Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra

The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO) is a 40-member American chamber orchestra based in Los Angeles, California, praised by the music critic Jim Svejda as "America's finest chamber orchestra." [http://www.laco.org/about.html] . LACO was founded in 1968 as an artistic outlet for the local film and record studios' most gifted musicians to perform the classical music repertoire for a chamber orchestra of about 40-45 in number. The Orchestra’s artistic founder, cellist James Arkatov, envisioned an ensemble that would allow these conservatory-trained players to balance studio work and teaching with artistic collaboration. With the financial backing of philanthropist Richard Colburn and managerial expertise from attorney Joseph Troy, who also became the Orchestra’s first president, LACO presented its first performances in the fall of 1969. To this day, many of the Orchestra's musicians are employed by local recording and film studios. The LACO website describes the [http://www.laco.org/about.html orchestra's mission] as follows:

"To preserve and advance a living tradition of orchestral music through artistically excellent performances that energize and enrich the lives of players and listeners alike. We celebrate the personal connection among our musicians, audiences and community, as shaped by the intimacy of our unique chamber orchestra experience."

LACO's first music director was Neville Marriner, and Marriner and LACO used the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields as a guiding model for the ensemble.cite journal | url=http://mq.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/80/2/220 | last=Rosen |first=Ronald S. | title=Stranger in Paradise: The Life and Adventures of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra | journal=The Musical Quarterly | volume=80 | issue=2 | pages=220–233 | date=1996 | accessdate=2007-09-15 | doi=10.1093/mq/80.2.220] Gerard Schwarz was the LACO's second music director, and expanded the orchestra's repertoire to include more American works. Iona Brown was named the LACO's music advisor for the 1986-1987 season, and became music director the next season, serving through 1992. Christof Perick was the next LACO Music Director, from 1992 to 1995. The Orchestra's current music director is the conductor and pianist Jeffrey Kahane, who has led the group since 1997. In March 2008, Kahane extended his contract with LACO through the 2011-2012 season. [cite news | author=Chris Pasles | title=Kahane extends contract | url=http://articles.latimes.com/2008/mar/28/entertainment/et-laco28 | work=Los Angeles Times | date=2008-03-28 | accessdate=2008-07-04] Its current Composer-in-Residence is Uri Caine.

At the beginning of LACO's history, the Orchestra did not have a residency at a single concert hall. The Orchestra performed in such venues as the Mark Taper Forum, Occidental College (Thorne Hall), the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles, and the California Institute of Technology (Beckman Auditorium). Currently, LACO presents 15 concerts annually at two theaters: the Alex Theatre in Glendale and UCLA's Royce Hall; they occasionally play additional concerts at Zipper Hall at The Colburn School and at Ambassador Auditorium. In addition to its 15 concerts at the Alex Theatre and Royce Hall, LACO presents a Baroque Conversations series at Zipper Hall, a Family Series at the Alex Theatre and a chamber music series, Westside Connections, at the Broad Stage of the Santa Monica Performing Arts Center.

LACO's repertoire ranges from the Baroque to newly commissioned works (the latter of which it presents through its patron commissioning club, Sound Investment). In celebration of the 250th anniversary of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's birth (27 January 2006), the orchestra performed all 23 of Mozart's piano concertos over the period of 15 months, something no other U.S. orchestra has ever attempted. Kahane conducted all 23 from the keyboard, as was the practice during Mozart's time.

In April 2002, the orchestra made its Carnegie Hall debut, and in June 2005 the orchestra received the First Place Award for Programming of Contemporary Music, offered by the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) and the American Symphony Orchestra League. The Orchestra has been honored three times in the last four years with an Award for Adventurous Programming, bestowed by the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) and the League of American Orchestras.

In spring 2008, by special invitation, the Orchestra undertook a two-week European tour with concerts in Paris, Vienna, Berlin, Hanover, Hamburg, Ferrara, Treviso and San Sebastián.

The 2008-09 season marks the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra's milestone 40th anniversary. The season features a world premiere by American composer Christopher Theofanidis, the eighth commission of LACO’s patron commissioning club, Sound Investment; two additional world premieres of works composed by members of the Orchestra; two U.S. premieres and the West Coast premiere of Osvaldo Golijov's "Azul" with cellist Yo-Yo Ma.

LACO also performs for local elementary school students through its Meet the Music program. Through its Neighborhood Concerts program, the Orchestra provides opportunities for new and underserved audiences to experience live orchestral music.

Music Directors

* Neville Marriner (1969-1978)
* Gerard Schwarz (1978-1986)
* Iona Brown (1987-1992)
* Christof Perick (1992-1994)
* Jeffrey Kahane (1997-present)

Iona Brown also served as Principal Conductor and Musical Advisor from 1995 to 1997.

References

External links

* [http://www.laco.org/ Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra official site]
* [http://www.imgartists.com/?page=artist&id=246&c=4&cid=4394 "Los Angeles Times", Chris Pasles, "It turns out it's a player after all" (September 25, 2005)]