West Covina Symphony presents "Classical Classics" with Los Angeles Camerata Sun. March 27 @4pm

Feb. 5, 2011 - PRLog -- Under the direction of award winning conductor Sylvia Lee Mann, and with special guests the Los Angeles Camerata (Dr. H. Vincent Mitzlefelt, director) the West Covina Symphony Orchestra is proud to present "Classical Classics".  Visit the orchestra's website for tickets and more info at http://westcovinasymphony.com

The concert is not to be missed! It includes some of the most treasured musical works of the "Classical Era".  

The performance features the music of Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven: Masterpieces of the Choral/Orchestral Genre from both Mozart and Beethoven, as well as the beloved Cello Concerto No. 2 in D major by Franz Joseph Haydn, and of course - the Mystical Music of Mozart from "The Magic Flute" Read more  below:

Music of Mozart:
Overture to the "Marriage of Figaro"

Selections from the Great C minor Mass:
" Et Incarnatus Est", featuring Soprano Bonnie Bowden;
"Quoniam", featuring Soprano Coril Prochnow, Alto Ariel Pisturino, and Tenor Cesáreo Pérez;
"Domine Deus", featuring Coril Prochnow and Ariel Pirturino

"Coronation Mass", featuring soloists: Soprano Coril Prochnow, Alto Marcela Pan, Tenor Kent Kornmeyer, and Bass Eugene Carbajal.

Music of Haydn:
Cello Concerto in D Major (Michael Masters, cello)

Music of Beethoven:
"Hallelujah" from the "Mount of Olives"
"Choral Fantasy"  with pianist Mary Au, and vocal soloists Soprano Joyce McLellan, Alto Nandani Sinha, Tenors Kent Kornmeyer and Bruce Boyd, and Bass Norge Yip.

About the Special Guest Music Makers:
Cellist Michael Masters:
Currently living in the Los Angeles area, Michael Masters’ appearances as a professional artist began at the age of 16 as soloist with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. He completed his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees on scholarship at the Juilliard School. Among his many notable engagements in the New York metropolitan area was the world premiere performance of the Raphael Valerio cello concerto under the composer’s direction. He first attracted European attention as Principal Cellist at the Spoleto Festival, under the baton of Maestro Thomas Schippers, and shortly thereafter won first prize, by unanimous acclaim of the jury, in the Costa do Sol International Maurice Eisenberg cello Competition in Estoril, Portugal.  He also received the Ohio Governor’s award for “Excellence of Achievement in the Field of Music.” Michael toured with noted singer/songwriter Harry Chapin for 3 ½ years, earning several gold records.  While living in Atlanta he became Principal Cellist with the Atlanta Chamber Orchestra, and Maestro Louis Lane of the Atlanta Symphony offered him the principal cello position of his Johannesburg Symphony Orchestra.  After consideration Michael declined that offer for humanitarian reasons because of the apartheid regime which then existed in South Africa. After moving to Chicago he taught at the Milwaukee Conservatory of Music, the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and Wheaton College, and performed with the renowned Chicago Ensemble.  He was Principal Cellist of the Elgin Symphony, the Chicago Opera Theater and the Illinois Chamber Symphony, and very active in Chicago’s commercial recording industry.

Pianist Mary Au:
Known for her “sensitive, seamless transition between chamber music collaboration and piano accompaniment”, Mary Au is a much sought after pianist whose artistry embodies her worldwide experience.  Heralded as one of the “Outstanding Young Women of America”, Ms. Au’s collaborations in recitals, concerts, and master classes with esteemed artists  Nathaniel Rosen, Natalia Gutman, Janos Starker, Mstislav Rostropovich, Evan Drachman, Ruggiero Ricci, and many more have left a lasting impression on audiences from all walks of life.  Ms. Au performed in the IFEA Award winning Nanning International Arts Festival in China.  Mary Au is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music and the University of Southern California.  Her mentors include Kevin Fitz-Gerald, Daniel Pollack, Gordon Green, Brooks Smith, Alice Schoenfeld and Eleonore Schoenfeld.  As a former executive of the GRAMMY Awards, Mary Au continues to dedicate herself to crossing cultural boundaries and sharing her musical fabric with audiences worldwide.  To read more about Mary Au, please visit http://www.maryau.com

Camerata Director Dr. H. Vincent Mitzlefelt:
In 1957 in Los Angeles H. Vincent Mitzelfelt created and conducted his Miztelfelt Chorale. Later that year, the group appeared at the Hollywood Bowl and he conducted Bach's Mass in B Minor for the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. For 4 years he was the music director of the Bach Festival at the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles, and was guest conductor for the Las Vegas Pops Symphony, the Readers Digest Orchestra, the Los Angeles County Museum Chamber Orchestra, and the Los Angeles Brass Society. He organized the Camerata Orchestra of Los Angeles in 1973 and since then has served as music director of the Camerata of Los Angeles.


CONCERT DETAILS:
WHEN: Sunday March 27, 2011 at 4pm

WHERE: Citrus College - Haugh Performing Arts Center. 1000 W Foothill Blvd, Glendora CA 91741.

WHO: West Covina Symphony Orchestra, Dr. Sylvia Lee Mann, Music Director & Conductor; Los Angeles Camerata (Dr. H. Vincent Mitzlefelt, director), cello soloist Michael Masters, piano soloist Mary Au, Soprano soloists Bonnie Bowden, Coril Prochnow, Ariel Pisturino and Joyce McLellan; Mezzo-Soprano Marcela Pan, Alto soloist Nandani Sinha, Tenor soloists Cesáreo Pérez, Kent Kornmeyer and Bruce Boyd, Bass soloists Eugene Carbajal and Norge Yip

TICKETS: $5-$30 available online. Significant discounts available for groups.Visit  http://www.WestCovinaSymphony.com or Burt's Music 186 E Rowland, Covina CA 91723. Tickets are also available by phone, at (626) 869-ORCH (626-869-6724).

MORE INFO: call (626) 869-6724 or email info@westcovinasymphony.com

Symphony Society memberships will be available before and after the concert, as well as during concert intermission. The symphony will be offering special membership premiums and door prizes at the concert.

The Symphony' will be presenting more "Music of the Masters"  this season:  Young Artists & Mahler on June 12, and All Tchaikovsky, featuring cellist Xian Zhou on July 31.

The West Covina Symphony Orchestra brings culture, music, art, and community to the San Gabriel Valley and beyond: It is essential the San Gabriel Valley community help the symphony reach its goal to sell out all the seats at their events.  With the leadership of Dr. Mann, who was honored at the 2010 Los Angeles County Fair as West Covina’s Community Hero for her work with the symphony and the arts in our community, the WSCO will attain success, With our support, WCSO will accomplish their mission and purpose “to enrich its community by engaging audiences and inspiring a love of music through exciting live symphony performances, chamber music performances, innovative programming, and educational outreach”. May we all be inspired one musical note at a time.

The orchestra returned to the musical scene just over 2 years ago after a lengthy absence of about 20 years.  In spite of challenging times, the symphony triumphed, continuing to grow.. The orchestra is again presenting a complete season of full orchestra concerts, world-class chamber music, holiday concerts & special events. Recent highlights include the "East Meets West" concert,  the LA County Fair performance and the recent all Brahms concert. The educational outreach program, is in full swing, the WCSO Music Academy is well underway, as is the orchestra's "Young Artists Concerto Competition".  After years of desolation, the East San Gabriel Valley once again has a fully functioning Symphony Orchestra.

For additional information about the West Covina Symphony Orchestra and the March 27th "Classical Classics" concert or other symphony events,  contact orchestra manger Sandy Gunn or Dr. Sylvia Lee Mann or visit http://westcovinasymphony.com
(626) 869-6724

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The West Covina Symphony is a community orchestra offering free concerts innovative programming, and educational outreach to enrich our community and opportunities for musicians in Southern California.
Visit our website now to support the symphony.