Concert Previews
Each season the Rio Hondo Symphony Guild, the orchestra's major support group, hosts a Concert Preview Friday mornings prior to the concerts. Music lovers gather at 10 a.m. at the First Friends Church of Whittier, 13205 Philidelphia Street. After light refreshments, an expert in the field of music offers fascinating facts and anecdotes about the composers and the concert offerings. Guests are always welcome.
Concert Preview
September 25, 2011
Conductor Kimo Furumoto
Kimo Furumoto, widely known for his innovative concert programming, is the conductor and music director of the Huntington Symphony Orchestra in West Virginia. During the last nine years under his baton, the orchestra has enjoyed record attendance. Furumoto also serves as Associate Professor at California State University, Fullerton where he is music director of the university’s orchestra and opera theater. During his career Furumoto has served as assistant conductor of the Lyric Mountain Festival for the Performing Arts and of the Lexington Philharmonic. Guest conductor appearances include numerous regional orchestras, including the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, Central Ohio Symphony and River Cities Symphony. More...including audio
Concert Preview
October 30, 2011
Dr. Nicole Baker
Dr. Nicole Baker teaches music history classes and applied voice at Cal State Fullerton. She earned her Ph.D. in musicology and M.F.A. in vocal performance and choral conducting at the University of California, Los Angeles. She sings with the Los Angeles Master Chorale and conducts the early music ensemble, Jouyssance.
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February 5, 2012
Agnes Szekely Schwartz
Agnes Szekely Schwartz, Concert Mistress for the Rio Hondo Symphony, was born in Budapest, Hungary into a musical family. She began violin studies at age 6, followed by piano and viola. Her first public appearance was at age 11. Currently, she is concentrating on teaching and performing solo and chamber music recitals, and she performs as a chamber member and as a member of orchestras and ensembles in Southern California.
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May 6, 2012
Marvin Neumann
Marvin Neuman is presently Music Director at First United Methodist Church in Whittier, California. He currently conducts the Crown City Chamber Players, a 60-piece orchestra in Pasadena, California, as well as PSYCO, a summer youth orchestra.
Mr Neumann was born in Minneapolis and raised in the Midwest (Minnesota and Illinois). He received his B.A. in Music Education from the University of California at Los Angeles, and an M.A. in Composition from Occidental College (Los Angeles). He did post-graduate study with composers Roy Harris and Barney Childs and studied conducting with Larry Christianson and Herbert Blomstedt. He has been a music educator in Southern California and abroad for more than 30 years.
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