Conductor Gary S. Greene will lead the Beverly Hills based Jr. Philharmonic Orchestra in a concert spectacular on Sunday, June 5, 2011, 7:00 PM, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.
More than a dozen Beverly Hills High School students and alumni including Jonathan Assia, Christopher Chen, Timothy Choi (’00), Debra Marisa Greene (’01), Lori Gordon (’73), Natalie Gordon, Victoria Gordon, Elbert Kim, Leah Shapiro, Milton Shapiro, Alex Sleisenger, Jared Sleisenger, Benny Upchurch, Ryan Wei are performing in the orchestra which rehearses weekly at Horace Mann School in Beverly Hills.
The Jr. Phil is composed of Southern California’s finest young musicians from diverse backgrounds who are provided musical training and orchestral experience at NO CHARGE.
Those above, together
with select alumni, will perform in this 74th Anniversary Concert Spectacular that will feature classical favorites and sensational show music including the romantic Scheherazade and the bombastic 1812 Overture.
Legendary Broadway star Carol Channing will perform her memorable “Hello, Dolly!†and receive the Jr. Philharmonic’s Golden Baton Award.
Emmy and Grammy award-winning composer Charles Fox will conduct some of his famous TV theme songs including “Happy Days,†“Laverne & Shirley,†and “Love Boat.†Broadway star Jordan Bennett will sing “This Is The Moment†and “Anthem.†Petri Hawkins-Byrd, the bailiff on the hit TV show Judge Judy, will sing “What A Wonderful World†as part of a medley of Louis Armstrong’s most memorable songs.
Victori
a Gordon will sing “Someone Like You†from the musical Jekyll and Hyde. Actress June Lockhart and comedian Jack Carter will make special appearances.
The Jr. Philharmonic will also perform the exciting Bacchanale from Sampson and Delilah by Saint-Saëns and the audience favorite Opheus and the Underworld by Offenbach. Wink Martindale will MC the program. Debra Marisa Greene is the concert producer.
For tickets and information:www.JrPhil.org or 310-275-7511
History
The Jr. Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in the depths of the Great Depression (1937) by long-time Beverly Hills resident, the late Dr. Ernst Katz. Katz served the orchestra’s founder-conductor for more than 70 years. His life-long philosophy is expressed in the orchestra’s motto, “GIVE YOUTH A CHANCE TO BE HEARD.” More than 10,000 musicians, ages 12 through 25 (selected from the 70,000 who auditioned) received their orchestral training at no charge and without government or commercial subsidies. His nephew, conductor Gary S. Greene, continues Maestro Katz’s vision.
For more information: www.JrPhil.org
