Pacific Serenades presents "Circle of Blue"

Composer and jazz pianist Billy Childs has received commissions from an eclectic array of organizations ranging from the Los Angeles Philharmonic to Jazz at Lincoln Center. To that list Childs, who has received eight Grammy nominations and won twice, can now add the renowned chamber music ensemble, Pacific Serenades. The World Premiere of Childs´ new work for string quartet will take place on Saturday, May 2, at 4 p.m. at a private home in Brentwood; Sunday, May 3, at 4 p.m. at the Neighborhood Church in Pasadena; and Tuesday, May 5, at 8 p.m. at the UCLA Faculty Center when Pacific Serenades presents "Circle of Blue."

In keeping with the tradition established at Pacific Serenades since its founding in 1982, the ensemble will also present works by two composers whose works figure prominently in the classical music repertoire. On the program are Ravel´s String Quartet in F major and Duo in G major, K. 423, for violin and viola by Mozart.

"Billy describes Ravel as one of his big influences and was delighted to know that his piece would be sharing the program with the Ravel string quartet," says Mark Carlson, founder and music director of Pacific Serenades. "What he listens to are the influences he draws from."

Members of Pacific Serenades performing at "Circle of Blue" include violinists Roberto Cani and Connie Kupka, violist David Walther and cellist David Speltz. All have appeared frequently with Pacific Serenades as well as with ensembles ranging from the Debussy Trio and Hollywood String Quartet to the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.

Though well-known as a jazz musician – in 2006, Childs won a Grammy for Best Instrumental Composition for "Into The Light" from his 2005 release, Lyric, and a Grammy for Best Arrangement Accompanying a Vocalist, for Chris Botti and Sting – Childs is no stranger to the world of classical music. Organizations with which he has collaborated include the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Master Chorale and the Akron Symphony Orchestra.

Nevertheless, by his own admission, Child´s newest venture with Pacific Serenades has led him to "expand a lot orchestration-ally."

"I´ve written for string quartet before in conjunction with other instrumentation, and also some little pieces for string quartet, but never just for straight-up string quartet until now," Childs explains. "I´m not a string player, though I took cello lessons, and I have spent almost as much time on the phone as writing, asking string players, ´Can you do this?´ It´s a very rhythmic, angular piece. I tried to incorporate some serial writing, some jazz or blues things."

"Billy has been blurring the lines between jazz and Western classical music for years, which fits right into our mission at Pacific Serenades" adds Carlson. "Our commitment is to present music that is exhilarating, heart-breaking, uplifting, funny, devastating, imaginative—music that reaches you emotionally, no matter its style. When Billy played some of his new work for me on the piano, my ears perked up. It´s beautiful! I can´t wait to hear the rest of it."

Tickets for the May 2 concert and post concert reception at a private home are available for $55/person. Tickets for performances at The Neighborhood Church in Pasadena on May 3 and the UCLA Faculty Center on May 5 are $32/person. Full time student tickets are available at the door only, at Neighborhood Church and UCLA, for $5. To purchase tickets or learn more about season subscriptions, visit www.pacser.org or call 213.534.3434.

The Neighborhood Church is located at 301 N. Orange Grove Blvd. in Pasadena. The Gamble House museum, next door to the church, offers a discounted tour at $8/person to Pacific Serenades patrons on concert dates only. Tours begin promptly at 2 pm and at 2:40 pm and last approximately one hour. Reservations are required and must be made at least 48 hours in advance of the concert date by calling 626.793.3334, ext. 16.

The UCLA Faculty Center is located at 405 N. Hilgard Ave. on the UCLA campus in Westwood. Parking is available for $9 in Lot 2. In addition, prior to each concert, dinner at the UCLA Faculty Center is available for Pacific Serenades patrons. Reservations can be made by calling 310.825.0877.

Directions and additional information about private home concerts are mailed to ticket holders upon receipt of their order.

The mission of Pacific Serenades is to generate new chamber music by commissioning works and presenting them alongside standard repertoire in intimate concert settings, emphasizing Southern California musicians. For more information about Pacific Serenades, its upcoming season, musicians and composers, visit www.pacser.org or call 213.534.3434.

ABOUT THE MUSICIANS

Roberto Cani, who launched his concert career when he won the prestigious Paganini International Competition in Genoa at the age of 21, has performed throughout the United States as well as Germany, Belgium, Austria, Spain, Russia, Croatia, Poland, Serbia, France, Taiwan, Japan, and South Africa – appearing as soloist with such orchestras as the Moscow Philharmonic, La Scala Orchestra, RAI Symphony (Italy), Haydn Orchestra of Bolzano, Orchestra Cantelli, Belgrade Orchestra, Zagreb Orchestra, and Missouri Chamber Orchestra. "Cani shows that he is at the highest level of the music world and his virtuosity carries him to this level. He is full of emotions and his fast technical fingers and bow arm put him at the top of the violin business," wrote the La Repubblica.

Violinist Connie Kupka has been a member of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra for 14 seasons. Orchestras where she has served as Principal Violinist include not only LACO but The Pasadena Symphony and the Colorado Music Festival. She has also appeared as soloist with the South Bay Symphony and Colorado Chamber Orchestra, participated in many summer chamber music festivals – including the Oregon Bach Festival, the Mainly Mozart Festival in San Diego, and the Ojai Music Festival – and been a member of the Arriaga Quartet.

Kupka´s husband, cellist David Speltz, earned a master's degree in mathematics from UCLA but soon realized that his heart – and career – lay in music. A member of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra during Sir Neville Marriner's tenure and principal cellist of the California Chamber Symphony for eight seasons, Speltz has participated in chamber music series throughout Los Angeles, including Pacific Serenades, Chamber Music in Historic Sites, the Bing series, and the IMA, South Bay, and LACMA chamber music series. In addition, during the summer months, the cellist participates in music festivals in Santa Fe, the Grand Canyon, and Oregon. As a member of the Musical Offering ensemble, the cellist has performed at the Library of Congress and Lincoln Center in Washington D.C., the Casals Festival in Puerto Rico, and recorded on the Nonesuch label. In 1989, Speltz was invited by Helmuth Rilling to serve as principal cellist of the Bachakademie in Stuttgart, Germany.

Violist David Walther, hailed by the Los Angeles Times as "a violist of abundant technical virtuosity and musical panache," has been playing the viola since he was six years old. After graduating from college, Walther joined the Debussy Trio and soon after became a founding member of the New Hollywood String Quartet, touring extensively throughout Europe and the United States. Walther also works as a studio musician in the motion picture industry.

ABOUT BILLY CHILDS

Billy Childs was born in Los Angeles. Having demonstrated an aptitude for piano by age six, Childs developed rapidly and, at 16, entered the Community School of the Performing Arts, a preparatory music program sponsored by the University of Southern California, where he studied theory with Marienne Uszler and piano with John Weisenfluh. In 1975, he entered USC as a composition major, graduating four years later with a bachelor of music in composition under the tutelage of Robert Linn.

Since then, Childs has received a number of orchestral commissions, including: Tone Poem for Holly (1993) and Fanfare for the United Races of America (1994), each commissioned and premiered by Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Los Angeles Philharmonic; The Distant Land (1995) by the Akron Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Alan Balter; Music for String Orchestra (1989) for the Plymouth Music Series, conducted by Phillip Brunelle; and Concerto for Percussion and Concert Band (1986) by the North Texas State Wind Orchestra, conducted by Eugene Corporan.

Childs´ cantata, Just Like Job, also commissioned by the the Akron Symphony Orchestra, had its world premiere on March 15, 1997. Shortly after the completion of Just Like Job, Childs commenced work on A Day in the Forest of Dreams, written for woodwind quintet and piano and commissioned by the Dorian Wind Quintet. The work was premiered in September 1997 at Merkin Hall in New York City and was recorded in spring of 1998.

In early 2004, Childs completed For Suzanne, a commissioned composition for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, which was premiered by Childs, the L. A. Philharmonic, and jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves on January 24, 2004 in the newly constructed Walt Disney Concert Hall. A few months later, Childs completed The Fierce Urgency Of Now, a musical setting of various texts by Dr. Martin Luther King, which was performed by Childs, Wynton Marsalis, and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra as part of the inaugural concert series for the new Jazz At Lincoln Center facility.

On April 24, 2005, Childs´ cantata for the Los Angeles Master Chorale, entitled The Voices Of Angels, was premiered at Walt Disney concert hall. After the performance, Childs – along with soloist Luciana Souza and conductor Grant Gershon – received a 10-minute standing ovation and three curtain calls.

Childs´ solo jazz recording career began in 1988, when he released "Take For Example, This...," the first of four critically acclaimed albums on the Windham Hill Jazz label. He followed that album with "Twilight Is Upon Us," "His April Touch," and "Portrait Of A Player."

In 1995, "I´ve Known Rivers" on Stretch/GRP was released, followed by "The Child Within," released on the Shanachie record label in 1996. In 1996 and 1997, Childs was nominated three times for a Grammy award; twice for Best Instrumental Composition (1996 - The Starry Night from "I´ve Known Rivers" and 1997 - Aaron´s Song from "The Child Within") and once for "Best Performance by a Jazz Group" (1997 - "The Child Within").

Childs received a fourth Grammy nomination in 2004, in the category of Best Arrangement Accompanying a Vocalist for his arrangement of Fascinating Rhythm on "The Calling - Celebrating Sarah Vaughn" with Dianne Reeves. "Lyric," recorded with Childs´ Jazz-Chamber Ensemble in 2005, was nominated for three Grammys in 2006: best instrumental composition (Into The Light), best instrumental arrangement (Scarborough Faire), and best jazz CD ("Lyric"). Childs won two Grammys that year –for Best Instrumental Composition and Best Arrangement Accompanying a Vocalist.

In total, Childs has received eight Grammy nominations, winning the award twice.

Other notable accomplishments include having been commisioned twice by the Monterey Jazz Festival: once, to write an extended piano concerto, Concerto for Piano & Jazz Chamber Orchestra in 1994; and also to arrange a set of original compositions for jazz vibraphone and marimba player Bobby Hutcherson in 1998. In the fall of 2000, Childs arranged, orchestrated, and conducted the Dianne Reeves CD, "The Calling: Celebrating Sarah Vaughn". He has also performed with his own trio in Carnegie Hall.

Currently, Mr. Childs is scheduled to work on a piece for The American Brass Quintet, The Imani Woodwind Quintet, The Jazz Chamber Ensemble with The Ying String Quartet, and another piece for the Los Angeles Master Chorale.

ABOUT PACIFIC SERENADES

Founded in 1982, Pacific Serenades is one of the longest performing ensembles on the west coast, featuring many of the most acclaimed musicians in Southern California –including principals from the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, The Pasadena Symphony and the Long Beach Symphony. Yet, while most chamber ensembles offer either all-new music or all-traditional repertoire, Pacific Serenades makes a point of including both at each concert.

"It´s very important for people to hear—and play—a new piece in the context of masterpieces of the past," says founder Mark Carlson. "I really want new music to be heard as part of an ongoing tradition, rather than as a new art form with no roots."

By June 2009, Pacific Serenades will have commissioned and premiered 94 new works by 51 different composers, with many of these works receiving as many as 50-60 additional performances worldwide following their premieres. Carlson, himself, is the recipient of more than 40 commissions and has composed works for the National Shrine in Washington, DC and the New West Symphony, among others, as well as many individual musicians.

Concerts currently take place at three venues, each selected to replicate the smaller, more intimate environment in which chamber music historically was performed: the Neighborhood Church in Pasadena; the UCLA Faculty Center; and a private home in Los Angeles. In addition, Pacific Serenades gave its first New York concert, at Carnegie Recital Hall, in September of 1994, and its first San Francisco concert in January of 1998.

Recently, Pacific Serenades won its second Adventurous Programming Award from ASCAP and Chamber Music America, in addition to a CMA/WQXR Record Award, in 2001, for its first CD, Mark Carlson´s The Hall of Mirrors. The ensemble´s latest CD, Border Crossings – featuring new works by Enrique Gonzalez-Medina, Robert Livingston Aldridge, Mark Carlson, and Miguel del Aguila – illustrates how the composers – two, Latin American-born and two, overtly influenced by Latin American music – have artistically crossed the border between the United States and Latin America.

"The Latin-born composers brought those influences with them when they moved here, and the others of us actively went to Latin America, seeking them," explains Carlson.

A third CD, entitled "War Scrap: that we may have peace", will include music by John Steinmetz, Larry Lipkis, and Mark Carlson. CDs may be purchased through Pacific Serenades´ website, www.pacser.org or by calling 213.534.3434.