New West Symphony will take to the Santa Monica stage Sunday, with prize-winning pianist Denis Kozhukin making his New West Symphony debut.
New West Symphony music director Marcelo Lehninger will lead the orchestra in concert featuring the music of Gershwin and Ravel with Kozhukhin slated for three performances of Maurice Ravel’s “Piano Concerto in G.”
Russian-born pianist Denis Kozhukhin was launched onto the international scene after winning First Prize in the 2010 Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels at the age of 23. Kozhukhin’s career blossomed with appearances in major concert halls and at international festivals, according to concert organizers.
During the 2014/2015 season Kozhukhin made his debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Houston Symphony Orchestra and Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo in Brazil.
As a recitalist, Mr. Kozhukhin also made debut appearances in the 2014/2015 season at the Concertgebouw’s Master Pianists series, the Tonhalle, Wigmore Hall, the International Piano Festival at the Mariinsky Theatre, Mecklenburg- Vorpommern Festival and the Prague Dvorak Festival.
Sunday’s program at Barnum Hall, also includes George Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess,” “A Symphonic Picture” and “An American in Paris,” and Ravel’s “Suite No. 2” from Daphnis et Chloé, with California Lutheran University Choral Ensembles to provide choral forces.
The Cal Lutheran University Choral Ensembles includes the Cal Lutheran University Choir, Women’s Chorale, and Areté Vocal Ensemble. The Cal Lutheran University Choir and Women’s Chorale are the premiere undergraduate choral ensembles at CLU. Areté Vocal Ensemble is an innovative ensemble of vocal artists founded by Wyant Morton in 2009. The singers include Cal Lutheran students, alumni, faculty, and other professional level singers.
The Santa Monica concert will take place Sunday, January 24, 2016 at Barnum Hall in Santa Monica, at Santa Monica High School, 600 Olympic Blvd.
Tickets are priced from $29 to $102 are available by phone, Monday through Friday on 1.866.776.8400 or go to newwestsymphony.org. Tickets will also be available at the concert hall box office.
A Hear & Now Live session will take place before the show. These lively and informative, 30-minute pre-concert discussions about the music on the program begin one hour prior to the performances. The programs are free and open to ticket holders.
Bring your Dancing Shoes too! Ticketholders for this concert can experience the world of Gershwin and Ravel with a unique opportunity to learn a dance routine to music from the program prior to the concert. The free class will be taught by professional dance instructors from Arthur Murray Santa Monica, who will teach basic steps you need to know to dance like Gene Kelly! The class will take place from 2:30 – 3:30 pm in the Art Gallery at Santa Monica High School. No RSVP is required.
