Pasadena Symphony Presents Valentine's Day Celebration with BEETHOVEN 7

Beauty, powerful rhythmic energy and breathless joy -- all describe the program that the Pasadena Symphony has planned for a romantic Valentine's Day performance of Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 tonight, February 14, 2015 at Ambassador Auditorium with both matinee and evening performances at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. The work's first performance was met with "applause that rose to the point of ecstasy," according to a contemporary newspaper account.

Dylana Jenson, the first American woman to win the Silver Medal in the Tchaikovsky Violin Competition, brings her talisman - Shostakovich Violin Concerto to her hometown of Los Angeles. This marks an especially heartwarming performance for the Valentine holiday as she appears with her husband on the podium, Pasadena Symphony's very own Music Director, David Lockington. The New York Times describes her as "A Mature Master." Jenson's acclaimed performance of the Shostakovich was recorded with the London Symphony in 2008 and was applauded by Fanfare Magazine as "reveal[ing] a richly communicative voice...Urgently recommended."

Enter, light will set the tone of this special program. Composed by Joel Schekmann, the work was premiered in November 2013 at the Grand Rapids Symphony, and tells the story through four movements of the seasons of the year.

Treat your valentine to a one-of-a-kind experience at the Sierra Auto Symphony Lounge, yet another addition to the delightful and elegant concert experience the Pasadena Symphony offers. Located in the beautiful outdoor plaza at the Ambassador Auditorium, audiences will enjoy a deliciously prepared menu specially created for the evening, fine wines, and sparkling conversation before the concert and during intermission. It's date night at the Symphony!

Performances are also accompanied by a popular pre-concert discussion that gives the audience insights into the music and musicians one-hour before curtain. The Ambassador Auditorium is located at 131 South St. John Avenue, Pasadena, CA. Ticket prices start at $35 and may be purchased online at www.pasadenasymphony-pops.org or by calling (626) 793-7172.

IF YOU GO:

• What: The Pasadena Symphony presents Beethoven 7
• Conductor: David Lockington, Music Director
• Soloist: Dylana Jenson, violin
• When: Saturday, February 14 at 2:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m.
• Where: Ambassador Auditorium | 131 South St. John Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91105
• Cost: Tickets start at $35.00
• Parking: Valet parking with wheelchair access is available on Green Street for $15. Handicap and general parking is available next to the Auditorium at the covered parking structure for $10. Additional handicap parking is also 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. Open before the concert and during intermission.
• Pre-Concert Discussion: Pre-concert discussion with David Lockington begins one hour before curtain and is available to all ticket holders.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:

David Lockington - In his 14th season as Music Director of the Grand Rapids Symphony, David Lockington has created a lasting legacy of artistic achievements and genuine community enrichment. 2005 marked Lockington's conducting debut at New York's Carnegie Hall. The New York Times commended the Grand Rapids Symphony, under his artistic leadership for being a model in the Classical music world. Lockington also earned a 2007 Grammy Award nomination and has led five recordings with Grand Rapids. The recordings have received high praise including the CD of Adolphus Hailstork's Second and Third symphonies, released internationally on the Naxos label in 2007. Additionally, 2008 saw the successful start of the Grand Rapids Symphony Youth Choruses. At his initiative, the Symphony has also reached out to new and diverse audiences through its annual community concert "Symphony with Soul," now in its 12th season.

Lockington's guest conducting engagements include appearances with the Saint Louis, Houston, Detroit, Seattle, Toronto, Vancouver, Colorado, Oregon, Phoenix, Indianapolis, Pacific, Nashville, San Diego, Kansas City and Columbus Symphonies; the Louisville Orchestra and National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa; the Buffalo, Rochester, Calgary and Louisiana Philharmonics; and the Orchestra of St. Luke's at Carnegie Hall. Internationally, he has conducted the China Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra in Beijing and Taiwan, led the English Chamber Orchestra on a tour in Asia and appeared with the Orquesta Sinfonica del Principado de Asturias in Spain and the Northern Sinfonia in Great Britain.

Since September 2007 Mr. Lockington has served as music director of the Modesto Symphony Orchestra in California. In May 2012, he was named principal conductor of Spain's Orquesta Sinfonica del Principado de Asturias. Prior to leading the Grand Rapids Symphony, Mr. Lockington held the music directorships of the Long Island Philharmonic, New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, Cheyenne Symphony and Ohio Chamber Orchestra. For three years he held the post of assistant conductor with the Denver Symphony Orchestra and Opera Colorado. Mr. Lockington was also associate conductor of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.

Mr. Lockington began his career as principal cellist with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. After completing his Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Cambridge, he came to the U.S. on a scholarship to Yale University, where he received his master's degree in cello performance and studied conducting with Otto Werner Mueller.

DYLANA JENSON, Violin - 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.

Following her 2005 Carnegie Hall performance Jenson again electrified in her performance of Karl Goldmark's violin concerto. According to Strad Magazine, "In Jenson's hands, lyrical passages had an intense, tremulous quality...a sizzling performance." Harris Goldsmith of the New York Concert Review said, "I can give no higher praise than to say that her excellent performance brought to mind, and was a loving tribute to, the great Nathan Milstein... one of Jenson's mentors."

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.

ABOUT THE PASADENA SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION - Formed in 1928, the Pasadena Symphony and POPS is an ensemble of Hollywood's most talented, sought after musicians. With extensive credits in the film, television, recording and orchestral industry, the artists of Pasadena Symphony and POPS are the most heard in the world.

The Pasadena Symphony and POPS performs in two of the most extraordinary venues in the United States: Ambassador Auditorium, known as the Carnegie Hall of the West, and the luxuriant Los Angeles Arboretum & Botanic Garden. Internationally recognized, Grammy-nominated conductor, David Lockington, serves as the Pasadena Symphony Association's Music Director, with performance-practice specialist Nicholas McGegan serving as Principal Guest Conductor. The multi-platinum-selling, two-time Emmy and five-time Grammy Award-nominated entertainer dubbed "The Ambassador of the Great American Songbook," Michael Feinstein, is the Principal Pops Conductor, who succeeded Marvin Hamlisch in the newly created Marvin Hamlisch Chair.

A hallmark of its robust education programs, the Pasadena Symphony Association has served the youth of the region for over five decades through the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestras (PYSO) comprised of five performing ensembles, with over 250 gifted 4th-12th grade students from more than 50 schools all over the Southern California region. The PYSO Symphony often performs on the popular television show GLEE.

The PSA provides people from all walks of life with powerful access points to the world of symphonic music.

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