California Concert Artists to Perform

Sunday, May 23

5/17/2004

This FREE event is sponsored by the City of Irvine Cultural Arts and Activities Program. Refreshments & snacks served at 2:30pm, performance starts at 3pm at the Irvine Civic Center. Call (949) 724-5366 for more information.

The California Concert Artists are in their third season as a non-profit professional chamber music presenting organization.

Mission

The Mission of the California Concert Artists is to increase appreciation of art music by offering accessible, informative and interesting programs performed at the highest artistic level;  also, to bring together Southern California composers, performers and audiences to share the excitement of new music as well as standard classical and jazz repertoire. 

A brief history

The California Concert Artists was founded in 2001.  We presented three concerts during the 01-20 season,  six concerts during the 02-03 season, and, will present nine concerts during the 03-04 season.  Each season we have held open rehearsals for college, HS students and the public as well as Master Classes at Irvine Valley College.  We have performed world premieres in each of our three seasons and, have had compositions composed specifically for us by Southern California Composers. In March of 2002 we present Fanfar on LA by Orange County based composer Ronald Minor.  the piece was composed specifically for Mayor Larry Agran as a thank you for his personal support of the CCA.  The "LA" in the title stands for both la - as the ancient solfege for the pitch "A", as well as, for Mayor Agran's initials.

The California Concert Artists are incorporated in the City of Irvine.  Both President, Mary Palchak and Stephen Rochford, Executive Director and Conductor are residents of Irvine.  Mary Palchak is a professional musician and teacher and Dr. Rochford is Director of Instrumental Music at Irvine Valley College.

The CCA is very thankful of the City of Irvine.  The city has sponsored concerts in each of our three seasons, including the entire first season.

In addition to Irvine, we have performed in Mission Viejo and Tustin, and hope to expand and add a new city each year.  We are proud however to call Irvine our home base.

This springs concerts in City Hall are an eclectic mix of repertoire.

March 21, 2004 at 3:00pm we will present wind music from the Societe du Musique d'Chambre pour instruments a vent.  (Society of Chamber Music for Wind Instruments).
A famous ensemble of wind players founded by Flutist Paul Taffanel who presented chamber music concerts and, commissioned composers to write new music for the ensemble.

The repertoire for the concert is:

• Dixtour  by Georges Enescu
• Divertissement  by Emile Bernard
• Petite Symphonie  by Charles Gounod  (this composition was composed for and performed on the first concert of the Societe)

The Enescu and Bernard call for 10 wind players, the Gounod for 9.

April 18, 2004 at 3:00pm   we will present a concert of music from the 1920's & 30's.

Facade Music by Sir William Walton, Text by Dame Edith Sitwell.  Robert Volbrecht Narrator.  This novel and eccentric piece, composed for the unusual ensemble of flute/piccolo, clarinet/bass clarinet, alto saxophone, trumpet, cello, percussion and narrator uses the iconoclastic poetry of Edith Sitwell.  The work is humorous and filled with nonsense, older musical forms and styles, moments of jazz, and a mix of original and adapted texts.  Always a hit with audiences!

The second half of the concert will be presented by the CCA Jazz Quintet and will consist of American jazz standards from between the wars.

May 23, 2004 at 3:00pm  we will present a concert of music inspired by Gypsey and Hungarian traditions.  Specific Repertoire is in final confirmation.