Classical Crossroads, Inc. and First Lutheran Church & School in Torrance Present Two Concert Series The Interludes Beverly Hills Auditions Winners (also presented Fridays in Encinitas Public Library and Sundays in winter/spring 2015 in Beverly Hills’ Greystone Mansion) Free, donations welcome Saturday, September 20, 2014 at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, February 21, 2015 at 3:30 p.m. Violinist ETIENNE GARA New York City-based Pianist HAYK ARSENYAN A laureate of the Fondation Marcel Bleustein-Blanchet in France, Hayk’s May 2011 recital was the New York Times’ “Choice of the Etienne is continuing his graduate studies with Midori at the Week” and reviewed as “One of the coolest events in NYC to go to.” USC Thornton School of Music. Saturday, March 21, 2015 at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, October 25, 2014 at 3:30 p.m. MÜHLFELD TRIO THE UPSIDE — DIANA MORGAN flute, BENJAMIN MITCHELL clarinet, MICHAEL KAUFMAN cello, LAUREN KOSTY vibraphone & percussion, BRENDAN WHITE piano STEPHEN PFEIFER double bass The Mühlfeld Trio takes its name from the great clarinetist Richard One of L.A.’s premier classical/jazz crossover ensembles performs Mühlfeld (1856–1907), who so inspired Johannes Brahms near the selections from Bach to Brubeck. end of his life that he came out of retirement. ~ and ~ Saxophonist RUSSELL VEIRS Saturday, April 18, 2015 at 3:30 p.m. A rising star, Russell earned his Doctor of Musical Arts at UCLA AMBER QUARTET from the Colburn School under renowned saxophonist Douglas Masek. EDUARDO RIOS and MADELEINE VAILLANCOURT violins, BENJAMIN MANIS cello, TANNER MENEES viola Saturday, November 15, 2014 at 3:30 p.m. The Amber Quartet was formed at the Colburn School, where it was ARGUS QUARTET featured on the Colburn Chamber Music Series. JASON ISSOKSON and CLARA KIM violins, DIANA WADE viola, JOANN WHANG cello Saturday, May 16, 2015 at 3:30 p.m. Top graduate students at the Colburn Conservatory and the USC Cellist HANS KRISTIAN GOLDSTEIN from Norway Thornton School of Music combine for this stellar ensemble. First-Prize Winner at the 2013 Schmidbauer International Young Artist Competition in Texas, now studying with Ralph Kirshbaum at Saturday, January 24, 2015 at 3:30 p.m. the USC Thornton School. Soprano ELISABETTA RUSSO with Pianist Vladimir Khomyakov Saturday, June 20, 2015 at 3:30 p.m. ~ and ~ THE WHYMAN PROJECT Mezzo-Soprano KARIN MUSHEGIAN with RYAN WHYMAN piano/accordion/composer, Pianist Paul Romero MARY KEATING and JORDAN SLOCUM violins, Rising stars, Italian soprano Elisabetta Russo and American BRANDON ENCINAS viola, BILLY TOBENKIN cello, mezzo-soprano Karin Mushegian, sing leading operatic rolls with RODRIGO MORENO bass, MICHAEL ENRIQUEZ percussion major opera companies worldwide. Genre-Bending Chamber Music! Bach’s Lunchtime Recitals The Bach’s Lunchtime Recitals by the finest artists to be found in Southern California are followed by receptions with complimentary fair-trade coffee, freshly baked treats, and select seasonal fruit, where you can meet the artists and talk with fellow music lovers. Free, donations welcome Friday, October 3, 2014 at 12:15 p.m. Friday, March 6, 2015 at 12:15 p.m. CEORA WINDS TRIO CÉLESTE MICHELLE MATSUMUNE flute, HEATHER MILLETTE clarinet, KEVIN KWAN LOUCKS piano, IRYNA KRECHKOVSKY violin, CHRISTIN WEBB bassoon ROSS GASWORTH cello “Supremely talented femmes” ~ LA Weekly Ensemble-in-Residence at the Claire Trevor School of the Arts at UC Irvine Friday, November 7, 2014 at 12:15 p.m. Pianist DANNY HOLT Friday, April 3, 2015 at 12:15 p.m. “As a pianist, Holt is the classical music equivalent of an extreme Organist KENT EGGERT sports athlete.” ~ The Record (Waterloo, Ontario) Organist of First Lutheran Church & School Performs a recital inspired by Good Friday. Friday, December 5, 2014 at 12:15 p.m. Organist NAMHEE HAN and Soprano REBECCA SJÖWALL Friday, May 1, 2015 at 12:15 p.m. Organist of Westwood Presbyterian is joined by two-time District Mezzo-soprano MEGAN GILLESPIE and Pianist GIDEON RUBIN Winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. Beverly Hills Auditions Winners! Friday, February 6, 2015 at 12:15 p.m. Friday, June 5, 2015 at 12:15 p.m. DUO ONDINE Sisters ESTHER LEE piano and JOANNA LEE violin BOGLÁRKA KISS flute, ALISON BJORKEDAL harp International competition winners in the graduate program of the Beverly Hills Audition Winners! USC Thornton School of Music. FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH & SCHOOL 2900 W. Carson Street, Torrance, CA 90503 (on the south side Carson Street just east of Maple) For information, call (310) 316–5574 or visit www.PalosVerdes.com/ClassicalCrossroads/ THE MISSION OF CLASSICAL CROSSROADS, Inc. is to present free or affordable classical music concerts of the highest possible artistic quality. The concerts provide a meeting place where diverse members of the community can gather to appreciate the gift of inspired performance of great music and in so doing advance their knowledge of classical music. In addition, Classical Crossroads, Inc. furthers its classical music educational mission by: • Providing well-paid performance and educational opportunities to talented professional and student artists who have devoted their lives to the art of classical music, • Pursuing outreach opportunities to present concerts to members of the community who may have little access to live classical music. Classical Crossroads, Inc. P.O. Box 1822 Manhattan Beach CA 90266–9998 2014–2015 Concert Series at First Lutheran Church & School — Torrance Dear Friends, This is our second season as Classical Crossroads at First Lutheran Church & School, Torrance, where we've been warmly welcomed with gracious hospitality. First Lutheran's beautiful sanctuary with superb acoustics combine with the artists' exceptional musicianship to make the concerts truly life-affirming experiences. You can be assured that, although this is our SECOND season, the performances will be FIRST-rate! We have two series. "The Interludes" presents winners of the prestigious Beverly Hills Auditions on Saturdays. These concerts are presented the previous evenings by the City of Encinitas in its splendid library, and in the spring, on the following Sundays in the City of Beverly Hills' historic Greystone Mansion. The second series is the "Bach's Lunchtime Recital" series. The finest Southland professional artists perform half-hour recitals followed by light refreshments on first Fridays from October through June (except January). The April concert falls on Good Friday, and First Lutheran's accomplished organist, Kent Eggert, will play a recital that is in keeping with the day. Your financial contribution for this endeavor is essential — freewill donations at the concerts fall far short of meeting expenses. Please mail your tax-deductible donation to Classical Crossroads, Inc., P.O. Box 1822, Manhattan Beach CA 90266. Concert- series contributors are gratefully acknowledged in all of the printed concert programs, and you'll have the opportunity to increase your contribution throughout the year at the concerts. Those of us at Classical Crossroads hope to be on the top of your list of concert venues this season. Artistic quality is always our first consideration. We hope to see you soon! Best wishes, Karla Devine, Artistic Director Classical Crossroads, Inc..