Today, the Fresno Philharmonic, and music director Rei Hotoda, announced the launch of Cultural Crossroads, a new multi-season series of commissions exploring and celebrating the diverse cultures of the Fresno region. A central aspect of the vision for Cultural Crossroads is collaboration with community-based organizations, artists and culture bearers in the presentation of new works by emerging California composers. The inaugural Cultural Crossroads project features a first-time collaboration with the Gabriela Lena Frank Creative Academy of Music (GLFCAM). Called Cultural Crossroads: Kisetsu (“seasons” in Japanese), the centerpiece of this first project is the commission of a new work by composers Hitomi Oba and Erika Oba based on the life and writings of David “Mas” Masumoto, a …
News & Announcements
Ignite & Inspire season commences with a special concert by trumpet legend Wynton Marsalis leading the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.
The season launches with a special concert by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JLCO) led by trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, Managing & Artistic Director, and comprised of 15 of the finest jazz soloists and ensemble players today. With the world-renowned JLCO and guest artists spanning genres and generations, Jazz at Lincoln Center produces thousands of performance, education, and broadcast events each season in its home in New York City (Frederick P. Rose Hall, “The House of Swing”) and around the world, for people of all ages. Jazz at Lincoln Center is led by Chairman Clarence Otis, Managing and Artistic Director Wynton Marsalis, and Executive Director Greg Scholl. About JLCO The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JLCO), comprising 15 of the finest soloists and ensemble players …
Latin GRAMMY-nominated composer Juan Pablo Contreras returns to Fresno.
For his second appearance in Fresno, Juan Pablo Contreras rejoins us for a performance of his newest work, MeChicano, co-commissioned by the Fresno Philharmonic. Juan Pablo Contreras (b. 1987, Guadalajara, Mexico) is a Latin GRAMMY®-nominated composer who combines Western classical and Mexican folk music in a single soundscape. His works have been performed by 30 major orchestras in the United States, Mexico, Slovakia, Colombia, Argentina, and Venezuela. Contreras is celebrated as the first Mexican composer to sign a record deal with Universal Music, serve as Sound Investment Composer with Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and win the BMI William Schuman Prize. Education & Recent Works Juan Pablo holds degrees in composition from the University of Southern California (DMA), the …
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Fresno Philharmonic Announces 2022 – 2023 Season: Ignite & Inspire!
Music Director Rei Hotoda and the Fresno Philharmonic present a dazzling season of concerts in the William Saroyan Theatre featuring classical masterpieces, exciting new works, internationally renowned guest artists and a special concert by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. The Fresno Philharmonic and Music Director Rei Hotoda announced the orchestra’s 2022-2023 season Ignite & Inspire!, which explores the rekindled energy of the human spirit through compelling musical experiences in a wide range of genres. From jazz legend Wynton Marsalis to Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, the Fresno Philharmonic’s season celebrates the perseverance, diversity and creativity of our community. Season Opener | Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis The …
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Fresno Philharmonic Announces 2021-2022 Season and Renewal of Rei Hotoda’s Contract
Today, the Fresno Philharmonic announced the renewal of Music Director Rei Hotoda’s contract through the 2024-25 season and the orchestra’s plans for returning to live, in-person concerts in the 2021-22 season. Ms. Hotoda began her tenure as the Fresno Philharmonic’s music director in the 2017-2018 season. In her first four seasons, Ms. Hotoda introduced Fresno audiences to works by several major and emerging living composers, combining them with classical repertoire staples to highlight the evolution and diversity of symphonic music. She also initiated several projects aimed at increasing the Philharmonic’s presence in Fresno, such as concerts at Bitwise South Stadium, The Shrine of Saint Therese and Fresno State’s Henry Madden Library, as well as this past season’s Digital …