Colburn joins over 100 organizations across the state of California in a two-week festival celebrating new music.
This month, The Colburn School joins over 100 organizations in the inaugural California Festival: A Celebration of New Music. This two-week statewide festival was created by the Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Diego Symphony, and San Francisco Symphony to celebrate new music. Criteria for music featured in the festival require that it be written within the past five years and be innovative and compelling. The founding organizations’ music directors Gustavo Dudamel, Rafael Payare, and Esa-Pekka Salonen sought to promote an event that “highlights the collaborative and innovative spirit that thrives in California.”
The 100 participating organizations include 15 youth orchestras across the state of California, and 24 nationalities are represented across the more than 180 works composed, including 36 premieres. Performances will take place across more than 90 venues. In a recent interview with San Francisco Classical Voice, Colburn’s Artistic Administration Manager Nick Gianopoulos said “At its core, I believe the shared goal of exemplifying the excellence of artistic creations of today is what motivates and inspires each of the participating organizations.”
From November 4 through 18, The Colburn School will be presenting four performances which span orchestral and chamber music, including a much-anticipated afternoon with composer, pianist, and Colburn alumnus Kris Bowers (Bridgerton, Secret Invasion, Haunted Mansion).
The Colburn School’s California Festival Line-up:
Colburn Orchestra: Shostakovich, Brahms, and Ogonek Conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen Saturday, November 4 at 8 pm, The Soraya Moondog for Orchestra (2022) by Elizabeth Ogonek
Colburn Chamber Music Society with Flutist Jennifer Grim Sunday, November 12 at 3 pm, Zipper Hall Lakescape VII for Flute and Vibraphone (2019) by Lei Liang Hide and Seek for Piccolo, Three Flutes, and Two Alto Flutes (2020) by Allison Loggins-Hull
Colburn Contemporary Ensemble Thursday, November 16 at 7 pm, Thayer Hall Sundial for String Quartet and Percussion (2021) By Samuel Carl Adams
Amplify Artist: Kris Bowers, Composer and Pianist Saturday, November 19 at 3 pm, Thayer Hall Selections from Violin Concerto (2019) by Kris Bowers Selections from Horn Concerto (2021) Selected Excerpts from Film Composition
Other local favorites performing include the Inner City Youth Orchestra of LA, Jacaranda Music, LA Master Chorale, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and Los Angeles Philharmonic. Performances will take place in concert halls, educational institutions, auditoriums, clubs, and alternative spaces, making access to broad audiences possible. The festival is grounded in live performance but aims to “give a voice to artists.”
While speaking with San Francisco Classical Voice and reflecting on what the festival might accomplish in the long term, Gianopoulos said “I hope that the California Festival further cements the West Coast as a major hub for innovative and thoughtful programming and paves the way for other artistic and academic institutions to develop similar programming initiatives.”
The California Festival is supported by the Association of California Symphony Orchestras. Learn more about Colburn’s programming and other participating organizations: https://www.cafestival.org/explore/colburn-school/