Monday, August 5, 2019

THE BEAT GOES ON -- 2019-2020 Programs have started with the Summer at UCLA's Powell Library Rotunda

January 15th 2020 
Victor Shlyakhtenko goes to Chopin US competition

We started off the New Year with concert by our young star Victor, 17, whom we have known for about 4 years. He was our guest pianist at the FWC Centennial Program in 2018.

Today's program included major pieces by F. Chopin, J. S. Bach, and W. A. Mozart.


Victor Shlyakhtenko's solo piano concert at the home of Arlene and Francois
From left: Rochelle, Arlene (the hostess), guest, VICTOR, Francois (the host),
Zorana (Music Section chair), Stan, Jarka

Our Music Section included a small but strong audience of supporters. We enjoyed the piano recital by Victor (standing).

We wished him the best in his forthcoming Chopin competition to be held in Miami (February 2020).

The program we heard included demanding pieces by Bach, Mozart, and Chopin.
He also played an encore Chopin pieces.


Victor is interested in the art of piano performance, theory, composition, conducting, and yesterday, we found out that he also plays organ. He also explained for us choreography of Polish dances, such as polonaise in the Polish folk tradition. There was plenty of time to meet him, congratulate him, and wish him the best in his US Chopin competition in Miami.

THE PROGRAM

Nocturne in D flat, op. 27 No. 2 by Frederick Chopin (1810-1849)
Prelude and Fugue in A minor WTC I, BWV 865, by J. S. Bach (1685-1750)
Sonata in A minor, K 310 by W. A. Mozart (1756-1791)

                    ~~~ break ~~~

Ballade No. 3 in A flat major Op.47, by F. Chopin
Impromptu No. 1 in A flat major, Op. 29, by F. Chopin
Grande Polonaise Brillante, Op. 22, by F. Chopin
Piano Sonata No. 3 in B minor, Op. 58, by F. Chopin







November 20th was held at the Cypress Lounge & Bar, Faculty Center at UCLA.

On behalf of the Music Section, Zorana Ercegovac, the founding chair of the Section, invited the Faculty Women's Club members to attend this recital. Faculty Center guests were welcomed as well. We encouraged attendees to enjoy a meal at the Faculty Center and take a beverage to the Cypress Lounge & Bar, modeling a 90-year-old Hollywood Bowl tradition.

Special Notes:
The concert started at 12:30 PM. 
If you are late, please wait to be seated during intermissions.

ARTISTS: The guest flutist Mr. Jae Uk Jeon, is accompanied by Ms. Jennie Kim, pianist.
Our Music Section member Kay Lee invited both performers to play for us.
ARTISTS with a subset of the audience
From left: Mrs Jeon (wife of the flutist); Gloria, Jaime, Jennie Kim (pianist), June, Mary Anne, Simone,
the flutist Mr. Jae Uk Jeon, Jeanine, Kay Lee (coordinator), Mireya, Zorana (Music Section chair), and Rochelle

Program:

>> Francis Poulenc (1899-1963): Sonate pour flute et piano
>> George Bizet - Francois Borne: Fantasie brilliante sur des themes de Carmen
~~~~~~~~~~ Intermission ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>> Pietro Morlacchi (1828-1868): Il pastore svizzero (The Swiss Shepherd)
>> Paul-Agricole Genin (1832-1903): Variation Carnival de Venice


The November 20th chamber music concert was put together by the Music Section founding chair Zorana Ercegovac and our Music Section member Kay Lee.
Speaking about the program, and the sonata for flute and piano by F. Poulenc (1957)


In the Cypress Lounge of the Faculty Center, the audience enjoyed the program, many of whom desired the opportunity to have a live concert in the same setting in near future.

While the weather was cold and rainy, at least for the Southern California standards, we hosted several guests outside our music section membership. This might be a start of a new tradition: widening the audience beyond the Music Section membership.


The venue includes wood carvings designed by Evelyn Ackerman in 1959.

Our 2019-2020 Music Section included The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO) on September 29th, SUNDAY at 7 PM, Royce Hall, UCLA. We especially enjoy LACO's pre concert lectures which begin at 6 PM. Come early to meet, greet and sip a glass of bubbly.

HERE'S the schedule for the Sunday Special: MAKING GREAT MUSIC PERSONAL

5:00 pm Subscriber Appreciation Party -- come festive, joyful, and ready for the historic debut of music director Jaime Martin.
6:00 pm Pre-concert talk with music director Jaime Martin and creative advisor Ellen Reid.
7:00 pm Welcome Jaime! Concert
Welcome Jaime! Martin Concert
The Program features 
A world premiere from composer Andrew Norman (about 12 minutes)
Hector Berlioz, Les nuits d'ete (about 30 minutes)
Ludwig von Beethoven, Symphony 7 (about 36 minutes)

We will also hear Anne Sofie von Otter 

In his first season as Music Director, Jaime Martin will be in attendance on September 29th. In the 2019-2020 music season, Maestro Martin will conduct 7 orchestral programs as well as other ambitious performances.
Maestro Jaime Martin, a newly appointed Music Director of the
Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra


Maestro Jaime Martin, LACO's Music Director speaks with Ellen Reid and
Andrew Norman, Artist-in-residence
Ellen Reid is one of the most innovative artists of her generation. A composer and sound artist whose breadth of work spans opera, sound design, film scoring, ensemble and choral writing, she recently became the first composer to have works premiered by Los Angeles’ four leading musical institutions — the Los Angeles Philharmonic, LA Opera, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and others

LACO commissioned an award-winning composer Andrew Norman to
write a piece, Begin, for LACO's concert.

Orchestration: 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, percussion, harp, piano, strings. Andrew is innovative composer with interests in architecture, video games, and films.



Jaime Martin with Zorana, chatting during the pre-concert reception party

Please mark your calendars:

October 16th, Wednesday, features WEST COAST JAZZ with Joanie Harmon. The event will be held at the 3340 Reading Room, Moore Hall at UCLA at 12:30 PM. This event is our regular Music Section meeting. Bring your favorite snack.
Lari Pittman's WHAT is a part of the artist's retrospective at HAMMER MUSEUM
WHAT: West Coast Jazz with Joanie Harmon, GSE&IS at UCLA

Moore Hall, UCLA, the home of GSE&IS
Joanie will be presenting our first Music Section
talk at the 3340 Reading Room, Moore Hall, 12:30 PM.
Moore Hall 3340 Reading Room

Joanie Harmon and Zorana Ercegovac at Moore Hall Reading Room, UCLA
Photo credit: Simone King

From left: Simone King, Zorana Ercegovac
(Chair, Music Section), Shirley Ho, and
Helen Nefkens (seated)
Photo credit: Joanie Harmon

Joanie Harmon, Music Section member, was invited
by Zorana Ercegovac, Chair, to give a talk on one of
Joanie's favorite topics: WEST COAST JAZZ.

We heard about its beginnings, main actors, places,
heard several clips from various albums, discussed differences between the West Coast Jazz and Chicago
or New Orleans Jazz, and enjoyed great Music in America.

We were also delighted to have Mireya Lund with us, who
always asks great questions. Native from Chile, Mireya
brings experiences from the Latin Jazz, and more.
Another member was Tara Brown who joined us as well.

More photographs will be added as they become available for sharing.





Listened to Barbara Morrison, Howard Rumsey's Lighthouse All Start -- Jazz Rolls Roys, others.

The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music in the 21st century
An impressive chronology since 1946
November 17th will feature Stravinsky's Pulcinella & Prokofiev's Symphony no. 1, also known as "classical", Ravel's Le tombeau de Couperin, and Missy Mazzoli's West Coast premiere of Dark with Excessive Bright for double bass and strings.
Where: Royce Hall.
This is a part of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO).
Tickets are required.

Summer 2019 at the Powell Rotunda:

The Henry J. BRUMAN SUMMER Chamber Music Festival is in its 31st season (1913-2005).

Festival is dedicated to the memory of Bernice M. Wenzel, professor emerita in the UCLA Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences and the Department of Physiology.

The July 31st program (see below) featured APERTURE DUO with Adrianne Pope, violin, and
Linnea Powell, viola.

The DUO explores the music by contemporary composers, new sounds, voices, and techniques.

Their interpretation is precise and innovative.

They commissioned diverse new works, and work closely
with composers.

The Festival is supported by the UCLA Center for 17th- & 18th-Century Studies and UCLA's Powell Library.

Powell Library Rotunda has continued to offer its beautiful venue for the Summer Chamber Music Festival.

Its Rotunda is a premier stage, acoustically, architecturally, and as place to relax, ponder, read, and meet with colleagues.

Linnea Powell, viola with Adrianne Pope, violin

                                         Our MUSIC SECTION gathered for a few photos.

Kyesun Lee, Joanie Harmon, Jaime and June Bulkacz
Photo credits: Zorana Ercegovac (Chair, Music Section)

Sunday, January 13, 2019

MUSIC SECTION TO CELEBRATE THE CENTENNIAL OF THE FWC

THE GRAND FINALE OF THE FWC MUSIC SECTION 2018-2019

On May 22nd 2019, we had the opportunity to welcome our "Artist in Residence" Victor Shlyakhtenko.

So, it was a triple significant soiree for all of us who were able to attend the gathering:

-- closing of our UCLA's FWC Centennial Anniversary, and starting a new century
-- celebrating five seasons of our Music Section, 2014-2019, and
-- welcoming Victor who delighted us all with a selection of pieces by Clara Schumann, Frederick Chopin, and Franz Liszt.

As a pianist, composer, and a rising conductor, Victor is an articulate analyst of the pieces he had carefully selected for us, and presented in the historical context. It was really an enjoyable experience!



Victor at piano, performing excerpts by Clara Schumann's Concerto in A minor. Other excerpts:
    Felix Mendelssohn, Concerto in G minor.         Frederick Chopin, Concerto in E minor
             Franz Liszt, Concerto in E flat major.       Franz Liszt, Ballade in B minor

Subset of our audience at the May 22, 2019 MUSIC SECTION Program


Victor Shlyakhtenko with Olga Merkurjev,
who introduced us to the young pianist and talented
young artist.

It was an unexpectedly stormy afternoon in
Santa Monica, with the thunder and the huge
lightning through the afternoon.

However, we had a full house, and everyone
enjoyed the gathering with our regular MUSIC
SECTION members and invited guests.

Thanks go to all attendees who arrived in time,
contributed to the successful program and event,
and brought delicious refreshments.




Victor Shlyakhtenko and Zorana Ercegovac,
founder and Chair of the MUSIC SECTION.

We had an exceptionally rich season, thanks
to all members who offered venues, refreshments,
ideas for programs, and support.

It was a team effort, and for that I am grateful.

As we move into the next century, we look
forward to have more participation, fresh ideas,
and more diverse programs. I have suggested several themes:

~  W O M E N   C O M P O S E R S

~  M I N D F U L   M U S I C   M O M E N T S


Victor Shlyakhtenko with Maestro FRANK FETTA,
Conductor and Music Director of the Culver City Symphony Orchestra

Our special thanks go to Arlene and Francois Vaillancourt who offered their home
for our early soiree gathering.

We will keep exploring and visiting numerous local excellent musical venues, including:
The Culver City SYMPHONY (Maestro Frank-Fetta conductor and music director)

iPalpiti Festival 2019 July 5-20 -- 22nd Annual Musical Celebration

CLARK LIBRARY Center for 17th and 18th Century Studies

The Broad Stage in Santa Monica

The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts

Los Angeles Philharmonic which also has great programs in the Hollywood Bowl

UCLA School of Music has several venues with series for classical music, jazz, regional


The William Andrews UCLA CLARK MEMORIAL LIBRARY
Also known as Clark Library, it is one of several UCLA libraries, having the most comprehensive collection of rare books (110,000) and more than 2000 rare manuscripts. The focus is in English literature and history (1641-1800), Oscar Wilde, and fine printing. The library is located about 10 miles from UCLA, in the West Adams district of Los Angeles. The address is 2520 Cimarron St.,



Welcome to the continuation of the FWC Centennial Year!

The Faculty Women's Club MUSIC SECTION will feature several special programs to celebrate our One Hundred Years.

The first program in 2019 will feature Janice Foy, who will perform music from around the world which you can enjoy without leaving your comfortable chair! Janice is both a cellist and pianist
More details to come this Wednesday after the live performance.

Janice Foy to perform January 16th 2019


Janice Foy earned her BA and MA
in Music from California State University, Northridge, and in 1990, she received a Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology from UCLA.












Janice Foy pre-concert social -- we have to have you again, Janice, BRAVO
From left: Mary Ann, Amelita, June, Glorya, Maria, Shirley, Marina (invited guest), Helen,
Jarka (hostess), Janice (performer, cello), Debby, Zorana (Music Section Chair), Joy


The stories Janice told us about her cello, tours, and music pieces were as interesting as her performance.

Wonderful afternoon in the intimate setting in Brentwood, Los Angeles.

THANK YOU!


A special tribute was given to two dear friends:

Anne Bodenheimer (1914-2017)

Dorothea Frederking (1929-2018)








Our Music Section continues to explore different ensembles and venues. Tesserae is now one the must list of early music chamber ensembles specializing in the 16th through 18th century music.

January 20th program included pieces by Lodovico Grossi da Viadana, Heinrich Schutz, Giovanni Gabrieli, and other 16th to 17th century composers.

We heard Tresler (tenor), Joel Nesvadba (bass-baritone), McIntosh (baroque violine), Zeller-Townson (dulcian), sackbut (by three performers), and Alex Opsahl on cornet and recorder.





Alex Opsahl is showing us the cornet, an early wind instrument that was especially popular in the repertoire of Renaissance and Baroque composers. She studied at the Royal Academy of Music, and at the Scholastic's Cantorum Basiliensis.

We will be again listening to Concerti Ecclesiastici on April 6th and June 1st.

They perform at the All Saint's Episcopal Church in Beverly Hills.

Our next Music Section meeting is February 20th at 12:30 featuring WOMAN COMPOSERS. Zorana Ercegovac is presenter. We will gather at Jarka and Tom's home.
Barbara Strozzi, one among the composers, was born in Venice, an illegitimate and unwanted child. She attracted a prominent Venetian intellectual and artist Giulio Strozzi, who adopted her.

His palace was a gathering place for "humanists" such as philosophers, mathematicians, scientists, artists, musicians, and writers.

Women were not encouraged to participate in "non-feminine" academic studies. However, Barbara Strozzi became actively involved in these meetings and discussions. She wrote books of arias, cantatas, madrigals, and duets. We will learn about her will hear her compositions!


April 17th 2019 is our next music section gathering. We will have the opportunity to hear other women composers, including Fanny Mendelssohn and Clara Wieck Schumann. Joy Frank will be focusing on Felix Mendelssohn's young sister.

Zorana will be selecting representative works composed by Clara Wieck Schumann. She will perform R. Schumann's several short pieces.
We may also have another surprise guest, TBA.

On March 9th, we will be at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica. We will be treated to The ACADEMY OF ST MARTIN IN THE FIELDS which celebrates the 60th anniversary of one of the world's greatest chamber orchestras.

The Academy of St Martin in the Fields

Their home venue is at the Trafalgar Square in London. The cathedral's stained glass windows, facing the audience, project opaque light, just right for the music performed daily in this beautiful venue. They post their daily music programs on the steps just outside the Church. 

The concerts are free and fill fast.

The ensemble in Santa Monica on March 9th will be joined by pianist Jeremy Denk. for the Mozart's piano concerto and Britten's piece.




P R O G R A M

Tomaso ALBINONI (1671-1751): Concert a Cinque No. 5 in A minor, op. 5
Carl P E BACH (1714-1788): Symphony in E-flat major, H 654
Wolgang A MOZART (1756-1791): Piano concerto No. 12 in A major, K 414
Benjamin BRITTEN (1913-1976): Young Apollo, op. 16
Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809): Symphony No. 44 in E minor

BROAD STAGE, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica, CA 90401


SAINT CECILIA,  Roman saint, martyr, and patroness of musicians. 

It is written that as the musicians played at her wedding she "sang in her heart to the Lord." 

Died Jan 1, 176, Sicily


Each Music Section gathering starts off with a social and some refreshments brought by the attendees of the Music Section.

Our Music Section group enjoyed the outstanding performance and we gathered before the concert as well as during  the intermission.

Here are Rochelle and Joy in the lively discussion. Ross, Gerry, Milos, Debby, June, Jaime, and Zorana were all there.
IT WAS ANOTHER GREAT OUTING on March 9th 2019.
Rochelle Caballero with Joy Frank at the Broad Stage