6, at 11 AM


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

    Northern Lights: The Music of Sibelius

    Toyota Symphonies for Youth

    LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC

    LIONEL BRINGUIER, conductor

    ED BARGUIARENA, writer

    ROB BOWERS, host

    JACKIE BANKS, stage manager

    TREVOR STIRLIN BURK, lighting designer

    ELA JO ERWIN, costume designer

    Pre-Concert Activites Creative Team

    JUDI GARRATT, activities coordinator

    MADELEINE DAHM, dance

    CANDY DANZIG, theater/storytelling

    JOAN HARRISON, visual arts

    ANDREW GRUESCHOW, music

    Tickets ($18) 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 all information, please call 323.850.2000.

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  • Contact:

    Adam Crane, acrane@laphil.org, 213.972.3422; Lisa Bellamore, lbellamore@laphil.org, 213.972.3689; For photos: 213.972.3034