L.A. Philharmonic to Perform Free Concert at Wilshire United Methodist Church, 12/10

The Los Angeles Philharmonic, conducted by Dudamel Fellow Courtney Lewis, gives a free neighborhood concert at the Wilshire United Methodist Church on Saturday, December 10 at 7:30 p.m. The program includes Dvorák's Carnival Overture and Dvorák's Symphony No. 7.

This concert is free and tickets are not required. Seating is general admission/first come, first served. Doors open at 6:45 p.m. For information, please call 818.845.4048 or visit LAPhil.com.

Pastor Gordon Marchant of Wilshire United Methodist Church comments, "On behalf of our multicultural congregations, Wilshire United Methodist Church is thrilled to welcome back the world renowned LA Philharmonic. Music is very important to what we do here, and we take great joy in hosting this wonderful free program as our Holiday gift to Los Angeles."

Conductor Courtney Lewis, a hand-selected participant of the Dudamel Fellowship program, leads the LA Phil for this performance. The Dudamel Fellowship program gives each participating Fellow the opportunity to develop his/her craft and enrich his/her musical experience through personal mentorship and participation in the LA Phil's orchestral and education programs. Hailed by the Boston Phoenix as "...both an inspired conductor...and an inspired programmer," Courtney Lewis is quickly becoming recognized as one of today's top emerging talents. He is founder and music director of Boston's acclaimed Discovery Ensemble, a chamber orchestra with the mission of introducing inner-city school children to classical music while bringing new and unusual repertoire to established concert audiences. Lewis has also recently been promoted to associate conductor of the Minnesota Orchestra, where he regularly conducts Young People's concerts, outdoor concerts, and other performances. Lewis has also worked with the BBC Philharmonic, Tulsa Symphony and Liverpool Mozart Orchestras, as well as smaller groups, including the Nash Ensemble and Alban Berg Ensemble. Recent engagements include a return to the Saint Louis Symphony and successful debuts with the Ulster Orchestra and the New Hampshire Music Festival. Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Lewis attended the University of Cambridge, where he studied composition with Robin Holloway and clarinet with Dame Thea King, graduating at the top of his year with starred first class honors. After completing a master's degree with a focus on the late music of György Ligeti, he attended the Royal Northern College of Music, where his teachers included Sir Mark Elder and Clark Rundell. He also completed a two-year tenure as a Zander Fellow with the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, an intensive conducting apprenticeship under the ensemble's music director, Benjamin Zander.

The Los Angeles Philharmonic's neighborhood concerts in the community include free orchestra, chamber music and jazz concerts in churches, community centers and other local venues around Southern California. The Los Angeles Philharmonic has been presenting free neighborhood concerts for the past 20 years, as part of the organization's dedication to making music accessible to the widest possible audience.

For more information, please visit: http://www.laphil.com.

The concert is on SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2011 AT 7:30 PM at Wilshire United Methodist Church, 4350 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90010.

This concert is free and tickets are not required. Seating is general admission/first come, first served. Doors open at 6:45 p.m. For information, please call 818.845.4048 or visit LAPhil.com.

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