August 1, 2020 free virtual concert featuring performances by renowned international classical artists, created by film/television/video game composers from around the world In an effort to give voice to the global events of 2020, while addressing the need for new musical repertoire during the time of COVID-19,
Los Angeles Film Conducting Intensive (LAFCI) announces the 2020 New Music Project, featuring compositions from award winning international film/television/video game composers representing some of the most accomplished names in the industry.
Velez says that he encouraged composers to write freely “as long as it was true to their feelings about anything in 2020.” ----------------------------------------
I chose to write a piece called
Glioblastoma - Insistent Calls From the Shores of Styx
My Perspective:
"When the pandemic hit, me and my family were already in survival mode and some sort of hell. In July 2019 my stepdad was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, glioblastoma, and only given 6-18 months to live. And in October his and mum’s house caught fire and got damaged so much they had to move. A lot of other tough things had happened in my life too and it was a lot to bear. I think I went into some sort of mode where I didn’t feel, I just existed, something that’s rare for me as I seem to feel my way through life and rather feel too much. So when the pandemic hit, it was just another shitty thing happening. «What’s next, sharks on bicycles with machine guns? A meteor?» I’ve read everything I could about this horrible disease and I’ve learned of truly heart breaking, gut wrenching fates. It’s a rare cancer, but even little children can get it. A brain de-functioning and breaking down can be truly ugly, and to just know that you are doomed. How do you deal with that? The piece is about these calls from death, from when the diagnosis makes you aware until the disease starts to break down your body, until you eventually reach the river of Styx where you are taken to «the other side». They say that in the moment you die, you reach an inner calm and everything is beautiful and filled with love. So the last part is supposed to be a peaceful, soothing ride on that ferry towards eternity."
- Christine Hals, Composer July, 2020
Christine Hals is a Norwegian film composer educated in Stockholm and LA. She either works from Venice, LA or cabins in the Norwegian mountains. Christine’s biggest inspiration is nature and despite her fear of water and sharks, she loves sailing and windsurfing.
2020 New Music Project & Virtual Concert
All compositions in this project will be made available to the public for free download via www.lafci.org for the 2020/2021 concert season (August 1, 2020 - July 1, 2021) and will kick off with a free virtual concert on August 1 celebrating selections from the newly created solo repertoire with renowned international artists such as jazz legend Arturo Sandoval and members of celebrated ensembles such as the Canadian Brass, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Dave Matthews Band, Hollywood Studio Symphony, London Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, Wings, and many others.
Created by
Angel Velez, Los Angeles-based orchestra conductor and co-founder/director of LAFCI, the 2020 New Music Project features new music created by over sixty (60) participating professional media composers who are alumni of LAFCI, such as Nathalie Bonin (Hallmark Channel), Sherry Chung (Riverdale), Martina Eisenreich (Tatort), Fil Eisler (Empire), Tom Howe (A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon), Carl Johnson (Looney Tunes), Cindy O’Connor (A Dog’s Journey), Jeff Russo (Star Trek: Picard), Bill Smith (NHL Network) and many others. This collection of new music is written for a wide range of ensemble sizes, ranging from solo instrument to groups up to twenty (20) musicians, so as to account for social distancing challenges and expectations currently faced by performing ensembles and intended to be accessible to the average musician. All music has been written with the theme 2020: A Perspective so as to recognize the numerous global events of 2020 while helping give voice to the equally wide range of emotions.
2020 New Music Project Virtual Concert List of Performers:
Christopher Richards: Clarinet, London Symphony Orchestra (United Kingdom) Ryan Roberts: Oboe, New York Philharmonic Arturo Sandoval: International Soloist Jeff Coffin: Saxophone, Dave Matthews Band Nathan Cole: Violin, Los Angeles Philharmonic Sara Andon: Flute, Hollywood Studio Symphony Laurence Juber: Guitar, Wings Raynor Carroll: Percussion, Los Angeles Philharmonic Michael Culligan: Percussion, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Csaba Erdélyi: Viola, Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra Helix Collective: New Music Ensemble Nathalie Bonin: Violin, The Voice-Montréal Hsin-I Huang: Piano, International Soloist Alex Iles: Trombone, Hollywood Studio Symphony Katherine Kohler: Clarinet, Nashville Symphony Orchestra Justis MacKenzie: Tuba, U.S. Air Force Band of the West Anthony McGill: Clarinet, New York Philharmonic Ranaan Meyer: Double Bass, Time for Three Ricardo Morales: Clarinet, The Philadelphia Orchestra Jeffrey Nelsen: French Horn, Canadian Brass Suzanne Nelsen: Bassoon, Boston Symphony Orchestra Mark Ortwein: Bassoon, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Andrew Shulman: Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Akiko Tarumoto: Los Angeles Philharmonic Robert Thies: International Soloist Time for Three: String Trio Elisa Torres: Harp, Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra Helen Webby: Harp, Christchurch Symphony Orchestra (New Zealand) Stephen Williamson: Clarinet, Chicago Symphony Orchestra She-e Wu: Marimba, International Soloist Visit www.lafci.org for a complete listing of performers and additional information. For interview requests, please contact: Angel Velez Co-founder/Director Los Angeles Film Conducting Intensive Email: info@lafci.org