Youth Music Culture Greater Bay Area: Shaping the Future of Music with Chinese Significance and Global Reach

From January 8 to 19, 2025, the Youth Music Culture Greater Bay Area (YMCG) once again captured global attention. Approved by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and hosted by the Guangdong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, with co-hosting from the Shenzhen Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism, and Sports, the event was organized by leading orchestras and institutions including the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, Xinghai Concert Hall, Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, and Macao Orchestra. It also received backing from Hong Kong’s Culture, Sports, and Tourism Bureau and Macao’s Cultural Affairs Bureau. The 2025 YMCG marked the beginning of the “2.0 era,” showcasing the ongoing development of music, arts, and cultural unity in the Greater Bay Area.

Since its inception in 2017, YMCG has evolved into an internationally recognized brand. In July 2023, it was awarded the prestigious “China Music Arts Promotion Award,” affirming its status as a leading cultural initiative for young musicians in Asia and beyond. With its innovative vision and deep cultural impact, YMCG continues to shape the future of classical music.

Leadership and Global Impact

Under the visionary leadership of conductor and YMCG founder Maestro Long Yu, the program has consistently excelled, pushing boundaries of artistic innovation. In 2024, world-renowned conductor Maestro Daniel Harding took on the role of Music Director, leading the program for five consecutive editions. Previously, from 2017 to 2022, legendary cellist Yo-Yo Ma and conductor Michael Stern shaped the project as its Artistic and Music Directors.

Over the past nine years of relentless innovation, YMCG has made a profound social and cultural impact, reshaping global perceptions of China’s cultural influence. As Harding eloquently shared with young musicians, YMCG has become “an internationally acclaimed program.”

Nurturing Young Talents

Maestro Daniel Harding has brought exceptional dedication to YMCG, leading a team of world-class mentors to inspire and guide young musicians. Among this year’s participants was Víctor Álvarez Alegría, a trombonist studying at the Berlin Philharmonic’s Karajan Academy. Visiting China for the first time, he shared, “When the trombone faculty Jonathan Reith introduced YMCG to me, I was eager to come. Being here feels like a dream come true. Chinese people are incredibly friendly, and I’ve had no trouble making friends.”

The YMCG Orchestra, the highlight of the program’s training, accepts talented young musicians under 30 from around the globe. First established in January 2017’s YMCG, the orchestra gathers annually in the Greater Bay Area during YMCG, with faculty from members of world-class ensembles such as the Vienna Philharmonic and Berlin Philharmonic, alongside other distinguished musicians. Since its founding, hundreds of young talents from 21 countries and 59 cities have participated, creating a global network of musical excellence.

Expanding Horizons and International Recognition

This year’s YMCG attracted hundreds of applicants worldwide, with 98 young musicians ultimately selected, including over 27% international participants—demonstrating the program’s expanding global influence. The 2025 YMCG Orchestra featured exceptional talents from institutions such as the Berlin Philharmonic’s Karajan Academy, Curtis Institute of Music, Juilliard School, Harvard University, and Yale University, as well as leading conservatories in China and Asia.

Participants also included young professionals from renowned orchestras in China, the U.S., the U.K., and Spain. Following a week of intensive training and mentorship under Maestro Daniel Harding and world-class musicians, the orchestra delivered breathtaking performances of symphonic masterpieces, including Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 (“Titan”), in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, leaving audiences captivated.

New Initiatives and Comprehensive Development

The 2025 YMCG introduced two groundbreaking programs: a conducting masterclass and an orchestral composition competition, fostering deeper cultural and musical exchange between the Greater Bay Area and the global community.

The conducting masterclass, led by Daniel Harding, attracted 57 applicants, 22% of whom were international. Five talented young conductors were selected to participate in the masterclass, where they had the extraordinary opportunity to work closely with Harding. Through hands-on rehearsals with the YMCG Orchestra, these emerging conductors gained invaluable insights into the art of conducting, from mastering orchestral communication to refining their interpretative skills. Harding’s expert mentorship and personalized guidance left a profound impact on each participant, empowering them to elevate their craft and inspiring them to pursue excellence in their musical journeys.

The “2025 YMCG Call for Compositions” aimed to nurture young composers by encouraging the creation of innovative orchestral works reflecting the rich culture and unique spirit of China’s Greater Bay Area. From 57 submissions, two outstanding pieces—Li Tianran’s Spring Snow at Meiguan and Wang Peicheng’s Recall and cherish the time were selected. Both works were premiered during YMCG, captivating audiences and earning widespread acclaim for their emotional depth and vibrant expression.

Integration and Cultural Connectivity

The 2025 YMCG presented its growth in cultural influence by expanding activities across the Greater Bay Area, seamlessly integrating music and culture into diverse communities. This year, YMCG hosted an impressive array of concerts, lectures, and public events at Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra Complex and Xinghai Concert Hall.

In Shenzhen, the YMCG Orchestra delivered an unforgettable performance at the Shenzhen Concert Hall. The tour also featured community outreach concerts at iconic landmarks and insightful dialogues with university scholars and students. These initiatives highlighted YMCG’s dedication to fostering creative innovation.

Furthermore, the “Music All Around” community concert at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre infused YMCG’s dynamic spirit into one of Hong Kong’s most cherished public concert series, further broadening its influence and showcasing its role as a bridge between tradition and contemporary culture.

Scholarships and Support for Young Musicians

The 2025 YMCG proudly provided the “Fanqi Music Fellowship” and the “Steven Ying Music Fellowship Award,” dedicated to supporting exceptionally talented young musicians. These scholarships cover travel, tuition, and accommodations, giving valuable opportunities for emerging artists. Beyond financial aid, these awards reflect YMCG’s dedication to nurturing the future of music.

A Decade of Achievements and Future Prospects

As cultural and artistic hubs, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and Macao play pivotal roles in the Greater Bay Area’s growth. Through strategic expansion and innovative projects, YMCG has closely aligned with the region’s collaborative cultural progress.

With the 2025 edition’s conclusion, YMCG celebrates nearly a decade of remarkable achievements. The program has evolved to offer a richer array of activities, groundbreaking formats, and immersive cultural experiences. As China’s sole initiative of its kind, YMCG not only leads in Asia but also garners global recognition. As a beacon for China’s dynamic music and arts scene, YMCG holds boundless potential for continued development.

To learn more about Youth Music Culture The Greater Bay Area, please visit ymcgchina.com.

All Classical Radio Featured on Radio World

All Classical Radio’s grand opening of its new Media Arts Center in Portland’s historic KOIN Tower was featured on the cover of Radio World’s “Amazing Radio Studios 2025.” Radio World is a worldwide trade journal for radio broadcast executives and operations personnel. The magazine gives you a look inside more than a dozen recently built radio studios, including All Classical Radio’s. The new headquarters includes new production studios and a performance hall.

All Classical Radio is an independent, community-funded radio station (89.9 KQAC FM) and multimedia platform with international reach. It is one of the first classical stations in the nation to name artists and composers-in-residence, and to develop robust youth journalism mentorships.

To read the story, click here.

James Ehnes Extends Contract as Seattle Chamber Music Society’s Gilbert Omenn and Martha Darling Artistic Director Through 2032

Seattle Chamber Music Society (SCMS) announces that James Ehnes has signed a new eight-year contract and will continue to serve as the Gilbert Omenn and Martha Darling Artistic Director through 2032. Ehnes, widely regarded as one of the greatest musicians of our time, was first named to the position in 2012.

“Seattle Chamber Music Society is truly my artistic home and I am honored to continue our work together,” said Ehnes. “There has been no greater pleasure in my career than having this opportunity to present the greatest music with the greatest artists for our wonderful audiences in Seattle and beyond” he adds.

Since 1982, SCMS has been a cornerstone of Seattle’s arts scene, presenting world-class performances and enriching the community with its mission to make high-quality chamber music accessible to all. During Ehnes’s tenure as Artistic Director, SCMS has opened its Center for Chamber Music, created the world-renowned SCMS Virtual Concert Hall, established chamber music academies for both students and adults, and more than doubled its yearly concert activity. This eight-year extension highlights SCMS and Ehnes’s pride in their extraordinary partnership and shared vision for expanding the reach of world-class Chamber Music performance.

“As one of the most celebrated musicians of his generation, James Ehnes’s choice to dedicate such a significant part of his career to chamber music is a major win for this art form and its role in shaping the cultural landscape of our cities,” said John Holloway, Executive Director of SCMS. “I believe chamber music will be the cornerstone of classical music in American cities moving forward, and James’s decision only strengthens that vision.”

SCMS’s 2025 Winter Festival, scheduled from January 24 to February 2, will feature iconic works from 1850-1950 by 18 different composers, focusing on “perhaps the richest hundred years in the history of chamber music,” according to Ehnes. (Read the announcement here.)

About Seattle Chamber Music Society

The mission of Seattle Chamber Music Society is to foster the appreciation of chamber music by presenting performances, both in-person and online through the Virtual Concert Hall, that feature world-class musicians in accessible and inviting formats, with an emphasis on developing a broad-based sustainable audience through education and community outreach.

Each year, SCMS presents a Winter Festival in January and a Summer Festival in July at the Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall at Benaroya Hall, bringing the world’s finest classical musicians to the stage. These intimate chamber music performances captivate both seasoned enthusiasts and newcomers alike. In addition to its renowned festivals, SCMS offers an expanded year-round lineup, including the new Signature Series, Crescendo Concerts in Seattle’s most stunning homes, and Concerts at the Center for Chamber Music, providing unparalleled access to extraordinary musical experiences.

SCMS also enriches the community through dynamic engagement programs designed for audiences of all ages. From inspiring young learners in elementary schools to enriching lives in retirement communities, and from performances in hospitals and parks to concerts on wheels, SCMS remains steadfast in its mission to bring world-class chamber music to every corner of our community.

Seattle chamber music society announces winter festival

Seattle, Jan. 9, 2025 — Seattle Chamber Music Society (SCMS) announces the programming for its 2025 Winter Festival, scheduled from January 24 to February 2. The two-week exploration, featuring music by 18 different composers, will showcase the most iconic works from 1850-1950, performed by the best musicians in the world.

The 2025 Winter Festival is sponsored by Ned and Dana Laird. The Virtual Concert Hall is generously sponsored by Diana K. Carey. Dave and Amy Fulton generously sponsor the 2024-2025 season.

Since 1982, SCMS has been a cornerstone of Seattle’s classical music scene, presenting world-class performances and enriching the community with its mission to make high-quality chamber music accessible to all. Every year, the SCMS Winter and Summer Festivals attract top musicians from around the globe to perform extraordinary celebrations of music at Nordstrom Recital Hall, Benaroya Hall.  Patrons worldwide also enjoy the concerts through the SCMS Virtual Concert Hall.

“Our 2025 Winter Festival is a celebration of the best our art form has to offer” said James Ehnes, the Gilbert Omenn and Martha Darling Artistic Director of SCMS. “It’s exhilarating to witness the alchemy of these world-class artists performing in unique chamber music contexts and an absolute thrill to share this incredible music with audiences near and far,” he adds.

The 2025 Winter Festival promises to exemplify the excellence, creativity, and passion that defines Seattle Chamber Music Society. Week 1 will transport audiences to the second half of the 19th century, featuring masterworks from Brahms, Tchaikovsky, and Dvořák, alongside exciting discoveries from Amy Beach and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. In week 2, concert-goers venture into the 20th century, where the program explores the progression from late-Romantic brilliance to the bold, dramatic language of composers like Shostakovich, Prokofiev, and Bartók.

To view the full schedule and order single tickets or season subscriptions, click HERE.

WEEK 1: 1850-1900

—Friday, January 24—

Concert | 7:30 p.m.

• Amy Beach: Romance for Violin and Piano, Op. 23
  Bella Hristova, Gloria Chien

• Cécile Chaminade: 3 Morceaux for Violin and Piano, Op. 31
  Bella Hristova, Gloria Chien

• Alexander Borodin: String Quintet in F minor
  Timothy Chooi, Njioma Grevious, Jonathan Vinocour, Yegor Dyachkov, Efe Baltacıgil

• Johannes Brahms: Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 34
  Ieva Jokubaviciute, Erin Keefe, Blake Pouliot, Rebecca Albers, Ani Aznavoorian

Free Pre-Concert Recital | 6:30 p.m. (In-Person Only)

• César Franck: Violin Sonata in A Major, M. 8
  Timothy Chooi, Gloria Chien

—Saturday, January 25—

Concert | 7:30 p.m.

• Robert Schumann: Violin Sonata No. 1 in A minor, Op. 105
  Blake Pouliot, Ieva Jokubaviciute

• Samuel Coleridge-Taylor: Piano Quintet in G minor, Op. 1
  Gloria Chien, Njioma Grevious, Bella Hristova, Rebecca Albers, Yegor Dyachkov
  Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: String Quartet No. 1 in D Major, Op. 11, “Accordion”
  Erin Keefe, Timothy Chooi, Jonathan Vinocour, Ani Aznavoorian

Free Pre-Concert Recital | 6:30 p.m. (In-Person Only)

• Nokuthula Ngwenyama: Miasma

• Dobrinka Tabakova: Pirin

• David Ludwig: Moto Perpetuo

• Ellen Taaffe Zwilich: Fantasy for Solo Violin

  Bella Hristova

—Sunday, January 26—

Concert | 2 p.m.

• Antonín Dvorák: Selections from Cypresses for String Quartet, B. 152
  Bella Hristova, Njioma Grevious, Jonathan Vinocour, Ani Aznavoorian

• Camille Saint-Saëns: Violin Sonata No. 1 in D minor, Op. 75
  Timothy Chooi, Ieva Jokubaviciute

• César Franck: Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 14
  Gloria Chien, Blake Pouliot, Erin Keefe, Rebecca Albers, Yegor Dyachkov

Free Pre-Concert Recital | 1 p.m. (In-Person Only)

• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Duo in G Major for violin and viola, K 423

• Bohuslav Martinů: Three Madrigals for Violin and Viola, H. 313
  Blake Pouliot, Jonathan Vinocour

WEEK 2: 1900-1950

—Friday, January 31—

Concert | 7:30 p.m.

• Béla Bartók: Sonata for 2 Pianos and Percussion, Sz. 110

• Alessio Bax, Orion Weiss, Eric Schweikert, Michael Werner

• Georges Enescu: String Octet in C Major, Op. 7
  James Ehnes, Amy Schwartz Moretti, Jun Iwasaki, Grace Park, Che-Yen Chen, Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt, Edward Arron, Bion Tsang

Free Pre-Concert Recital | 6:30 p.m. (In-Person Only)

Academy for Chamber Music

• Anton Arensky: Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor, Op. 32
  I. Allegro moderato
  Eura Trio - Taiyo Oishi, piano; Rachel Jung, violin; Charlie Lee, cello 

• Felix Mendelssohn: String Quartet No. 3 in D Major, Op. 44, No. 1
  I. Molto allegro vivace
  Le Quatuor de la Lune
  Hana Gottesman & Emma Le Metzger, violins; Jayden Chae, viola; Leyna Kitahama, cello

—Saturday, February 1—

Concert | 7:30 p.m.

• Rebecca Clarke: Sonata for Viola and Piano
  Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt, Orion Weiss

• Sergei Prokofiev: String Quartet No. 2 in F Major, Op. 92
  Grace Park, Jun Iwasaki, Che-Yen Chen, Bion Tsang

• Erich Wolfgang Korngold: Suite for Piano Left Hand, 2 Violins, and Cello, Op. 23
  Alessio Bax, James Ehnes, Amy Schwartz Moretti, Edward Arron

Free Pre-Concert Recital | 6:30 p.m. (In-Person Only)

• Erich Wolfgang Korngold

  • Much Ado About Nothing, suite for violin & piano, Op. 11

  • Tanzlied des Pierrot” from Die tote Stadt, Op. 12 for Violin and Piano

  • “Marietta’s Lied” from Die tote Stadt, Op. 12 for Violin and Piano
    James Ehnes, Orion Weiss

—Sunday, February 2—

Concert | 2 p.m.

• William Grant Still: Suite for Violin and Piano
  Jun Iwasaki, Alessio Bax

• Dmitri Shostakovich: Piano Trio No. 2 in E minor, Op. 67
  Grace Park, Efe Baltacıgil, Orion Weiss

• Arnold Schoenberg: Verklärte Nacht (Transfigured Night), Op. 4
  James Ehnes, Amy Schwartz Moretti, Che-Yen Chen, Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt, Edward Arron, Bion Tsang

Free Pre-Concert Recital | 1 p.m. (In-Person Only)

• Edvard Grieg: Violin Sonata No. 3 in C minor, Op. 45
  Grace Park, Alessio Bax

About Seattle Chamber Music Society

The mission of Seattle Chamber Music Society is to foster the appreciation of chamber music by presenting performances, both in-person and online through the Virtual Concert Hall, that feature world-class musicians in accessible and inviting formats, with an emphasis on developing a broad-based sustainable audience through education and community outreach. Each year, SCMS presents a Winter Festival in January and a Summer Festival in July at the Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall at Benaroya Hall, bringing the world’s finest classical musicians to the stage. These intimate chamber music performances captivate both seasoned enthusiasts and newcomers alike. In addition to its renowned festivals, SCMS offers an expanded year-round lineup, including the new Signature Series, Crescendo Concerts in Seattle’s most stunning homes, and Concerts at the Center for Chamber Music, providing unparalleled access to extraordinary musical experiences. 

 SCMS also enriches the community through dynamic engagement programs designed for audiences of all ages. From inspiring young learners in elementary schools to enriching lives in retirement communities, and from performances in hospitals and parks to concerts on wheels, SCMS remains steadfast in its mission to bring world-class chamber music to every corner of our community.

Congratulations to our GRAMMY nominees!

8VA clients Andy Akiho (composer and percussionist) and Gerard Schwarz (conductor) have been nominated for the GRAMMY® Awards.

Best Classical Instrumental Solo 
“Longing” by Andy Akiho

Best Classical Compendium
“BeLonging” by Andy Akiho

Andy Akiho & Imani Winds
Andy Akiho, Sean Dixon and Mark Dover: producers

Aki Rhythm Productions
Click to stream album

BeLonging is a series of tight, highly choreographed movements for wind quintet and steel pan that speak to the universality of humanity, even — especially — when that humanity is bound.

Be Loud!
Be Loved!
Be Longing!

The piece was conceived by Imani Winds and Andy Akiho, who composed all the music. It was premiered on October 26, 2022, at Kaufman Music Center’s Merkin Hall, New York City, as part of the Ecstatic Music Series. The compositions were commissioned by the Imani Winds, with support from the Concert Artist Guild’s Richard Weinert Award for Innovation in Classical Music, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Best Opera Recording

“The Shining” by Paul Moravec and Mark Campbell

Kansas City Symphony
Lyric Opera of Kansas City Chorus
Gerard Schwarz, conductor
Edward Parks: Jack (baritone)
Kelly Kaduce: Wendy (soprano)
Tristan Hallett: Danny
Blanton Alspaugh, producer

Pentatone
Click to stream album

The 2016 opera The Shining, based on Stephen King's novel, “elevates the tale from horror story to a human drama” (Wall Street Journal) through an electrifying score by composer Paul Moravec and a deft libretto by Mark Campbell, both of whom are Pulitzer Prize winners. After several critically acclaimed performances, you can now enjoy The Shining as a recording for the first time, with Gerard Schwarz conducting the Lyric Opera of Kansas City.

Congratulations Andy and Jerry!

Marc-André Hamelin’s latest album featured on the new york times

He’s done it again. Marc-André Hamelin, one of the supreme piano virtuosos of our time, has landed on the New York Times’ highly selective “5 Classical Music Albums You Can Listen to Right Now” monthly feature, for the second time this year. This time, though, it’s for Hamelin’s first recording of music by Beethoven. He recorded the mighty Hammerklavier sonata, a 45-minute behemoth that is one of the true pinnacles of the repertoire. The album was released on October 4, on Hyperion Records, and is paired with an early Beethoven sonata — Op 2 No 3, in C major.

The transcendental difficulties of the Hammerklavier — by far Beethoven’s longest piano sonata, and in his view also his finest, and the only sonata for which he supplied metronome marks — will always deter all but the greatest pianists of the day, with only a select few able to master its formidable musical, emotional and technical challenges.

“Hamelin marshals his considerable skills for a reading of the “Hammerklavier” that clarifies and illuminates rather than simply overpowers,” writes the critic David Weininger.

Key to this achievement are a lighter touch and precise articulation that put some spring into Beethoven’s dense chords in the opening movement. If Hamelin misses the edgy satire in the Scherzo, his way with the great Adagio seems near-perfect, mesmerizing but always with a quiet sense of forward motion. As for the legendarily taxing fugue in the finale, once thought to be unplayable, he makes it sound improbably pianistic.

See the full piece HERE.

Leonard Slatkin Featured on Gramophone

Ahead of Leonard Slatkin’s 80th birthday on September 1, Gramophone magazine celebrates the illustrious American conductor with a full-length feature that covers his musical family, his time with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, his slew of recordings of unusual repertoire, and his American Sound Initiative.

By Thomas May

His vivid curiosity is unmistakable in the variety of projects planned for this milestone birthday year. These range from publishing a pair of books and spending more time on his own composition to launching a new partnership as artistic consultant to the Las Vegas Philharmonic. Appearances on the podium are naturally also on the calendar. This autumn brings reunions with the three American orchestras indelibly shaped by Slatkin’s years at their helm (in St Louis, Washington DC and Detroit); some international conducting engagements beckon as well.

To read the full piece, click here.

Leonard-Slatkin (© Cindy McTee)

“The Righteous” featured in the Wall Street Journal’s Arts Calendar

The Wall Street Journal selected this weekend’s premiere of The Righteous, a new piece presented by Santa Fe Opera, as one of its highly selective arts calendar picks for the week.

The Righteous was created by two of America's most exciting talents, composer Gregory Spears (Fellow Travelers, O Columbia, Paul's Case and A New Sanctus, Benedictus and Agnus Dei) and librettist Tracy K. Smith (To Free the Captives, Life on Mars, Ordinary Life: A Memoir and Such Color: New and Selected Poems), who is a former U.S. Poet Laureate and Pulitzer Prize winner.

The opera explores the intersection between genuine faith and political power in the American Southwest of the 1980s. Along the way, the characters’ sacred love for God becomes entwined with the complicated realities of their romantic lives. This is the second operatic collaboration between Spears and Smith, whose Castor and Patience, from 2022, was nominated for Best World Premiere at the International Opera Awards.

Six performances are scheduled: July 13, 17, 26, 30; and August 7 and 13, 2024.

Leonard Slatkin Receives Abu Dhabi Festival Lifetime Achievement Award

On June 14, Leonard Slatkin — one of the great American conductors, celebrating his 80th birthday this year — received the Abu Dhabi Festival Lifetime Achievement Award at Disney Hall, in Los Angeles. The celebration was part of a concert sponsored by the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Festival. There was music by 21 composers, including 10 world premieres. The special program honored the visual artist Bob Peak (1927–1992), whose artwork includes posters for the classic films West Side Story, Superman: The Movie, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Apocalypse Now, Silverado, My Fair Lady, and Camelot.

Film music author and Historian Jon Burlingame explained, “It's rare when an evening at the symphony combines music and art so brilliantly. Friday night's ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’ concert was both a tribute to legendary movie-poster artist Bob Peak and a collection of superb compositions inspired by Peak's paintings.” The Los Angeles Film Orchestra, under the direction of Maestro Slatkin, performed film-music classics accompanied by Bob Peak’s original artwork.

Leonard Slatkin conducts the Los Angeles Film Orchestra_ Bob Peak concert (credit: Kyle Espeleta)

Slatkin commented that his parents played in orchestras at 20th Century-Fox and Warner Bros. throughout the 1950s and '60s. Impresario and host Robert Townson spoke of his relationship working with Bob Peak, commissioning a portrait of composer Jerry Goldsmith for a Masters Film Music release in 1988, even pre-dating his 30-year career with Varèse Sarabande Records. Townson explained this concert was based on an idea and dream he had for over 25 years.

For the second half of the concert, Townson realized his vision of a 10-movement concept inspired by Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition.” Townson created a modern-day interpretation by commissioning 10 contemporary composers—most of whom are primarily known for their film work—to pen new pieces inspired by Peak's non-film work. These ranged from Mychael Danna's moving musical portrait of Mother Teresa, Jeff Beal's reminiscence of the 1964 New York World's Fair, Harry Gregson-Williams' charming "Two Girls with Sparklers” to Don Davis' powerful anthem inspired by Peak's 1978 portrait of golden eagles in flight, and an original song tribute for an Audrey Hepburn painting, written and sung by Tony-winner Marc Shaiman.

Leonard Slatkin, Thomas Peak, Robert Townson (credit: Kyle Espeleta)

The event was co-produced by Robert Townson Productions and the Abu Dhabi Festival. LA Mayor Karen Bass presented a certificate of recognition to the Founder of the Abu Dhabi Festival, Her Excellency Huda Alkhamis-Kanoo, for her unwavering dedication and commitment to global philanthropic efforts and her role as a patron of the arts. Her Excellency presented two Abu Dhabi Festival Awards recognizing outstanding lifetime contributions to arts and culture. The first was presented to conductor Leonard Slatkin, and the second was posthumously awarded to artist Bob Peak. His son, Thomas Peak, accepted on the family’s behalf. Thomas Peak presented one of his father’s paint brushes to Robert Townson.

Robert Townson_ Bob Peak concert_5_Matthew Joseph Peak (credit: Kyle Espeleta)

Congratulations, Maestro Slatkin!

Pulitzer Prize-winner Anthony Davis and Bodhi Tree announce 2026 world premiere of bilingual ‘Pancho Rabbit’ opera

After a seven-year gestation, Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Anthony Davis and San Diego’s Bodhi Tree Concerts have announced that Davis’ bilingual chamber-opera adaptation of the children’s book “Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote: A Migrant’s Tale” will receive its world premiere in January 2026 in both San Diego and Tijuana.

Combining elements of allegory, fable and social commentary, the chamber-opera is based on author Duncan Tonatiuh’s award-winning 2013 children’s book of the same name, which addresses current immigration issues and is set at the U.S.-Mexico border.

It will be sung in English, Spanish and a “border slang” combination of the two languages. The characters include the titular rabbit, a coyote, a snake, and monarch butterflies that freely migrate each year between the U.S. and Mexico.

Read the full article here.