Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra

Mission Statement

The mission of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra is to perform high-quality concerts of the chamber orchestra repertoire, from Baroque and early Classical works to the compositions from the 19th and 20th century specifically written for small orchestra, including works by living composers; to make those performances available to a wide and diverse audience in Southern California and beyond; and to participate in and contribute to the dynamic growth of the chamber orchestra archive. Founded in 1968, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra begins its 31st season in September 1999 under Music Director Jeffrey Kahane. The Orchestra is acclaimed nationally and internationally for music-making of the highest artistic caliber. The 40-member ensemble has grown and flourished under the batons of its four previous music directors: Sir Neville Marriner (1969-1978), Gerard Schwarz (1978-1986), Iona Brown (1987-1992), and Christof Perick (1992-1995). Los Angeles native Jeffrey Kahane was named as the fifth Music Director of the Orchestra in June, 1996. The Orchestra maintains its international reputation through its annual home season, touring, radio broadcasts, 27 recordings, and professional collaborations with other arts and community organizations. In addition, the Chamber Orchestra is committed to the commissioning and performance of new works as an essential component to its mission under the leadership of its Composer-in-Residence, Kenneth Frazelle. In its 1999-2000 season, the Orchestra will perform 15 season subscription programs in two geographic areas: the Regency Series on the Westside has returned to Royce Hall on the UCLA Campus, and the Connoisseur Series will continue at the Alex Theatre in Glendale. Concert Conversations with noted music historian and scholar Dr. Alan Chapman precede each scheduled subscription concert and offer concert-goers history and commentary on the music they will hear as well as anecdotes about the lives and times of featured composers. In addition to its subscription concerts, the Chamber Orchestra hosts other exciting special events: our Family Concert series designed to entertain and inform concert-goers of all ages, the 11th installment of our critically acclaimed Silent Film Gala which features the musical talents of the Chamber Orchestra set against the backdrop of beautifully restored silent films, and the inaugural season of our Chamber Ensemble series with Jeffrey Kahane and LACO Concertmaster Margaret Batjer performing the complete cycle of Beethoven's Sonatas for Piano and Violin. Education and community outreach are crucial components of the Orchestra's mission. Meet the Music, the Orchestra's acclaimed music education program for elementary school students, is going strong in its twelfth year. Produced in collaboration with the Los Angeles Unified School District, the program facilitates in-school visits by Chamber Orchestra musicians and trained docents and will offer six (three paired) live concert performances especially for its student audience. Neighborhood Concerts, launched in the 1994-95 season, reaches families in inner city areas of Greater Los Angeles whereby the Orchestra brings live performances into local venues in ethnically defined and/or economically disadvantaged communities. Recorded concerts are heard in over 200 markets on National Public Radio, reaching over 2 million listeners across the country, and air regionally on KKGO (105.1 FM) in Los Angeles and XBACH in San Diego.The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra is committed to increasing the accessibility of live classical music performances to both dedicated patrons and non-traditional audiences and provides discounted and free tickets to students, seniors, and physically challenged and disadvantaged persons.