CANCELLED: We regret to inform you that this Sunday’s Laemmle Live concert featuring Samohi Chamber Orchestra has been cancelled. This is in line with the school’s decision to cancel other large public gatherings. We appreciate your understanding of the situation.

LAEMMLE LIVE proudly welcomes back our hometown band – Samohi Chamber Orchestra. Orchestra Directors are Joni Swenson and Jason Aiello. Santa Monica High School, fondly referred to as Samohi, is a large urban public high school.  Founded in 1891, Samohi has an enrollment of 3,000 diverse students and is situated on a twenty-six acre campus just a short walk from the Pacific Ocean. 

The Santa Monica Orchestra was founded in 1903, making 2020 its 117th anniversary.  During this time, the program has grown to include seven orchestras at Samohi. The Santa Monica High School Chamber Orchestra is comprised of twenty-two talented and dedicated young musicians who are leaders in the Samohi Symphony Orchestra.  In past years, the Santa Monica High School Chamber Orchestra has performed in Carnegie Hall in 2009, at the American String Teachers Association National Orchestra Festival in Kansas City, Kansas in 2011; at the Northwest Orchestra Festival in Portland, Oregon in 2013 and in 2017, and in Vancouver, British Columbia in 2015.  Last year, the Samohi Chamber Orchestra performed in New York City at the National Orchestra Cup Festival held at Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center where they received the best string ensemble in the festival.  The Chamber Orchestra is delighted for its fourth performance in the Laemmle Live Concert Series. 

1st Violin

Rubani Chugh
Kielor Tung
Gina Kim
Ryan Lee
Sarah Michlin

2nd Violin

Anouk Jouffret
Emily Taylor
Chloe Schwartz
Isabella Miele-Okada
Lily Rafat
Janet Yang

Viola

Layla Shapouri
Dyllan Zhou
Grace McFalls
Naomi Villafana

Cello

Kaya Ralls
Lily Stern
Giulia Trevellin
Shoshanah Israilevich

Bass

Weston Kerekes
Alec Raymond
Silas Garcia-George

Samohi Orchestra Parents Association
Ann Raziel, President

Santa Monica High School
Dr. Antonio Shelton, Principal

Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District

Sunday, March 15, 2020
11:00 AM
Monica Film Center
1332 Second Street
Santa Monica

 

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LAEMMLE LIVE puts a fresh spin on chamber music this month and proudly introduces Mixtape Quartet.

Mixtape Series draws inspiration from how friends share music. We curate our favorite musical moments to share a feeling. And to tell a story. We love the nostalgic and intimate quality of personalized cassettes. And we value the abundant diversity of music available on today’s streaming platforms. Mixtape combines the best of both. But Pandora and Spotify are no match for human instinct. Our handcrafted playlists connect pieces in ways no algorithm could hope to think up! We seamlessly thread together selections of the best moments in the classical repertoire (and beyond!) into themed concerts. The audience experience is akin to leaving all your music on shuffle, except somehow, no matter how diverse the pieces are, the music always fits together perfectly. Watch their video here.

Juan-Salvador Carrasco, Michael Siess, and Misha Vayman, Co-Artistic Directors Email: [email protected]

Artists:

Misha Vayman & Michael Siess – Violins

Nao Kubota & Hyemi Choi – Violas

Juan-Salvador Carrasco & Sarah Kim – Cellos

Program:

Sun selections

Ysaye Violin Sonata No. 5, “L’aurore”

Beethoven String Quartet in A major, Op. 132, mvt 3

Janacek String Quartet No. 2 “Intimate Letters,” mvt 1

Debussy Quartet, mvt 3

Moon selections

Bartok String Quartet No. 4, mvt 3

Schoenberg Verklarte Nacht

Borodin String Quartet, mvt 3

Clair de Lune

Sunday, February 16, 2020
11:00 AM
Monica Film Center
1332 Second Street
Santa Monica

 

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LAEMMLE LIVE proudly launches its fourth season with the musicians of Kaleidoscope. Beloved radio host Rich Capparela returns to host our popular Sunday morning concert series. The critically acclaimed local conductorless chamber orchestra is dedicated to enriching lives through exhilarating concert experiences, artistic excellence, musician leadership, and connecting with the diverse communities of Los Angeles. They envision a world where commitment to collaborative artistic process results in profound orchestral performances that inspire people to pursue cooperation and artistry in their own creative, professional and personal lives. For more info, please visit: www.kco.la

The program will include:

W.A. Mozart – Divertimento No. 3

Paquito D’rivera – Habanera

Franz Schubert – Trio in Bb Major

Jean Françaix – Divertissement

Astor Piazzolla – Oblivion

Robert Walker – oboe

Benjamin Mitchell – clarinet

Nick Akdag – bassoon

“In the top handful of best concert experiences I’ve ever had”
-Rich Capparela, Classical KUSC Radio

“They are lending themselves to a level of collaboration that most orchestras don’t have”
-LA Times

“a tour de force”
-The Huffington Post

Sunday, January 26, 2020
11:00 AM
Monica Film Center
1332 Second Street
Santa Monica

 

LAEMMLE LIVE proudly ushers in the 2019 holiday season with the new American Youth Symphony Brass Ensemble, performing classical and holiday melodies. Beloved radio host Rich Capparela returns to host the festivities.

Forrest Johnston, trumpet

Tyler Norris, trumpet

Valerie Ankeney, french horn

Michael Dolin, trombone

Errol Rhoden, tuba

Founded in 1964 by renowned conductor Mehli Mehta, the American Youth Symphony inspires the future of classical music by training the next generation of professional musicians and building new audiences for orchestral music.  AYS presents ambitious seasons that feature thoughtful programming of exceptionally high quality, covering a breadth of symphonic music, including beloved classics, film scores, chamber works, and contemporary pieces. AYS is committed to reflecting the diversity of Los Angeles in its programming, representing artists and composers of all genders, generations, and ethnicities. AYS is also committed to equity within the orchestra, by holding blind, free auditions, and by paying musicians instead of charging tuition. AYS concerts are presented for free or low cost, at world-class concert halls and local community venues alike, with the goal of welcoming anyone who is interested to enjoy this beautiful art form. https://aysymphony.org/

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Sunday, December 15, 2019
11:00 AM
Monica Film Center

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LAEMMLE LIVE proudly presents talented faculty members from Santa Monica-based Elemental Music, performing Rondo from Duo 2 – Opus 81 by Friedrich Kuhlaum, Sao Paulo Shimmer by Jonathan Cohen and Mozart Clarinet Quintet K. 581. Beloved radio host Rich Capparela returns to host

Since 2004, Elemental Music has provided over 2,000 young musicians with high-quality music education experiences. Elemental Music envisions a community where youth are inspired and empowered through quality music education. Students study with expert teachers to hone their musical technique while learning the art of collaboration and responsibility. Elemental Music offers exciting ensembles for elementary school students in nearly all instruments and voice, as well as beginning programs for guitar and strings, and even an advanced full orchestra for middle school students.

“I feel the real kind of happy in my heart!” This is the exclamation of an Elemental Music student overflowing with joy after performing in his very first orchestra concert. As a 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to inspiring, training, and nurturing young musicians in Santa Monica and surrounding communities, Elemental Music teachers witness special moments like this all season long!

Emily Senchuk, Christie Glaser, flutes

Amanda Walker, clarinet

Susan Rishik and Sam Lorenzini, violins

Josephine Moerschel, viola

Betsy Rellig, cello

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Sunday, October 13, 2019
11:00 AM
Monica Film Center

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Please join us for a very special event as LAEMMLE LIVE presents the Street Symphony String Quartet, featuring a string quartet written by Director of Community Engagement, Ben Shirley and music by Reena Esmail.

Street Symphony places social justice at the heart of music making by creating authentic, powerful engagements between professional and emerging artists and communities disenfranchised by homelessness and incarceration in Los Angeles County. They believe all people deserve access to a creative and expressive life. Founded in 2011, Street Symphony has presented nearly 400 free, world-class musical engagements for severely disenfranchised communities affected by homelessness and incarceration in Los Angeles County. Comprised of a grassroots community of over 70 world class musicians, Street Symphony ensembles present regular monthly programs at Skid Row shelters and county jails.

Since 2015, Street Symphony has presented a yearly performance of The Messiah Project, a nationally acclaimed community performance of excerpts of Handel’s Messiah at The Midnight Mission in Skid Row, featuring stories and performances from people affected by and recovering from homelessness in LA County. In 2017, supported by a generous grant from the S. Mark Taper Foundation, Street Symphony launched the Daniel Chaney Teaching Artist program, pairing professional artists with members of the homeless community in an effort to amplify the voices and artistry of the Skid Row community.

Street Symphony
Vijay Gupta: Founder and Artistic Director/Violin
Ben Shirley: Director of Community Engagement

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Sunday, September 15, 2019
11:00 AM
Monica Film Center

Our summer tradition continues when our good friends from McCabe’s share their musical gifts Sunday, August 4. LAEMMLE LIVE presents McCabe’s Guitar Shop for a free pop-up celebration of all things guitar, vocal and other choice instruments. Come on down to the Monica to sample McCabe’s students and teachers’ wit and wisdom. Hosted by Head of Music School Denny Croy.

It began in 1958. Furniture designer Gerald McCabe repaired guitars for his folk-singer wife’s musician friends who had no local music store. Gerald and his friend Ed Kahn decided to open a small music shop on Pico Blvd in Santa Monica. They began repairing instruments, selling folk music books and records, carrying Mexican guitars and old banjos. Word spread and local musicians began hanging out, relishing one of the only guitar shops in the Southern California area. One of those young musicians was Bob Riskin. Bob started as an employee in 1960. In the early 60’s lessons and classes were added. In 1969 McCabe’s began presenting live concerts. Bob Riskin became sole owner in 1986. Bob and his wife Espie are still running McCabe’s today! Over the years, musicians from all aspects of the musical spectrum, from gifted amateurs to seasoned professionals, have come to appreciate McCabe’s friendly, knowledgeable sales staff, expert repair shop and world class teaching staff.  Join us for memorable music from a local treasure!

EVENT DETAILS
Sunday, August 4, 2019
11:00 AM
Monica Film Center

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