Founder and Co-Artistic Director of Le Salon de Musiques Francois Chouchan is a French born Jew living in Los Angeles.

Le Salon de Musiques Co-Artistic Director – John Walz

The second concert of Le Salon de Musiques’ 3rd season on November 11 will feature CHARLES MARIE WIDOR’S Suite for Flute and Piano op 34 and ANDRE CAPLET’S Quintet for Piano and Winds, which is a US PREMIERE. The concert will be introduced by musicologist Julius Reder Carlson and performed by Steven Vanhauwaert on piano, Pamela Vliek Martchev on flute, Valentin Martchev on bassoon, Joshua Ranz on clarinet and Joseph Stone on oboe. The performance will be followed by a one-hour informal conversation between the musicians and the audience where they can share ideas, concepts and impressions about the music performed while sipping French Champagne and enjoying a gourmet buffet prepared by Patina. 

With five United States premieres and a retinue of newly rediscovered composers, “Le Salon de Musiques”, an ensemble of some of Los Angeles most renowned chamber music performers, returns for its third season and reexamines the Romantic and Neo-Romantic movements and their lesser known gems.

This distinctive series is being performed on the 5th floor of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on the second Sunday of every month beginning October 2012 through May 19, 2013, between 4:00pm - 6:00pm.

Inspired by Marie Antoinette artistic spirit in Versailles, the one-hour concerts celebrating the five United States premieres and rediscovered composers are introduced by musicologist Julius Reder Carlson and are followed by La Conversation, one-hour informal Q and A between the musicians and the audience in which they share ideas, concepts and impressions about the music performed. French Champagne will be provided alongside a gourmet buffet prepared by Patina.

Le Salon de Musiques Founder and Co-Artistic Director- Francois Chouchan:
Regarding the inspiration behind the selection of the 2012-2013 season, French pianist and artistic director Francois Chouchan explains: “So many beautiful, melodic, lyrical and romantic pieces are still rarely performed; my idea was first to find and choose some of the most inspired lesser known and great German, Russian, Polish, and French composers and bring them out to combine an expressive, touching and moving program, which makes this season unique.” Chouchan has invited some of the most prestigious international artists to join in this series, many of whom have performed with the LA Philharmonic, Los Angeles Opera, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra to mention a few. The compositions being played include those by Brahms, Caplet, Chopin, Ravel, Zarebsky, Widor, Lyapunov, Bach, Debussy, Robert Schumann but also Camillo Schumann, Scharwenka, Glinka, Delius and Bridge among others.

By removing the stage, and surrounding the artists by the audience, Le Salon de Musiques offers a more personal and intimate touch to listeners eager to familiarize themselves with Chamber Music and to feel it differently. “ Chamber Music was written for intimate and small venues,” Chouchan says. The goal is also to bring together an audience of disparate backgrounds...music lovers who believe that this form of melodic artistry brings out the best in humanity.

In an article written by Rick Shultz of the Los Angeles Jewish Journal Chouchan is quoted as saying, “Growing up in France, a country predominantly Catholic was not easy.  I love my country but if I have to go back to France, I would be sad.  As with most European countries, we have anti-Semitic problems.  Being Jewish in Los Angeles is a dream compared with being Jewish in some parts of France.”

Chouchan’s performances include performing for the American Israel Cultural Foundation at Brandeis University and at the University Synagogue in Los Angeles.

In 2013, some of his concerts with the Music Guild with the Lafayette String Quartet will be at The University Synagogue, at the Daniel Recital Hall at Cal State Long Beach and at the Plaza del Performance Hall at Cal State Northridge.

As I am writing, I am listening to extracts from his classical recordings at: http://www.francoischouchan.com/biography.asp .

Le Salon de Musiques Co-Artistic Director- John Walz: 
A celebrated soloist and chamber music artist, known for his dazzling virtuosity and elegant musicianship. A student of the legendary French cellist, Pierre Fournier, he has appeared as soloist with more than 150 symphony orchestras on four continents.

His performances of 25 different concertos include both standard showcases and rarities like Martinu’s Concerto #1 and William Schuman’s Song of Orfeus. In 1979, John, along with pianist Edith Orloff, founded the Pacific Trio. Now performing with violinist Roger Wilkie, this renowned ensemble has played more than 900 concerts throughout North America and Europe. In addition to his solo and chamber music duties, he is currently the principal cellist with the Los Angeles Opera, a position he previously held for 20 years with the Long Beach Symphony. John is on the faculty of the Idyllwild Arts Summer Program and Academy.

November 2012 Artists:

Steven VANHAUWAERT - Piano:
Praised by the Los Angeles Times for his "impressive clarity, sense of structure and monster technique", Steven Vanhauwaert studied piano in Brussels at the Royal Conservatory, and continued his musical development in Los Angeles at the USC Thornton School of Music.

Over the years, Steven has garnered a wide array of accolades and has toured throughout Europe and the US, both solo as in chamber music groups. He has appeared in major venues with orchestras such as the Pacific Symphony, the Flemish Symphony, the Concord Jazz Ensemble, the Eastern Sierra Chamber Orchestra and Prima la Musica, amongst others. In 2010 he is scheduled to make his China solo debut. As a member of the Felici Piano Trio, Steven has given recitals and master classes all over the US, has been a frequent guest in festivals around the world, and has appeared in all the major concert halls of Europe.

 
Pamela VLIEK Martchev - Flute:
Pamela Vliek Martchev was born in Merrick, NY, and received her initial musical education in the public school system of Long Island. From age 13 on she went to Manhattan School of Music for the Pre-College Division and then her Bachelor of Music Degree. Her teachers included Harold Jones, Kathleen Nester, and Linda Chesis

During her time in NY she won prizes in many competitions, was a featured artist on WQXR’s Young Artist Showcase, and played at many venues such as Carnegie Hall, the United Nations, and the White House for President Clinton. After her schooling she went on to perform extensively in Europe as 2nd flute of Philharmonie der Nationen under conductor Justus Frantz.

Since moving to CA in 2000, Ms. Martchev has played with the Riverside, Redlands, Pasadena, San Diego Chamber, San Diego Symphony, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. She has played under such conductors as Esa-Pekka Salonen, Edo de Waart, Charles Dutoit, John Williams, Marin Alsop, Bramwell Tovey, Leonard Slatkin, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, and Gustavo Dudamel. She is the resident flutist on the Jacaranda Music Series in Santa Monica, and has also been the principal flute of the Boulder Philharmonic in CO since 2002. Pamela can be seen in the movie “The Soloist,” and can be heard on multiple movie scores including An Unfinished Life, Spiderman 3, Sleepover, When In Rome, Dear John, and Bedtime Stories. She is featured on Billy Child's 2006 Grammy winning CD "Lyric," and can also be heard on his latest release: “Autumn: In Moving Pictures.” She is currently the flute teacher at Riverside Community College and San Diego State University, and is married to bassoonist Valentin Martchev.

Valentin MARTCHEV - Bassoon:
Valentin Martchev was born in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria, and started playing the bassoon at age 10. He went to the State Academy of Music in Sofia and Duquesne University, studying with Yordan Metodiev, Tony Komitoff, and Nancy Goeres. During his student years in the states he attended the Aspen, Tanglewood, Music Academy of the West, and Marlboro Music Festivals. Valentin was a tenured member of the Bulgarian State Radio Orchestra and the Charlottesville Symphony in Virginia, where he was also on the university faculty.

In 2001 Mr. Martchev joined the San Diego Symphony as their principal bassoonist. The SD Union Tribune said his 2007 performance of John Williams’ bassoon concerto “Five Sacred Trees” “…. made this bassoonist a star.” 2012 collaborations include Camera Lucida, the Mainly Mozart Festival, La Jolla Summerfest, Charlottesville Chamber Music Festival, and Le Salon de Musique. He has played on music series of Jacaranda in Santa Monica, Lake Mammoth with the Felici Trio, and Art of Elan in San Diego. In 2008 he was Guest Principal Bassoon with the LA Philharmonic under Esa-Pekka Salonen, and in 2010 he was Guest Associate Principal Bassoon with the Cincinnati Symphony under Paavo Jarvi. He is joining the faculty of Cal State Fullerton in the fall of 2012, and is currently on the faculty of SDSU. Valentin plays on a 1985 Heckel Biebrich.

Joshua RANZ - Clarinet:
Joshua Ranz is principal clarinet of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. He originally joined the orchestra in 1999 as second clarinet, served as acting principal clarinet for the 2006–07 and 2007–08 seasons and won the audition for principal clarinet in 2008.

On LACO’s 2008 European tour, Josh was featured prominently with mezzo-soprano Vesselina Kasarova in performances of Mozart’s aria from the opera La Clemenza di Tito, “Parto, ma tu ben mio,” in LACO’s concerts in the Italian city of Treviso; Hanover, Hamburg and Berlin in Germany; and in Paris, France. In December 2010, he performed the Copland Clarinet Concerto with LACO at Alex Theatre and Royce Hall.
Josh is also a member of the Pacific Symphony, and in March 2006, he played principal clarinet on their European tour. He has filled in as principal for the LA Opera and Hollywood Bowl orchestras, as well as the New West, Santa Barbara and Santa Monica symphonies, and has performed with the San Diego and Colorado symphonies and Los Angeles Philharmonic.

In addition to his performances, Josh has recorded with LACO and the Pacific Symphony and is active in the television and motion picture industry. He is prominently featured in LACO’s 40th anniversary release in the second movement of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with music director Jeffrey Kahane as soloist.

Joseph STONE - Oboe:
Joseph Stone is a full-time freelance oboist/woodwind player performing in the Los Angele area on oboe, flute, clarinet, saxophone and recorders. As a studio musician he has played on the latest albums for Neil Diamond, Ray Charles, Johnny Mathis, and Barry Manilow and has played as many as eight different woodwinds on movie scores for The Incredibles, Ratatouille, Star Trek, Up, Wall-E, Super 8, Cars 2, Mission Impossible:Ghost Protocol and Bad Santa, to name a few. He is Principal Oboe in both the Chamber Orchestra of the South Bay in Palos Verdes and the Long Beach Municipal Band and a long time member of the Long Beach Symphony. In September 2010, he performed live with a six-piece group on National television with Neil Diamond at the Stand Up to Cancer telethon.

Mr. Stone is an adjunct Professor of oboe at California State University Long Beach and teaches oboe, clarinet, and saxophone at Whittier College.

The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion – Fifth Floor overlooks the famed fountains of the Music Center at:
 135 North Grand Avenue
 Los Angeles, CA 90012

Tickets:  $65.00 per person
                $45.00 for students
  There is a 10% discount if tickets are purchased for three or more concerts
  And a 20% discount for a full season subscription

For tickets go to: www.leSalondeMusiques.com or call (310) 498-0257

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