Pasadena CA – Beauty, powerful rhythmic energy and breathless joy – all describe the program that the Pasadena Symphony has planned to open its 89th Season with Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 and Prokofiev’s 2nd Violin Concerto on Saturday, October 14, 2017 at Ambassador Auditorium with both matinee and evening performances at 2:00pm and 8:00pm. This not-to-be-missed season opener will also feature the world premiere of Ichabod! The Protest Is Over by James Lee III.
Composer James Lee III’s Ichabod! The Protest Is Over is inspired in part by the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation sparked by Martin Luther. Ichabod was a false prophet in the Old Testament and the work explores the less-than-honest ecumenical spirit between the different Christian churches. For Lee, the protest is not over – without taking political sides, the work juxtaposes the present day political intersections between church and state, fascism and democracy, suppression and patriotism. To stress the point in the work, Lee calls on the popular patriotic song, “My Country ‘Tis of Thee,” against Luther’s most famous chorale, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.”
Dylana Jenson, the first American woman to win the Silver Medal in the Tchaikovsky Violin Competition, returns to Pasadena with the lyrically beautiful 2nd Concerto by Prokofiev. One of his most poetic works of music, the concerto echoes themes from his Romeo and Juliet, and dances toward a fireworks filled finale resembling the strumming of a guitar and castanets to add a touch of Spanish flavor.
The Pasadena Symphony provides a socially vibrant experience specially designed for the music lover, the social butterfly or a date night out, and the inner epicurean in us all. Celebrate opening night in style in the luxurious Symphony Lounge, yet another addition to the delightful and elegant concert experience the Pasadena Symphony offers. A posh setting at Ambassador Auditorium’s beautiful outdoor plaza, audiences enjoy uniquely prepared menus for both lunch and dinner at each concert from Claud &Co, fine wines by Michero Family Wines, plus music before the concert and during intermission.
All concerts are held at Ambassador Auditorium, 131 South St. John Ave, Pasadena, CA. Subscription packages start at as low as $99. Single tickets start at $35 and may be purchased online at www.pasadenasymphony-pops.org or by calling (626) 793-7172.
- What: The Pasadena Symphony presents Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4.
David Lockington, conductor
Dylana Jenson, violinJames Lee III Ichabod! The Protest is Over! (world premiere)
Prokofiev Violin Concerto No. 2
Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4 - When: Saturday, October 14, 2017 at 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm
- Where: Ambassador Auditorium | 131 South St. John Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91105
- Cost: Tickets start at $35.00
- Parking: Valet parking is available on Green Street for $15. General parking is available in two locations: next to the Auditorium (entrance on St. John Ave) at the covered parking structure for $10 and directly across the street at the Wells Fargo parking structure (entrance on Terrace at Green St). ADA parking is located at the above-ground parking lot adjacent to the Auditorium (entrance on St. John Ave.) for $10. Parking purchased onsite is cash only.
- Symphony Lounge: Located on the plaza at Ambassador Auditorium. Opens at 12:30 pm before the matinee and 6:00 pm before the evening performance.
- Pre-Concert Discussion: Pre-concert discussions with David Lockington begins one hour before curtain and is available to all ticket holders at no cost.
David Lockington
Music Director
David Lockington began his career as a cellist and was the Principal with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain for two years. After completing his Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Cambridge where he was a choral scholar, Mr. Lockington came to the United States on a scholarship to Yale University where he received his Master’s Degree in cello performance and studied conducting with Otto Werner Mueller. He was a member of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra and served as assistant principal cellist with the Denver Symphony Orchestra for three years before turning to conducting.
Over the past thirty years, David Lockington has developed an impressive conducting career in the United States. A native of Great Britain, he served as the Music Director of the Grand Rapids Symphony from January 1999 to May 2015, and is currently the orchestra’s Conductor Laureate. He has held the position of Music Director with the Modesto Symphony since May 2007 and in March 2013, Mr. Lockington was appointed Music Director of the Pasadena Symphony. He has a close relationship with the Orquesta Sinfonica del Principado de Asturias in Spain, where he was the orchestra’s Principal Guest Conductor from 2012 through 2016, and in the 15/16 season was named one of three Artistic Partners with the Northwest Sinfonietta in Tacoma, Washington.
In addition to his current posts, since his arrival to the United States in 1978 Mr. Lockington has held positions with several other American orchestras, including serving as Assistant Conductor of the Denver Symphony Orchestra and Opera Colorado, and Assistant and Associate Conductor of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. In May 1993 he accepted the position of Music Director of the Ohio Chamber Orchestra, assumed the title of Music Director of the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra in September 1995 and was Music Director of the Long Island Philharmonic for the 96/97 through 99/2000 seasons.
Mr. Lockington’s guest conducting engagements include appearances with the Saint Louis, Houston, Detroit, Seattle, Toronto, Vancouver, Oregon and Phoenix symphonies; the Rochester and Louisiana Philharmonics; and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s at Carnegie Hall. Internationally, he has conducted the Northern Sinfonia in Great Britain, the Israel Chamber Orchestra, the China Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra in Beijing and Taiwan, and led the English Chamber Orchestra on a tour in Asia.
Recent and upcoming guest conducting engagements include appearances with the New Jersey, Indianapolis, Utah, Pacific, Colorado, Nashville, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Stamford, Tucson and Kansas City symphonies, the Florida and Louisville Orchestras, the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa and the Buffalo, Calgary and Oklahoma Philharmonics. Mr. Lockington’s summer festival activities include appearances at the Grand Teton, Colorado Music, Interlochen, Chautauqua and Eastern Music festivals.
David Lockington began his career as a cellist and was the Principal with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain for two years. After completing his Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Cambridge where he was a choral scholar, Mr. Lockington came to the United States on a scholarship to Yale University where he received his Master’s Degree in cello performance and studied conducting with Otto Werner Mueller. He was a member of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra and served as assistant principal cellist with the Denver Symphony Orchestra for three years before turning to conducting.
Dylana Jenson
Violin
“A Mature Master” New York Times
“Fire, passion and rhythmic elan” Strad Magazine
Dylana Jenson has performed with most major orchestras in the United States and traveled to Europe, Australia, Japan and Latin America for concerts, recitals and recordings. After her triumphant success at the Tchaikovsky Competition, where she became the youngest and first American woman to win the Silver Medal, she made her Carnegie Hall debut playing the Sibelius Concerto with Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Ms. Jenson was made an Honorary Citizen of Costa Rica for her artistic contribution to her mother’s homeland. Dylana Jenson comes from a family with a strong tradition in the arts. Her sister, Vicky Jenson, directed the films ‘Shrek’ and ‘Shark Tale’. Her brother Ivan is a painter and poet. Her daughter, Mariama Lockington, is a Hopwood award winning poet.
In tandem with her solo career Jenson has been busy giving Master Classes and teaching at summer music festivals including as a faculty member at the Interlochen Arts Camp and the Heifetz International Institute. In her teaching she uses the Russian technique taught by Leopold Auer and championed by great artists such as Nathan Milstein, David Oistrakh, Isaac Stern and Jasha Heifetz. This method develops a natural physical relationship to the instrument.
Dylana Jenson started the violin at the age of two and a half with her mother. She then studied with Manual Compinsky, Nathan Milstein and Josef Gingold.
David Lee III
Composer b. 1975
Composer and conductor James Lee III was born in Michigan and received his masters and doctorate degrees in composition from the University of Michigan. A recipient of a Charles Ives Scholarship in 2003, his music has been performed by major orchestras throughout the USA and abroad. He is currently Associate Professor of Composition and Theory at Morgan State University in Baltimore.
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