Author Archives: CK Dexter Haven

New Hollywood String Quartet, Anne Akiko Meyers, LA Phil principals, and others will be in new “Summer of Beethoven Chamber Music Festival”
Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra / Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical / Other classical music concerts and recitals (in So Cal and beyond)

New Hollywood String Quartet, Anne Akiko Meyers, LA Phil principals, and others will be in new “Summer of Beethoven Chamber Music Festival”

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The New Hollywood String Quartet and The Da Camera Society have announced the “Summer of Beethoven Chamber Music Festival.” Four concerts of 11 works will be performed in Los Angeles at the Pompeian Room of the Doheny Mansion from July 14 to July 17, 2022. The Quartet — violinists Tereza Stanislav and Rafael Rishik, violist … Continue reading →

Inside info about LA Phil auditions from Nathan Cole, First Associate Concertmaster
Auditions & Appointments / Interviews / Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical

Inside info about LA Phil auditions from Nathan Cole, First Associate Concertmaster

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On the heels of all the talk about various auditions in Part 1 and Part 2 of the Spring 2022 edition of “Comings and Goings at the LA Phil” published earlier this week, I thought All is Yar readers would find this interesting . . . Continue reading →

Comings and goings at the LA Phil (Spring 2022 edition, part 2 of 2): Principal Oboe candidates — and a bold prediction or two
Appointments / Auditions & Appointments / Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical

Comings and goings at the LA Phil (Spring 2022 edition, part 2 of 2): Principal Oboe candidates — and a bold prediction or two

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The last time we talked in detail about the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s attempts to find a new Principal Oboe was three years ago. The previous person in the job, Ramon Ortega, managed to begin and end his tenure in the short span of six weeks [to understand why, go HERE]. The orchestra then held open … Continue reading →

Comings and goings at the LA Phil (Spring 2022 edition, part 1 of 2): five empty chairs filled, including new Tuba and Associate Principal Bass
Appointments / Auditions & Appointments / Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical

Comings and goings at the LA Phil (Spring 2022 edition, part 1 of 2): five empty chairs filled, including new Tuba and Associate Principal Bass

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The Los Angeles Philharmonic has been busy trying to plug multiple holes in its roster throughout this season. The COVID-19 pandemic had prevented it from trying to hire anyone for over a year. That changed beginning Fall of 2021 when they held auditions for Section 1st and 2nd Violin and Fourth Horn. The orchestra followed … Continue reading →

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra has a new Principal Viola
Appointments / Auditions & Appointments / Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra / Music News & Info: Classical

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra has a new Principal Viola

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Yesterday, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra announced that Yura Lee will be its new Principal Viola effective at the start of the 2022/2023 season this October. The dual resident of Los Angeles and Portland is a lauded soloist and chamber musician on both violin and viola. She is also on the faculty of the USC … Continue reading →

A chat with Whitney Crockett: the LA Phil’s Principal Bassoon talks about his approach to <i>The Rite of Spring</i> and why this week’s performances required extra practice
Interviews / Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical

A chat with Whitney Crockett: the LA Phil’s Principal Bassoon talks about his approach to The Rite of Spring and why this week’s performances required extra practice

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The Rite of Spring can be frightening for some bassoonists, but Whitney Crockett doesn’t really get scared by it. At least not anymore.  The famously high opening solo of Stravinsky’s ballet is something he started preparing in high school, and he’s worked on it over 1,000 times since.  The first time he played it in … Continue reading →

A chat with Arturo Sandoval about tonight’s holiday concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall
Interviews / Music News & Info: Rock, Jazz, World Music, etc.

A chat with Arturo Sandoval about tonight’s holiday concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall

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Arturo Sandoval returns to Walt Disney Concert Hall tonight to help everyone get into the holiday spirit in his own Latin-infused jazz style. Last week, funk/jazz musician Matt TC Lucas and I had the pleasure to chat with the legendary trumpeter about the concert and more. Here is much of that conversation: ————— CK Dexter … Continue reading →

A chat with Tom Hooten: LA Phil’s Principal Trumpet talks about the world premiere of “Shivaree: Fantasy for Trumpet and Orchestra”
Interviews / Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical

A chat with Tom Hooten: LA Phil’s Principal Trumpet talks about the world premiere of “Shivaree: Fantasy for Trumpet and Orchestra”

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Tom Hooten, the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s distinguished Principal Trumpet, was thrilled to learn that the orchestra had commissioned a new work featuring him as soloist.  His excitement grew when he found out that Steven Mackey would be the composer.  He was eager to jump in with both feet. Yet when he was told that Mr. … Continue reading →

Turning off the lights to see better: Ory Shihor re-opens The Wallis with Beethoven piano sonatas
Music News & Info: Classical / Other classical music concerts and recitals (in So Cal and beyond)

Turning off the lights to see better: Ory Shihor re-opens The Wallis with Beethoven piano sonatas

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Last Thursday night, the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills became the latest venue to re-open its doors to the public, ending 18 months of coronavirus-induced silence. Doing the honors was pianist Ory Shihor. The LA-based musician and educator was supposed to help The Wallis celebrate Beethoven’s 250th birthday year in … Continue reading →

Tuesdays in July at the Bowl (part 1 of 2): Alison Balsom and Musgrave trumpet concerto worth the wait
All Reviews / Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical / Reviews 2020/2021

Tuesdays in July at the Bowl (part 1 of 2): Alison Balsom and Musgrave trumpet concerto worth the wait

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The July 20th concert by the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl offered something for every kind of classical music fan. If you’re an aficionado of brass, it would’ve made you very happy. If you like hearing new music, there were two gems to enjoy. If you prefer warhorses, you got one on the … Continue reading →

Kamasi Washington thrills in powerful and inspirational Hollywood Bowl concert
All Reviews / Music News & Info: Rock, Jazz, World Music, etc. / Reviews 2020/2021

Kamasi Washington thrills in powerful and inspirational Hollywood Bowl concert

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Music is in very good hands whenever Kamasi Washington is around. Last week at the Hollywood Bowl, the Los Angeles native showed off his artistic depth and breadth to go along with undeniable technical virtuosity and bold creativity. He led his band through an evening’s worth of his eclectic yet approachable compositions that showed his … Continue reading →

LA Master Chorale releases details of 2021-2022 season at Walt Disney Concert Hall
Los Angeles Master Chorale / Music News & Info: Classical

LA Master Chorale releases details of 2021-2022 season at Walt Disney Concert Hall

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The Los Angeles Master Chorale has announced its 2021-2022 season, featuring 10 different programs played over 14 nights. It will mark the group’s post-shutdown return to Walt Disney Concert Hall. Large works conducted by Artistic Director Grant Gershon will include Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil (Nov 20 & 21, 2021), Handel’s Dixit Dominus and Pärt’s Te Deum (March 20, … Continue reading →

The LA Phil returns with a Hollywood Bowl season-opening night to savor
Los Angeles Philharmonic / Music News & Info: Classical / Reviews 2020/2021

The LA Phil returns with a Hollywood Bowl season-opening night to savor

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Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic returned to the Hollywood Bowl this past Thursday, their first subscription concert since pandemic restrictions had been instituted and subsequently lifted.  There was a paying audience in the seats, none of whom were required to wear masks or to socially distance.  Ditto for the orchestra members on stage, … Continue reading →

VIDEO: “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” by the US Army Field Band
Music News & Info: Classical

VIDEO: “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” by the US Army Field Band

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Happy 4th of July, everyone! Enjoy this excellent rendition of my favorite arrangement (by James Neilson). 1st Lt. Alexandra Borza conducts. RELATED POSTS Musical “Fourth of July plumes” for Independence Day 2020 “Bravura,” a classic American march for July 4, 2016 For your 4th of July, music by the other American march king: Karl King Free patriotic music … Continue reading →