The Ojai Music Festival announced this morning that Chad Smith will be their new Artistic Director beginning in 2020. Mr. Smith will take over for Thomas W. Morris, Ojai’s Artistic Director since 2004 and former top executive with the Cleveland Orchestra and Boston Symphony, who had previously announced his decision to retire after the 2019 …
The Los Angeles Philharmonic announced yesterday that Simon Woods will be their new Chief Executive Officer effective January 22, 2018. The 54-year old native of London has been President and CEO of the Seattle Symphony since 2011. Overall, I think this is good news. Some thoughts and observations on the announcement: Continue reading
Sad news yesterday from the Los Angeles Philharmonic that Mitchell Peters, member of the orchestra from 1969 until his retirement in 2006, has passed away at the age of 82. Mr. Peters was named Co-Principal Percussionist in 1972 and took over the Principal Timpani in 1982. He was also well-known as a composer, arranger, and … Continue reading
![The next LA Phil Principal Oboe could be Ramón Ortega Quero [UPDATED: Nov 2]](https://allisyar.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/ramonortegaquero04-1024x678-1024x678.jpg?w=290&h=290&crop=1 "The next LA Phil Principal Oboe could be Ramón Ortega Quero [UPDATED: Nov 2]")
Spanish oboist Ramón Ortega Quero — aka Ramon Ortega — has been offered the position of Principal Oboe of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He will take over the position vacated by Ariana Ghez earlier this year if he chooses to accept the offer. [UPDATE: 2 NOV 2017: An earlier version of this article stated that Mr. … Continue reading
It started with Michael Thornton, Principal Horn of the LA Chamber Orchestra, doing his one-man, four-part rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” The social media folks at LACO tweeted it out with a cheeky question directed at Houston’s River Oaks Chamber Orchestra: “You got anything?” Um, Game On, ladies and gentlemen. Game. On. … Continue reading
With the 2017 World Series starting tonight, please enjoy this video of Michael Thornton, new Principal Horn of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, supporting the local team’s appearance in the Fall Classic with his four-part arrangement of “Take Me out to the Ballgame.” (h/t to LACO’s Facebook page) Go Dodgers! Continue reading
Yesterday, I shared part 1 of my conversation with Scott Harrison, Executive Director of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. In part 2 below, we discuss how he built a relationship with the LACO musicians, what makes them unique in the orchestra world, and they are all looking for as the search for their next Music … Continue reading
The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra is celebrating its 50th Anniversary season, and normally, such occasions see Music Directors standing front and center to lead the festivities. But not this year. LACO has no Music Director, Jeffrey Kahane having stepped down last year after 20 years in the post. During LACO’s season-opening weekend, it was Scott … Continue reading
