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Arts & Entertainment

New Valley Symphony Orchestra Concert

New Valley Symphony Orchestra Concert June 17, 2012 features two guest conductors:  Olivia Tsui and Phoenix Delgado

 The New Valley Symphony Orchestra will continue their tradition of bringing outstanding classical music performances to their loyal and growing audience free to the public on June 17, 2012 at 2 pm. The concert will be at the Hall of Liberty at Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills. The NVSO will host two top, local, guest conductors. This is the third concert since the passing of NVSO's beloved music director, Armen Garabedian and the symphony will be led, in tandem, by Olivia Tsui, taking the first half of the program, followed by A.Phoenix Delgado who will conclude the concert. Like the previous two concerts, two conductors have shared the baton, splitting the program between two guests conductors as part of the Symphony's search for a permanent director. 

Olivia Tsui is an award-winning and versatile conductor,  who is distinguished as the first woman Music Director in the 84 year history of the Glendale Symphony Orchestra. The Los Angeles Times hailed her "outstanding performance…with brilliant virtuosity". Plácido Domingo described her as "an exceptional musician - very confident with the baton." Since appearing as both conductor and soloist with the International Chamber Orchestra in 1997, Ms. Tsui has conducted worldwide both symphonic and operatic repertoire.

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She was invited to guest conduct the famed Slovak State Philharmonic in Kosice, the Sofia Philharmonic, the Congress Orchestra of St. Petersburg Philharmonic Society of Russia, the National Symphony Orchestra of Mexico and the Stara Zagora State Opera House in Bulgaria.  Equally in demand on the home front, she has been a frequent guest conductor for the Bel Canto Opera Festival in Oregon, the Naples Philharmonic in Florida and the Rio Hondo Symphony Orchestra.

Born in Shanghai, China, Ms. Tsui was trained as a concert violinist and toured many cities. After arriving in the United States in 1986, she continued her studies and earned advanced degrees. Her passion for conducting led her to be under tutelage of Jorma Panula, and Jorge Mester. She has studied at the Conducting Institute at Bard, New York, and received a certificate with honor from the Advanced Conducting Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Ms. Tsui has acquired many aspects of music through her professional training and experiences. After 17 years of working with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, she has become very fluent in popular music such as movie soundtracks, Broadway shows, jazz, country and rock music. She has carried on the tradition of the Glendale Symphony established by their former Music Directors and guests - Lalo Schifrin, John Williams, Henry Mancini and Andre Previn.

As an educator, Ms. Tsui has been a judge of the Southern California Young Musicians Foundation Competition for 7 consecutive years. A fervent advocate of the arts, she works diligently in her community to bring classical music to new generations. Her goal is to become a musical ambassador to the world, bringing all people together.

 A.Phoenix Delgado began his musical journey at age 8. He started on piano then adding flute, voice and conducting. While attending the Interlochen Arts Academy, he became their principal flute player. He went on to hold principal flute positions with the Houston Youth Symphony, Texas All-State Orchestra, the USC Thornton Symphony and Chamber Orchestra, and the Young Musicians Foundation Debut Orchestra and he has performed as a soloist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He is currently the Assistant Dean for Advancement at the USC Thornton School of Music and is pursuing his Doctoral of Musical Arts degree in flute performance.

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From 2003 to 2007 Phoenix was the Executive Director for The Harmony Project, a non-profit organization that offers music education to under served children. He was instrumental in the development and growth of the Harmony Project during his tenure. After leaving the Executive Director's chair, he remained Music Director & Conductor of the Harmony Project from 2007 to 2009. He was created three Summer Festival Orchestras, developed and conducted the Harmony Project Orchestra and the Hollywood Youth Orchestra. In 2009 the Harmony Project was presented the Coming Up Taller Award, the nation’s highest honor for humanities programs, at the White House, by First Lady Michelle Obama.

 

Phoenix formed the LA Philharmonic’s EXPO Center Youth Orchestra, a part of Youth Orchestra LA, which Gustavo Dudamel  has conducted on several occasions. With them Phoenix has performed at the Hollywood Bowl. He has served as Adjunct Instructor for Los Angeles City College, Guest Conductor for the Young Musicians Foundation and as a member of the Young Musicians Foundation Board of Advisors.

 

A free-lance flutist, Phoenix performs for high-profile events, records for film, television and video games. He holds the principal position with the Golden State Pops Orchestra and has been a soloist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He has appeared with the YMF Debut Orchestra, Cypress Pops Orchestra and the USC Thornton Symphony, finalist at the National Flute Association Orchestral Masterclass & Competition, the Hollywood Bowl, as guest artist for Senator John McCain, and at the Texas Music Educators Association.  At USC he was a performers of choice for all Presidential events.

As a conductor, Phoenix led the Young Musician's Foundation Debut Orchestra at the 2005 Grammy's Salute to Classical Music honoring Esa-Pekka Salonen. In 2006, Phoenix was named a finalist for Leonard Slatkin's National Conducting Institute.  In 2007 he had the honor of conducting at Merv Griffin's memorial service. He has conducted the USC Thornton Symphony and Chamber Orchestras and the Chamber Ensemble of Rome. He was Assistant Conductor for the Pasadena Symphony and Michael Tilson Thomas at Disney Hall.

PROGRAM:

I. Olivia Tsui

Vivaldi, “Spring” from The Four Seasons

Britten, Simple Symphony

Saint-Saens, Danse Macabre

II. A.Phoenix Delgado

Ravel, Pavane for a Dead Princess

AMozart, Symphony No. 41 (Jupiter)”

 

 

 

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