OC Can you Play With US
The Laguna Concert Band, an offical OC Can You Play With US Partner, was very well represented at this years 2 day program, April 30-May 1. Here is a link to an article from the LA Times:
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-pacific-symphony-20120424,0,1687910.story
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-pacific-symphony-20120424,0,1687910.story
Laguna Flutes to Play at Pacific Symphony League Benefit
SAVE THE DATE! ART, MUSIC, FASHION COME TOGETHER FOR PACIFIC SYMPHONY LEAGUE'S LUNCHEON A FUNDRAISER IN SUPPORT OF MUSIC EDUCATION ON JUNE 11
Pacific Symphony's prized support group, the Pacific Symphony League, hosts a glamorous and enchanting afternoon of music, art, dining and fashion for a new fundraiser to benefit the Symphony's music education programs. Taking place Monday, June 11, at 11 a.m., at the extravagant Big Canyon Country Club in Newport Beach, this event is being chaired by League member Gwen Williams, fashion entrepreneur, performer and art collector. As a part of the luncheon, renowned Beverly Hills designer Ricco Antonio showcases his latest custom-designed dresses and evening gowns in a fashion show with music by area notable Jim Roberts. Also, on display are original paintings by celebrity artist Pilar Wayne, former actress and widow of John Wayne, accompanied by the Laguna Flutes, led by the Symphony's own flute and piccolo Cynthia Ellis, who provide an eclectic, jazzy and fresh mix of arrangements for flute ensemble.
"Not only do we get to enjoy music by the 'Laguna Flutes,' as they serenade us during the viewing of celebrity artist Pilar Wayne's original paintings," says Dorcas Preston, president of the League, "but we will also be viewing the beautiful fashions of the one-and-only Ricco. For this event we are hoping to gain more members and raise a substantial amount of funds for the Pacific Symphony League to further our support for children's music education. I want to support other children who might not have the opportunities to learn about music as I did."
The event finishes with a live auction of notable items, including an original evening gown by Ricco custom designed for the winning bidder, a giclée print by Wayne, a one-night stay and brunch for four at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, jewelry, French champagne and more with all proceeds benefiting Pacific Symphony. Open to anyone with a love for the arts and/or a keen eye for fashion, the cost to attend is $100. For reservations please contact Leslie Fay Vaeth at (714) 876-2374 or lvaeth@pacificsymphony.org. For more information on the Pacific Symphony League, please visit http://www.pacificsymphony.org/main.taf?p=4,5.
Pacific Symphony's prized support group, the Pacific Symphony League, hosts a glamorous and enchanting afternoon of music, art, dining and fashion for a new fundraiser to benefit the Symphony's music education programs. Taking place Monday, June 11, at 11 a.m., at the extravagant Big Canyon Country Club in Newport Beach, this event is being chaired by League member Gwen Williams, fashion entrepreneur, performer and art collector. As a part of the luncheon, renowned Beverly Hills designer Ricco Antonio showcases his latest custom-designed dresses and evening gowns in a fashion show with music by area notable Jim Roberts. Also, on display are original paintings by celebrity artist Pilar Wayne, former actress and widow of John Wayne, accompanied by the Laguna Flutes, led by the Symphony's own flute and piccolo Cynthia Ellis, who provide an eclectic, jazzy and fresh mix of arrangements for flute ensemble.
"Not only do we get to enjoy music by the 'Laguna Flutes,' as they serenade us during the viewing of celebrity artist Pilar Wayne's original paintings," says Dorcas Preston, president of the League, "but we will also be viewing the beautiful fashions of the one-and-only Ricco. For this event we are hoping to gain more members and raise a substantial amount of funds for the Pacific Symphony League to further our support for children's music education. I want to support other children who might not have the opportunities to learn about music as I did."
The event finishes with a live auction of notable items, including an original evening gown by Ricco custom designed for the winning bidder, a giclée print by Wayne, a one-night stay and brunch for four at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, jewelry, French champagne and more with all proceeds benefiting Pacific Symphony. Open to anyone with a love for the arts and/or a keen eye for fashion, the cost to attend is $100. For reservations please contact Leslie Fay Vaeth at (714) 876-2374 or lvaeth@pacificsymphony.org. For more information on the Pacific Symphony League, please visit http://www.pacificsymphony.org/main.taf?p=4,5.
A Tuba Takeover at the Playhouse
Coastline Pilot ; 4:01 PM PST, February 24, 2012
A tuba takeover at the Playhouse Visiting tuba player Gene Pokorny of the Chicago Symphony makes guest appearance with the Laguna Concert Band. By Bradley Zint
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In "Deliverance," it was dueling banjos. Banjos fast and furious, with that country feel.
In Sunday's "America the Tubaful" concert, it was — you guessed it — dueling tubas. Tubas big and fat sounding, with a comedic vibe. Playing a tuba-fied version of the 1972 film's most famous scene was how Gene Pokorny made his big entrance in the tuba-filled, sold-out Laguna Concert Band performance at the Laguna Playhouse. The principal tuba for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra — one of America's finest tuba players in one of America's finest orchestras — played on his tuba snippets reminiscent of the film's banjo duet, to which fellow tuba player Charlie Warren responded.
And off they went.
When it was over, Pokorny and Warren played a Vivaldi concerto arranged for two tubas. They were accompanied by the Laguna Concert Band, a local institution that's achieved considerable growth and stature since forming in 1998.
Fellow tuba player Bob Joles, who's also a well-established voice-over actor in Hollywood, kidded that he was going to give "a brief lecture" about Pokorny from "several facts" he's been gathering. He then presented a thick binder, titled "Fun Facts About Gene," as comedic proof of his research and talked for a few minutes about his colleague.
Pokorny grew up in Southern California — Downey, specifically — and some of his earliest music-making was taking up the clarinet in grammar school. Today, Pokorny calls it the "agony stick," Joles said to laughter in the audience. Eventually Pokorny fell in love with the tuba, a "large, unwieldy instrument," which he mastered enough to win a seat in the Israel Philharmonic. Pokorny then played for other orchestras before settling down in his current symphonic seat in Chicago, the "Miami of Canada," Joles said.
After Joles' speech about Pokorny, the two of them and Warren played an arrangement of "Bugler's Holiday," renamed "Tubaler's Holiday." Other selections of the concert included band arrangements of "Fanfare for the Common Man" and "Lincoln Portrait" by Aaron Copland, "A Disney Celebration" arranged by Joles and a medley of tunes by George M. Cohan played by a four-person saxophone ensemble. The concert ended with Pokorny playing "Blue Bells of Scotland." Though the traditional folk tune's arrangement is best known as being an extremely difficult and technically demanding piece for solo trombone, Pokorny pulled it off on his tuba, much to the delight of the audience.
Band President Matt Wood, a Laguna native who runs Len Wood's Indian Territory on North Coast Highway, said rehearsals for Sunday's concert began at the end of December after the holiday season. He added that 76 musicians, including the guest artists, played that afternoon.
"What you're hearing is the maturation and growth of a community band before your eyes," Wood said. "Here we've grown in a very short period of time. It's a real testimony to the music directors, the conductors' focus and the desire of the band to get better."
Wood later added via email: "To get an 'A-list' player such as Gene was a blessing. The band not only grew from the experience, for limited rehearsals and complexities of the pieces demanded growth, but we collectively realized that not only can the LCB 'put on a show,' we understand that the best is yet to come."
Pokorny was a student of Ed Peterson, one of the Laguna Concert Band's directors, at Warren High School in Downey some 40 years ago. The two have kept in touch over the years and, fortunately for Laguna Beach, Pokorny was able to fit in the concert with his old director's band amid his busy Chicago Symphony touring schedule.
Pokorny was busy indeed. The Friday before, the Chicago Symphony played in Costa Mesa. On Saturday, the Chicago brass section played at the University of Redlands — where Pokorny studied before finishing his undergraduate work at USC — before joining the rest of the orchestra for a concert that night in Palm Desert. After Sunday's concert, Pokorny raced down to San Diego to play yet another concert. Before doing so, he set aside a few minutes to talk with the Coastline Pilot.
"The concert was a gas. I had fun," he said. "It gave me a good chance to get together with my old pal Ed and got me a chance to work with Charlie Warren, who I've known for a long time, and Bob Joles, who I've known since the mid-1980s. It was a good celebration."
And what of he, Warren and Joles grandstanding to play the high-pitched piccolo part at the end of "Star Spangled Banner"?
"There's kind of a conspiracy of tuba players to do that."
bradley.zint@latimes.com
Twitter: @coastlinepilot
An Interview with Ed Peterson about the Feb 19 Concert
The Laguna Concert band upcoming
concert, February 19 at the Laguna Playhouse will feature one of the world's
finest tuba players, Chicago Symphony Orchestra Principal Tuba, Gene Pokorny as
well as Disney Voice actor, musician and arranger Bob Joles. Here is a recent interview with Ed.
When did you first meet Gene?
I grew up in Downey – attended Downey High School and came back to “student-teach” at Downey High School. I was the assistant conductor (and player) in the Downey City Youth Band – Gene played tuba in the band and attended Warren High School in Downey. We both played and performed together in the Downey Symphony and the La Mirada Symphony for a couple years.
How long did you teach him?
In 1970, I was offered the position of HS Band Director at Warren HS in Downey. Gene was going into his Senior Year and I was given the opportunity to teach my first HS Band program.
The program was in a “shambles” and only had about 25 members in the band at the end of Gene’s Junior year. With my musical contacts in Downey, I spent every day all summer calling musicians at the HS and the feeder Junior High School PLUS many parents of potential musicians.
The result was the Warren HS Band had nearly 50 members to start the new Fall Season and School year. The band got a lot of positive attention from the entire school and was a positive experience for everyone.
I included Gene in every possible ensemble the entire year. Concert Band/Marching Band/Brass Ensemble/ Jazz Band, etc. He was the foundation of the entire band and proved to be an incredibly dedicated musician. Gene was probably the “hardest working” High School level musician I had the privilege to work with in my career.
How have you kept in contact?
Mostly by email over the last 15 years. I also took advantage of attending Gene’s recital at UCLA in the 80’s and meeting with him to “catch up” a couple other times when he was in the area.
How did the Bob Joles contact work out?
When it was determined that we would do Tubby the Tuba, Gene offered to put me in contact with Bob Joles in Hollywood. Gene indicated that he was a wonderful Professional “voice artist” – and a tuba playing friend. Bob was very excited to jump on board for the event.
What is your assessment of the LCB today vs. 2 years ago?
This is a different BAND. The playing level and sophistication of the musicians has improved and the players that have been attracted to the band in the past two years has made a profound difference to the organization.
What does it mean to the band to work with Gene?
The is a unique opportunity for LCB. Gene is considered one of the finest tuba players in the world. He occupies the Principal chair of the CSO and is recognized for this accomplishment by the entire music world. To have Gene agree to perform with us is a high level compliment. It also means Gene trusts my judgment as music director.
This is an opportunity for the band to “stretch” to another level of performance and be in the “spotlight” of our local music community. We will most likely get a number of people attending that would never see our band. It is an opportunity to “brand” our group as a significant music organization in the Southern California.
What does it mean to the city of LB to have the LCB develop into a fine Concert Band?
Laguna Beach is world-reknown for the ARTS and, as such, a fine performing Concert Band adds cultural depth to the community further enhancing it’s well-deserved reputation. The city and community support has been outstanding and we are determined to become a band which inspires a growing appreciation of traditional Concert Band and Wind Ensemble music.
When did you first meet Gene?
I grew up in Downey – attended Downey High School and came back to “student-teach” at Downey High School. I was the assistant conductor (and player) in the Downey City Youth Band – Gene played tuba in the band and attended Warren High School in Downey. We both played and performed together in the Downey Symphony and the La Mirada Symphony for a couple years.
How long did you teach him?
In 1970, I was offered the position of HS Band Director at Warren HS in Downey. Gene was going into his Senior Year and I was given the opportunity to teach my first HS Band program.
The program was in a “shambles” and only had about 25 members in the band at the end of Gene’s Junior year. With my musical contacts in Downey, I spent every day all summer calling musicians at the HS and the feeder Junior High School PLUS many parents of potential musicians.
The result was the Warren HS Band had nearly 50 members to start the new Fall Season and School year. The band got a lot of positive attention from the entire school and was a positive experience for everyone.
I included Gene in every possible ensemble the entire year. Concert Band/Marching Band/Brass Ensemble/ Jazz Band, etc. He was the foundation of the entire band and proved to be an incredibly dedicated musician. Gene was probably the “hardest working” High School level musician I had the privilege to work with in my career.
How have you kept in contact?
Mostly by email over the last 15 years. I also took advantage of attending Gene’s recital at UCLA in the 80’s and meeting with him to “catch up” a couple other times when he was in the area.
How did the Bob Joles contact work out?
When it was determined that we would do Tubby the Tuba, Gene offered to put me in contact with Bob Joles in Hollywood. Gene indicated that he was a wonderful Professional “voice artist” – and a tuba playing friend. Bob was very excited to jump on board for the event.
What is your assessment of the LCB today vs. 2 years ago?
This is a different BAND. The playing level and sophistication of the musicians has improved and the players that have been attracted to the band in the past two years has made a profound difference to the organization.
What does it mean to the band to work with Gene?
The is a unique opportunity for LCB. Gene is considered one of the finest tuba players in the world. He occupies the Principal chair of the CSO and is recognized for this accomplishment by the entire music world. To have Gene agree to perform with us is a high level compliment. It also means Gene trusts my judgment as music director.
This is an opportunity for the band to “stretch” to another level of performance and be in the “spotlight” of our local music community. We will most likely get a number of people attending that would never see our band. It is an opportunity to “brand” our group as a significant music organization in the Southern California.
What does it mean to the city of LB to have the LCB develop into a fine Concert Band?
Laguna Beach is world-reknown for the ARTS and, as such, a fine performing Concert Band adds cultural depth to the community further enhancing it’s well-deserved reputation. The city and community support has been outstanding and we are determined to become a band which inspires a growing appreciation of traditional Concert Band and Wind Ensemble music.
Band Earns Art Fest Ovation
Pacific Symphony flutist Cynthia Ellis, performing with the Laguna Concert Band at its Festival of Arts concert Aug. 17, received a standing ovation for her performance of Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Flight of the Bumblebee.”
The band was also accompanied by vocal soloists Ginger Hatfield, Randy Hatfield, Lisa Morrice and Linda Hughes; tuba player Charlie Warren; and mallet player Steve Calhoun, who played “Blue Moon” on vibraphone.
The band honored one of the city’s arts commissioners, Pat Kollenda, who was MC of the concert.
The band was also accompanied by vocal soloists Ginger Hatfield, Randy Hatfield, Lisa Morrice and Linda Hughes; tuba player Charlie Warren; and mallet player Steve Calhoun, who played “Blue Moon” on vibraphone.
The band honored one of the city’s arts commissioners, Pat Kollenda, who was MC of the concert.
Laguna Concert Band Entertains
Laguna Beach Patch, 20 August 2011, Volunteers in the News, Arts, The Neighborhood Files
Photos: Laguna Concert Band Entertains at Festival of Artsby Kathy Ochiai
More than 200 listeners got to hear the Laguna Concert Band and special guest artists.
Photos: Laguna Concert Band Entertains at Festival of Artsby Kathy Ochiai
More than 200 listeners got to hear the Laguna Concert Band and special guest artists.
Mayor Toni Iseman Conducts Band
Our Laguna: Mayor helps strike up the band July 21, 2011 |By Barbara Diamon Courtesy Scott Sporleder .
The Laguna Community Concert Band scored another hit performance Monday at the Festival of Arts.
The concert was a musical triumph that few would have imagined when the idea of a community band was first conceived over a cup of coffee in 1998 at Zinc Café. Founders Bill Nicholls, Teresa Marino and Carol Reynolds had come up with an idea whose time was long overdue.
The Laguna Community Concert Band scored another hit performance Monday at the Festival of Arts.
The concert was a musical triumph that few would have imagined when the idea of a community band was first conceived over a cup of coffee in 1998 at Zinc Café. Founders Bill Nicholls, Teresa Marino and Carol Reynolds had come up with an idea whose time was long overdue.
Time to Strike Up Laguna's Band
Coastline Pilot, 28 April 2011, Entertainment
Classically Trained: Time to Strike Up Laguna's Band
by Bradley Zint
It's the kind of group that gets people out of their chairs and into new ones. That's what happened to Matt Wood. He hadn't played trumpet in 24 years, and for his father, it was 53 years. But after Wood bought his dad one as a birthday present, they rekindled their love for music-making. So the Woods joined the band. Again. But this time it was their hometown Laguna Community Concert Band
Classically Trained: Time to Strike Up Laguna's Band
by Bradley Zint
It's the kind of group that gets people out of their chairs and into new ones. That's what happened to Matt Wood. He hadn't played trumpet in 24 years, and for his father, it was 53 years. But after Wood bought his dad one as a birthday present, they rekindled their love for music-making. So the Woods joined the band. Again. But this time it was their hometown Laguna Community Concert Band
