World Premiere of Gernot Wolfgang Work Spotlighting LA Chamber Orchestra Wind Players on March 20 at Royce Hall

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Music Director Jeffrey Kahane continues the 2015-16 season with the world premiere of Los Angeles-based composer Gernot Wolfgang’s Sinfonia Concertante for Four Winds - “The D.A.R.K. Knights” on Saturday, March 19, 8 pm, Alex Theatre, Glendale, and Sunday, March 20, 7 pm, UCLA’s Royce Hall. The program also features LACO Principal Clarinet Joshua Ranz on Mozart’s autumnal Clarinet Concerto, written shortly before the composer’s death, and Kahane as both conductor and soloist in Mozart’s turbulent Piano Concerto No. 20 – a compelling feat that is one of the hallmarks of Kahane’s LACO tenure. Wolfgang's new work, which features four solo instrument – flute, oboe, horn and bassoon – was written to honor and showcase the exceptional talents of long-serving LACO principal wind players David Shostac, flute, and Allan Vogel, oboe, both of whom are set to retire at season’s end after 85 combined years with the Orchestra; Kenneth Munday, bassoon, who is celebrating his 40th season with LACO; and former Principal Horn Richard Todd, who played with LACO for 35 years through the 2014-15 season.

Wolfgang says, “The composition is in one movement, with the Sinfonia Concertante portions occupying the energetic outer sections. The lyrical middle part of the piece consists of the succession of mini-concertos. The soloistic parts for each of the featured wind players were inspired by their individual, very specific instrumental sounds, which have become very familiar to me over the years. I also took into account the special musical abilities of some of these musicians – both David Shostac and Richard Todd, noted jazz artists, too, will get a chance to improvise in selected passages.”

Vogel, "an aristocrat of his instrument, an oboe virtuoso with few equals" (Los Angeles Times) and "undoubtedly one of the few world masters" (San Diego Union), joined LACO in 1972 and became principal oboe in 1974. He has performed as guest principal oboe with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and appeared with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, and the Berlin and Los Angeles philharmonics. He has been featured at the Marlboro, Santa Fe, Aspen and Mostly Mozart festivals, among others, and performed at the White House during the last state dinner of the Clinton presidency. Vogel is on the faculty of the California Institute of the Arts, the University of Southern California and the Colburn School Conservatory of Music.

Shostac, a “world class musician” (Review Plays) and “stalwart of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra” (Orange County Register), was appointed principal flute of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra in 1975. He has also served as principal flute of the St. Louis, Milwaukee and New Orleans symphony orchestras. Shostac has performed as a solo and orchestral player at the Hol­lywood Bowl and has taken part in the Ojai, Mostly Mozart, Aspen and Oregon Bach festivals, and has appeared with the American Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Symphony and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He has taught at USC, UCLA, California Institute of the Arts, the Aspen Music School and the Idyllwild Arts Academy and is a faculty member of CSU Northridge.

Ranz won the audition for principal clarinet of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra in 2008 after having served as second clarinet since 1999. He recently performed the Copland Clarinet Concerto with LACO. Ranz is also principal clarinet of the New West Symphony and has filled in as principal for the LA Opera and Hollywood Bowl orchestras, as well as the Santa Barbara and Santa Monica symphonies. He is a member of the Pacific Symphony, performs regularly with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and is active in the television and motion picture industry. He earned a Bachelor’s degree at Harvard College and received a Master of Music at the Yale School of Music.

Equally at home at the keyboard or on the podium, Kahane has established an international reputation as a truly versatile artist, recognized around the world for his mastery of diverse repertoire ranging from Bach, Mozart and Beethoven to Gershwin, Golijov and John Adams. Now in his 19th season as music director of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, he previously served as music director of the Colorado and Santa Rosa symphonies. He has garnered tremendous critical acclaim for his innovative programming and commitment to education and community involvement and received multiple ASCAP Awards for Adventurous Programming for his work in both Los Angeles and Denver. He is also a visiting Professor of Keyboard Studies at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music.

Wolfgang, a composer with a “winning sonic arsenal” (Gramophone), was born in Bad Gastein, Austria, but currently lives in Los Angeles. In addition to LACO’s commission, Wolfgang has written compositions for orchestras, ensembles and individuals around the world. He is the guitarist for the Austrian jazz ensemble, The QuARTet, with which he has performed throughout Europe. Wolfgang is a graduate of the film and scoring program at USC and works in film and television as an orchestrator. He also is associate artistic director of HEAR NOW – A Festival of New Music by Contemporary Los Angeles Composers.

Concert Preludes, pre-concert talks held one hour before curtain and free for ticket holders, provide insights into the program's music and artists. Director of Artistic Administration Daren Fuster interviews the soloists and discusses with Wolfgang the inspiration and creation of his work. Following the performance, ticket holders are invited to toast Vogel and Shostac in the lobby at an after-party, which includes complimentary drinks and appetizers.

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra is considered one of the world’s premier chamber orchestras as well as a pacesetter in presenting wide-ranging repertoire and adventurous commissions. Its 2015-16 season, features a compelling mix of beloved masterpieces and genre-defying premieres from firmly established as well as notable up-and-coming composers programmed by Jeffrey Kahane, one of the world’s foremost conductors and pianists, who marks his 19th season as LACO’s music director.

Steinway is the official piano of Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.

Tickets, starting at $27, are on sale now and may be purchased online at laco.org or by calling LACO at 213 622 7001. Discounted tickets are also available by phone for seniors 65 years of age and older and groups of 12 or more. College students may purchase student rush tickets ($12), based on availability, at the box office the day of the concert. Also available for college students is the $30 “Campus to Concert Hall All Access Pass” – good for all seven of LACO’s Orchestral series concerts, Discover Bach’s Cantata “Sleepers Awake” and three Westside Connections concerts.