BURBANK PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Michael Stanley, Music Director and Conductor
Steven Kerstein, Conductor Laureate
2023 SYMPHONIC FAVORITES CONCERT
The Burbank Philharmonic Orchestra is pleased to invite you to a FREE classical music concert on Saturday, April 15, 2023 at 7:30 PM, under the leadership of Michael Stanley, Music Director and Conductor. It will also feature Fiona Shea, violinist, a Grand Prize winner at the 2021 Hennings-Fischer Young Artists Competition, and Pablo Hernandez, the first 2023 Discovery Conductor. View concert flyer here.
The concert will be held at Lanterman Auditorium, 4491 Cornishon Avenue, in La Cañada Flintridge. No admission charge or tickets.
THE PROGRAM
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Overture to Don Giovanni by W.A. Mozart – conducted by Pablo Fernandez, the 2023 Discovery Conductor
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Concerto for Violin by Samuel Barber ----- Fiona Shea, violin soloist, 2021 Hennings-Fischer winner
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Symphony No. 7 in A Major by L.V. Beethoven
For everyone's safety, masks are highly recommended. Applicable COVID regulations will be enforced.
There are three free parking lots on Cornishon Avenue: limited parking adjacent to the building (2 spaces for Handicap parking), a partially covered lot beneath the adjacent office building facing Foothill Blvd. (3 Handicap spaces), and a lot across the street (1 Handicap space). Street parking is also available; please observe signs and do not block driveways.
BPO DISCOVERY CONDUCTOR PROJECT
The Burbank Philharmonic Orchestra is proud to announce the next installment of the Discovery Conductor Project, which began in 2019. This unique program will allow a select number of talented local high school students the opportunity to conduct the Burbank Philharmonic in rehearsal and performance while gaining valuable experience in all aspects of the music director’s job by studying with Music Director Michael Stanley and Conductor Laureate Steven Kerstein.
Applicants must be 18 years of age or younger AND enrolled in a high school in the greater Los Angeles area. There is no application fee. Click here to download the application form. COVID-19 protocols will be followed for safety.
The first 2023 Discovery Conductor is Pablo Fernandez, a Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA) senior, and YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles) student. He will conduct the Burbank Philharmonic at the April 15, 2023, concert.
For questions, please contact Michael Stanley at mstanley@burbankphilharmonic.com
2023 HENNINGS-FISCHER YOUNG ARTISTS COMPETITION
The Burbank Philharmonic Orchestra and the Hennings-Fischer Foundation were pleased to present the 23rd annual Young Artists Competition on March 4, 2023. This year’s competition did not include the opera category. Please check back in 2024. Both the preliminary and final rounds took place at the Colburn School, 200 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012. The finals were open to the public in Mayman Hall at the Colburn School. No admission charge or tickets.
The finalists selected for performance were:
1. Jonathan Lin - Bloch Schelomo Rhapsody for Cello
2. Ednaldo Alves - Spohr Clarinet Concerto No.4
3. Shengyu Meng - Elgar Cello Concerto
The judges selected Shengyu Meng, Cello soloist, as the evening's Grand Prize Winner. She receives an honorarium and will be invited to perform at a later concert with the full orchestra.
The Burbank Philharmonic is grateful to the judges: Maestro Hung Fo, Head Judge; Conductor Laureate Steven Kerstein; and Mr. Michael Arnold.
THE HENNINGS-FISCHER FOUNDATION was established in 2001 with the legacy of violinist, conductor, teacher Noumi Fischer (1907-1995) and his wife, fellow violinist and teacher, Audrey Hennings Fischer (1919-2000). Their devoted musical careers and modest lifestyle built the endowment through which grants are being made to teaching and performing musical groups, to charitable organizations supporting individual music students of high promise, and for assistance to humane, environmental and homeless causes.
PAST EVENTS
ABOUT US
November 2020 marked the 30th Anniversary of the Burbank Philharmonic Orchestra! A donor and grant supported 501(c)(3) organization, the Burbank Phil is dedicated to bringing world-class music free of charge to the entire Southern California community. For a quarter century, the Burbank Phil has met this challenge by performing for more than 125,000 attendees and providing musical outreach to students at Burbank schools.
Originally founded as the Burbank Chamber Orchestra in 1991 under the direction of Maestro Steven Kerstein (Conductor and Music Director), the orchestra debuted in 1992.
In 2002, in recognition of the breadth and scope of the music performed by the orchestra and the strength of its musicians, the Burbank Chamber Orchestra officially changed its name to the Burbank Philharmonic Orchestra!
The City of Burbank and its more than 110,000 residents have played host to the Burbank Philharmonic Orchestra for the past 30 years. At this time, the Burbank Phil is the only orchestra in the San Fernando and San Gabriel Valleys that provides professional, high quality concerts to the residents and visitors of Burbank and surrounding communities without charge. An expanding reputation and current economic conditions have caused the number of concert attendees to continue to grow.
The Burbank Phil now attracts regular attendance from neighboring cities around the San Fernando Valley, as a result of vanishing performing arts organizations, venues and as part of school curriculum.
SUPPORT US
The Burbank Philharmonic Orchestra is a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization (IRS ID #95-4364898) that depends entirely on the generous support of donors.
There are many benefits of becoming a donor including advanced notification of performances, name listing in programs for each performance, advanced and reserved tickets to concerts,donation level premiums, and most of all - the satisfaction of knowing that your donation is providing wonderful music to families and individuals throughout the Southland.
To be “instrumental” in keeping the music playing, make a tax-deductible donation to the orchestra today!
Leave a Legacy
Include the Burbank Philharmonic Orchestra in your Estate Planning and reap tax and income benefits, while helping your orchestra to thrive. Choose your legacy with a simple gift in your will or trust, or designate the Burbank Phil as a beneficiary.
Ralphs Grocery Stores
Community Rewards Program
Once you register and designate the Burbank Philharmonic Orchestra, the Ralphs Community Rewards Program will donate 1% to 4% of your grocery bill to the BPO, at no cost to you. If you already have a Ralphs Rewards online account, visit www.ralphs.com and make the selection of BPO (#UT566).
PROGRAMS
Hennings-Fischer Young Artists’ Competition
In 2001, the Burbank Phil partnered with the Hennings-Fischer Foundation to launch its first annual “Young Artists Competition.” The competition drew competitors from all over the nation its first year and has continued to gain momentum every year since inception with more than 45 applicants in 2012 vying for one of eight finalist positions. Winners in the vocalist and instrumental category each year are awarded honorariums and later perform as guest artists with the orchestra.
View photos from the past competitions here.
Musical Menagerie” Hands On Opportunity
In addition to participation at dress rehearsals, opportunities for children have taken additional forms. The “Musical Menagerie” instrument hands-on experience, prior to each concert, allows the young and young at heart the opportunity to try out instruments provided by Pedersen’s Band & Orchestra, under the guidance of the Orchestra musicians.
Picture This
A feature of the Family Concert since 2007 is “Picture This”. A few weeks before the concert, a recording of the music to be played at the family concert is played in two local high school photography classes. The students then translate their impressions of the music into photographic images. The student entries are judged to determine which best represent the music, and the images are displayed at the Family Concert. Monetary prizes are awarded to the winning students.
Music in the Classroom
Art and music interpretation exhibitions by Burbank Phil chamber musicians are performed in selected elementary school assembly programs. The Burbank Phil has also partnered with Woodbury University to bring chamber music to the campus of Woodbury University for a performance in September 2009.
Amnesty for Instruments
This program, originating in 2010, is designed to bring donated instruments into the hands of students of our community. Through collection efforts by the Burbank Phil, partnering with the Burbank Unified School District, Amnesty for Instruments accepts donations of previously owned musical instruments of all types (except pianos and drums due to storage restrictions). This is a tax-deductible donation and donors receive a valuation form at the time of donation to use for tax deduction purposes. This program is expected to be on-going in order to ensure music programs can continue in the classroom.
Dress Rehearsal Invitations
February 2003 saw the expansion of the BPO’s Youth Outreach Program as third grade students were invited to attend dress performance rehearsals to meet the musicians and ask questions of the solo artists and Maestro Kerstein. The Youth Outreach Program has been enhanced each year since and is now reaching students in grades K-12 throughout the Burbank Unified School District.
CONTACT US
P.O. Box 6345
Burbank, CA 91510-9868
818 -771-7888 (voicemail)
General Information
information@burbankphilharmonic.com
Maestro Michael Stanley
mstanley@burbankphilharmonic.com
Maestro Laureate Steven Kerstein