La Jolla Music Society Announces Opening Gala Concerts At The Conrad

La Jolla Music Society, one of the West Coast's foremost performing arts institutions, has announced the launch of its greatly-anticipated, cutting edge new home, The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center (The Conrad), with three illustrious opening-weekend concerts. With ceremonies, performances, and receptions being held Friday through Sunday, April 5, 6, and 7, 2019, the variety and caliber of these festivities in celebration of its $82 million, 49,000-square-foot complex reflect La Jolla Music Society's invaluable positioning in the classical music world at large, and especially of its immeasurable significance to performing arts programming on an international scale.

Katherine Chapin, Chair of the Board of Directors states, "The experience of expanding upon La Jolla Music Society's world-class cultural standing through the conception, development, and construction of The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center has been among the most rewarding challenges for the Board of Directors. We are deeply grateful to our founding donors, Conrad Prebys and Debra Turner, Stephen Baum and Brenda Baker, Joan and Irwin Jacobs, Raffaella and John Belanich, Rita and Richard Atkinson, Betty and Bob Beyster, James F. Beyster, Mary Ann Beyster, Brian and Silvija Devine, Joy Frieman, Peter and Peggy Preuss, and Joseph Tsai and Clara Wu, and to all those who share our firm belief that the greater San Diego area is a true leader and vital contributor to the North American artistic landscape. On behalf of the Board of Directors and La Jolla Music Society's outstanding administration, I look forward to welcoming you to The Conrad, and to the new generation of performing arts offerings the construction of this extraordinary new building will provide Southern California."

Furthermore, the opening of The Conrad coincides with La Jolla Music Society's 50th anniversary, serving as a testament to the previous decades of outstanding programming, as well as pointing to a new era of expanding musical innovation, creative leadership, and exemplary artistic collaboration. "We want the venue itself to be a performer," states interim President, David Kitto. "Highlighting the capabilities of the venue is very much a part of the plan."

Leah Rosenthal, Director of Programming, adds: "The Conrad will be an immense game-changer for La Jolla Music Society. The specially-designed acoustics, vast technical capabilities and welcoming environment of The Conrad's multiple performance spaces will allow our audience to completely immerse themselves in the concert experience. The Opening Weekend highlights an eclectic roster of the world's most sought-after artists announcing who we are and who we aspire to be in the future."

On April 5, global-phenomenon, violinist Hilary Hahn opens the initial concert on the new stage with celebrated pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet, ukulele artist Jake Shimabukuro, jookin specialist, Lil Buck, the venerable Miró Quartet, creative technologist Osman Koç, and a celebrator reconvening of past and current SummerFest Music Directors. Audiences will have the first opportunity to experience live music in the meticulously-constructed acoustics by the sound expert Yasuhisa Toyota from the Tokyo-based Nagata Acoustics.

"Working with the community of La Jolla and the Music Society has been a great pleasure, since creating this venue will help them succeed in enjoying the work of world-class artists in a very intimate environment. The process of this project has formed a bond between us and the community, which we are sure will endure as the building and the community grow together," states Daniel Beckmann, acoustician in the Los Angeles branch of Nagata Acoustics. He continues: "Together with Epstein Joslin Architects, we collaborated on all aspects of the design of the two halls - elements both seen and unseen - in order to deliver the best result to LJMS. The Baker-Baum Concert Hall occupies the largest possible volume on the site, in order to develop the effective early reflections necessary for clarity as well as the large volume necessary for acoustic warmth or richness, the two necessary ingredients for excellent natural acoustics. In The JAI, a different acoustical aesthetic is implemented, since the smaller space is expected to mainly host amplified performances. Still, it has a very tall ceiling, almost 28', which will give the audience and performers a comfortable environment in which to make and enjoy music."

The Conrad, which comprises two performance venues - The Baker-Baum Concert Hall (513 seats) and The JAI, a 2,000-square-foot multi-purpose space, was designed by the architects at Epstein Joslin, whose other work in the performing arts includes Seiji Ozawa Hall at Tanglewood, Strathmore Music Center in Baltimore, Shalin Liu performance Center in Rockport, MA, and many others. "The Conrad is a cultural village for the San Diego community- where a world class intimate concert hall, flexible performance space and rehearsal room cluster around a garden courtyard and elevated open trellis, allowing patrons and artists from various events to commingle with one another, experiencing amusement, refreshment, education and camaraderie that elevate the experience of their shared love of the arts and the natural environs of La Jolla," says principal architect, Alan Joslin.

OPENING NIGHT
Friday, April 5, 2019
Debbie Turner, Jubilee Chair

5:30 PM Welcome Reception
7:30 PM Ribbon-cutting ceremony for The Baker-Baum Concert Hall
8:00 PM Gala performance in The Baker-Baum Concert Hall

Hilary Hahn, violin
Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano
Jake Shimabukuro, ukulele
Lil Buck, dancer
Osman Koç, creative technologist
Miró Quartet
Inon Barnatan, piano & SummerFest Music Director
Cho-Liang Lin, violin & Past-SummerFest Music Director
David Finckel, cello & Past-SummerFest Music Director
Wu Han, piano & Past-SummerFest Music Director
Heiichiro Ohyama, viola & Past-SummerFest Music Director

Expect an eclectic mix of music from J.S. Bach to Brahms, and Chopin to the Beatles, and others, in addition to the world première of a new work by four-time Grammy winner Lalo Schifrin set to live visual projection by technologist Osman Koç.

SEAL: LIVE AT THE CONRAD
Saturday, April 6, 2019
Sheryl Scarano, Jubilee Chair

6:30 PM Festivities in the Wu Tsai QRT.yrd
8:00 PM Performance by Seal
The Baker-Baum Concert Hall
10:00 PM Post-concert private reception

Four-time Grammy Award-winner and 15-time Grammy Award-nominee, Seal will perform an evening of his greatest hits, as well as songs from his 2019 Grammy-nominated album Standards. British soul legend Seal's new album reawakens the glamour of Old Hollywood - combining his unique voice with some of the greatest jazz standards and swing classics ever written. An artist who's been at the top of his game throughout his 30-year career, Seal's 10th studio album breathes life into iconic hits, paying tribute to legends including Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Nina Simone. Over the course of his astounding career, the acclaimed singer-songwriter has sold over 50 million albums globally. Now, his iconic voice is tackling timeless songs with a collection of stunning versions of standards from "Luck Be A Lady" to "It Was A Very Good Year."

THE HOT SARDINES: JAZZ AT THE JAI
Sunday, April 7, 2019
Susan Hoehn, Jubilee Chair

5:00 PM Reception on The Belanich Terrance at The Conrad
6:00 PM Seated Dinner in the Wu Tsai QRT.yrd
8:00 PM Jazz concert at The JAI featuring The Hot Sardines

The Hot Sardines perform songs from their new album French Fries & Champagne, channeling New York speakeasies, Parisian cabarets, and New Orleans jazz halls.

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