Gemma New Conducts LA Chamber Orchestra's Season Opener With Violinist Hilary Hahn

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO) launches its 2018-19 season when Gemma New leads three-time Grammy Award-winning violinist Hilary Hahn and LACO Concertmaster Margaret Batjer on Bach's Concerto for Two Violins and Violin Concerto in E major on Saturday, September 29, 8 pm, at the Alex Theatre, and Sunday, September 30, 2018, 7 pm, at Royce Hall. The concert also features LACO Creative Advisor and Composer-in-Residence Andrew Norman's Try, a US premiere of Franco Donatoni's Eco and Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 4, "Italian." LACO's vibrant and engaging Orchestral Series showcases the ensemble's remarkable artistry and trademark mix of orchestral masterpieces and new works from today's leading composers, as well as the much-admired collaborative style of LACO artists. After each performance, the audience is invited to a free post-concert party in the lobby to celebrate LACO's season opening.

New, who conducts with "energy and understanding" (St. Louis Dispatch), is the Music Director of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra in Ontario, Canada and Resident Conductor of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. She previously served as Associate Conductor of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and was formerly a Los Angeles Philharmonic Dudamel Conducting Fellow,. A New Zealand native, New made her Carnegie Hall conducting debut in 2013 leading works by John Adams and Andrew Norman on the American Soundscapes series. In 2010, she founded the Lunar Ensemble, a nine-member contemporary music ensemble that ran for six seasons, premiered over 30 works and toured the country. She received a Solti Foundation U.S. Career Assistance Award in 2017.

Hahn and Batjer recorded Bach's Concerto for Two Violins in 2003 for Deutsche Grammophon with LACO and LACO Conductor Laureate Jeffrey Kahane.

Hahn is renowned for her "superb" (The Times) virtuosity, expansive interpretations and creative programming. She was named "America's Best Young Classical Musician" in 2001 by Time magazine. Hahn has released sixteen albums on the Deutsche Grammophon and Sony labels, in addition to three DVDs, an Oscar-nominated movie soundtrack, an award-winning recording for children and various compilations. All have debuted in the top ten of the Billboard classical chart. She is an avid writer, having posted journal entries for two decades on her website, hilaryhahn.com, and published articles in mainstream media. As part of recent residencies at the Vienna Konzerthaus, Seattle Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra and National Orchestra of Lyon, Hahn piloted free - and sometimes surprise - concerts for parents with their babies, as well as a knitting circle, a community dance workshop, a yoga class and art students.

Batjer has served as concertmaster of Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra since 1998. Throughout her successful career as a soloist, chamber musician, teacher and concertmaster, she has established herself as a versatile and respected artist worldwide. She made her first solo appearance at the age of 15 with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and has since appeared with a succession of leading American orchestras, including The Philadelphia Orchestra; the St. Louis, Seattle and Dallas symphony orchestras; and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Batjer has also performed with such European ensembles as the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Prague Chamber Orchestra, RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra (of Ireland), Berlin Symphony Orchestra and Hallé Orchestra. Drawing upon her affinity for chamber music and her curiosity of other artistic disciplines, Batjer developed LACO's acclaimed chamber music series In Focus. In addition to the recording of Bach's Concerto for Two Violins with Hahn, Batjer recorded the work with Salvatore Accardo and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe for the Philips label. She has also made numerous chamber music recordings on the EMI, Nuova Era and BMG labels.

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO) ranks among the world's top musical ensembles. Beloved by audiences and praised by critics, the Orchestra is known as a champion of contemporary composers, with eight ASCAP Awards for Adventurous Programming, as well as a preeminent interpreter of historical masterworks. Headquartered in the heart of the country's cultural capital, LACO has been proclaimed "America's finest chamber orchestra" (Public Radio International), "LA's most unintimidating chamber music experience" (Los Angeles magazine), "resplendent" (Los Angeles Times) and "one of the world's great chamber orchestras"(KUSC Classical FM). Performing throughout greater Los Angeles, the Orchestra presents orchestral, Baroque and chamber concerts, as well as salon evenings in private spaces and unique experiences that explore classical music's cutting-edge sounds. Jaime Martín, praised as "a visionary conductor, discerning and meticulous" (Platea Magazine), is LACO's Music Director Designate and takes the podium as Music Director in the 2019-20 season.

Steinway is the official piano of Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.

Concert Preludes, pre-concert talks held one hour before curtain and free for ticket holders, provide insights into the program's music and artists.

Tickets start at $28 and may be purchased online at laco.org or by calling LACO at 213 622 7001 x 1. Discounted tickets are also available by phone for seniors 65 years of age and older and groups of 12 or more. College students with valid student ID may purchase discounted tickets ($8), based on availability.

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