No one has done more for implementing modern works for the double bass than Sierra Madre resident Tom Peters. Tom has performed solo bass works of just about every modern exponent of the avant-garde music world. His upcoming concert at Cal State Long Beach at 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17 is a sampling of a variety of compositions and style now in vogue.
Peters will perform six pieces: Sir Peter Maxwell Davies’ “Lux in Tenebris” (“Lead Kindly Light”); Nguyen Thien Dao’s “A Mi K Giao Tranh”; Franco Donatoni’s “Lem: Due Pezzi per Contrabasso Solo”; Jan Seger’s “Dragonflies”; Alvin Lucier’s “Tribute to James Tenney for Double Bass and Pure Wave Oscillators”; and the world premiere of Ken Walicki’s “Light”.
As a member of Southwest Chamber Music, Peters was a part of the “Ascending Dragon” program, a U.S. State Department sponsored tour to Vietnam and bring Vietnamese contemporary composers to the United States. During the Vietnam visit to Hanoi, Peters played Dao’s “A Mi K Giao Tranh”. Los Angeles Times critic Mark Swed reported that the piece was “an unsettled solo for double bass was wilder still. It was written in 1975 during the final days of the Vietnam War by a composer who had…immigrated to Paris.” The composer had left the program early and did not hear Peters play his piece. To that, Swed said, “He missed a terrific performance by Tom Peters.”
The world premiere of Walicki’s “Light” is an important addition to this concert.  Walicki is an Associate Professor and director of the composition/theory program at Cal State Fullerton.  His focus is writing music that relates to people and their situations.  Walicki has found success in his studies and his music sensibilities that combine rock guitar, European influences and Buddishist ideals. 

The Sept. 17 performance is Faculty Artist Recital as part of the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music’s outreach.   Tickets are $10, $7 for students.

Peters teaches double bass at California State University, Long Beach, where the Conservatory is located. The recital will be held in the Gerald Daniel Recital Hall, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach.

James DePreist is seen in 2005 receiving the Medal of the Arts from President George W. Bush. The often-honored DePreist will conduct the opening concert of the Pasadena Symphony Oct. 23.

Lots of changes are taking place at Pasadena Symphony but one thing remains constant: This symphony orchestra is the best regional orchestra in Southern California. The orchestra blazes new trails with five Guest conductors and a new concert location when it opens the season on Saturday, Oct. 23 at Ambassador Auditorium. It will also, for the first time in its history, present both a matinee and an evening concert, the matinee at 2:00 p.m. and the evening concert at 8:00 p.m. Conductor for the inaugural season concert is the group’s Artistic Advisor, James DePreist.
DePreist leads the orchestra in a safe program: Rossini’s “La gazza ladra” (“The thieving magpie”); Brahms’ Symphony No. 2 and Barber’s Violin Concerto with guest artist, violinist Anne Akiko Meyers.
DePreist comes to Pasadena for the first time as a heralded conductor—he is currently Director of Conducting and Orchestra Studies at the Julliard School in New York.
Pasadena Symphony: 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23 at Ambassador Auditorium, 131 S. St. John Ave., Pasadena. Ticket prices range from $30 to $80; children under age 14, $10. Information: (626) 793-7172 or visit www.pasadenasymphony-pops.org.

Christine Azzoni Dow

Christine Azzoni Dow, Principal Organist at Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano, will perform at noon Wednesday, Aug. 18 at the Pasadena Presbyterian Church for its one-hour recital-concert called “Music at Noon”.
Dow is a noted keyboard artist and educator. As organ soloist, she has performed in recitals at the Old First Church of San Francisco, San Francisco State University, Biola University, and many others. She is a former staff member of the Music Dept. at Orange Coast College and Saddleback College and currently serves as Associate Faculty member at Irvine Valley College. She holds a Bachelor of Music from Immaculate Heart College and Masters of Arts in Performance degree from Cal State Northridge.
The organ at the Pasadena Presbyterian Church underwent a complete restoration a few years back and is considered one of the finest in Southern California. Noted organists often perform on the large instrument.
Music at Noon is a free concert beginning each Wednesday at 12:10 p.m. Following the concert you are invited to enjoy the church courtyard with either your own lunch or to have lunch that is available for a $6 donation. The Pasadena Presbyterian Church is located at 585 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena

Musicians of Pacific Serenades take a break.

Like the Wizard of Oz, Mark Carlson, founder and Artistic Director of Pacific Serenades, is furiously working behind the screen with plans for their 25th season that will include composers, guest artists and new compositions.
For our website fans, Pacific Serenades is extending its discount offer for purchasers of season subscription tickets to Aug. 17.
“Subscribers to Pacific Serenades’ 25th season can save 20% off the tickets’ face value,” Carlson told us. “But we are adding an additional 10% discount to Aug. 17 for Peters Music News readers.”

Roger Bourland

Gabriela Lena Frank

Vladimir Chernov

Carlson, a flutist and advocate for new chamber works and composer, has championed over 100 works since he founded Pacific Serenades in 1982. The 2011-2012 season will include new works by Gabriela Lena Frank, Vladimir Chernov and Roger Bourland. Frank has been commissioned by the San Francisco Symphony, Houston Symphony and the Yo Yo Ma Road Ensemble among others. Chernov is a baritone who has appeared with the L A Opera. Bourland composed the first world premiere performed by Pacific Serenades and will have his latest work performed this season.

The regular roster of musicians includes Ayke Agus, piano; Gary Gray, clarinet; Roland Kato, viola; Connie Kupka, violin/viola; Douglas Masek, alto saxophone; Brendan Speltz, violin; David Speltz, cello; Tereza Stanislav, violin; Robert Thies, piano; Shawn Thuris, tenor; Miwako Watanabe, violin; and Roger Wilkie, violin.

Pacific Serenades Pasadena Series will be held at Neighborhood Church, Pasadena, Sundays at 4:00 p.m. on Jan. 30; March 13; May 1 and June 5. A regular subscription ticket is priced at $102. Taking advantage of the usual 20% season ticket, then deducting another 10% makes the ticket price $73.44 each for the four concerts.
The Private Home Series, held on Saturdays Jan 29; March 12; April 30; and June 4 has ticket prices of $180. The UCLA Faculty Center Series, held on Tuesday at 8:00 p.m. on Feb. 8; March 15; May 3; and June 7 is priced at $102. The 20% season ticket and the additional 10% discount is available for these concerts as well until Aug. 17.
To order tickets please call (213) 534-3434. If you mention Peters Music News, you will receive a big smile from us.
Neighborhood Church is at 301 N. Orange Grove Blvd., Pasadena.

By Bill Peters

The smiling face belongs to jazz-trumpeter Nolan Shaheed. The Pasadena-born man is both a top jazz trumpeter and national track champion. He will perform for the Upper Hasting Ranch Assn. on Aug. 7 along with the Harmonium Trio.

A program of music extending from Mendelssohn to W. C. Handy will be presented for the benefit of the Upper Hastings Ranch Assn. beginning at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 7 at a private residence in Pasadena. The event is open to the public.
Appearing at the concert will be the Harmonium Trio and jazz artists Nolan Shaheed on trumpet and Harold Johnson on piano. The Harmonium Trio include Tina Chang Qu, violin; Ling Yan, cello and Yin Yin Huang Acevedo, piano.
Harmonium Trio will perform the music of Paul Schoenfield, Henryk Wieniawski, Astor Piazzolla and Felix Mendelssohn. Shaheed will offer St. Louis Blues by Handy.  Huang-Acevedo will play Chopin’s Nocturne in F-sharp major and PIazzola’s “Invierno Porteño” from his “Four Seasons of Buenos Aires”, the first movement of Schoenfield’s “Café Music for violin, cello and piano” and Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio No. 2 in C-minor with the Harmonium Trio.

Nolan Shaheed has performed with all the big jazz stars.

Yin YIn Huang Acevedo

The performers for this event are as interesting as the music to be heard. The Harmonium Trio consists of three musicians who are graduates of top-notch music schools. Qu studied at the Curtis Institute and The Julliard School; Ling Yan holds a BFA and Masters degree from Boston University, Huang is Associate Professor of Keyboard studies at Cal State L A. Shaheed is Pasadena-born and bred and graduated from John Muir High School in Pasadena. But, the trumpeter, who has served as Music

Ling Yan

Director for Marvin Gaye, lead trumpet with Count Basie, and is an A-list studio musician, is just as well-known for his track abilities. He holds both world and national age-group records in the 800 to 3,000 meter class. Shaheed, says: he runs, he plays, he runs, he plays. There was no word from the concert’s producer, Nat Nehdar, to determine if a lap around the track will be a part of the evening’s plan.

Nehdar, who services District 5 on the Pasadena Human Relations Commission, has planned an evening of Margaritas and hor d’oeuvre at 7:00 p.m. with the concert beginning at 8:00 p.m.

“This is a very interesting program,” Huang reports.  “Johnson is such a wonderful jazz pianist and don’t miss out on hearing the international trumpeter Nolan Shaheed.”

The event, to benefit the Hastings Ranch Assn. will be held on the terrace of the residence at 4085 Park Vista Dr., Pasadena which is at the very top of Michillinda Ave. The home possesses a stunning view of the entire city of Pasadena, Nehdar says. He promises an outstanding mid-summer night concert under the stars. Tickets are $20. Reservations are a must and can be obtained by calling Nehdar at (626) 351-8680.

By Bill Peters

Donald R. Wright Auditorium at the Pasadena Public Library

Musicales presented on the Second Sunday of each month is a long-standing tradition of the Tuesday Musical of Pasadena.
On Aug. 8, that is, the second Sunday in August, members of the group will perform at 2:30 p.m. in the Donald R. Wright Auditorium of the Pasadena Public Library in a program of the music of Josef Haydn.
Listed as “Summer Serenade—a visit to Esterhazy Palace” an ensemble will perform court composer Haydn’s Piano Trio No. 39 in G-major, Piano Trio No. 40 in F-sharp minor and the Trio in G-major for flute, cello and piano.
Performers will be Curtis Horton, violin; Dorothy Waterman, cello; Kathleen McCloskey, piano; and: Carol Fleisher, flute; Zandra Hanson, cello; and Doris Anne Hendin, piano.
The concert is free.
Tuesday Musicale of Pasadena was founded in 1914 to provide enjoyment and knowledge of music and opportunity for its members to perform, and to promote interest in classical music throughout the community.  The Donald R. Wright Auditorium is located at 285 E. Walnut St., Pasadena.