THE SOCIAL SCENE

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Composer, singer and conductor Jeffrey Bernstein has been appointed Assistant Conductor of The Pasadena Symphony. Mr. Bernstein, who has worked with renowned conductors Simon Rattle, Neville Marriner, Seiji Ozawa and Esa-Pekka Salonen, will assist Music Director Jorge Mester once the 2005-2006 Season opens in October.

Music lovers who regularly attend concerts presented by The Pasadena Symphony and who read the program notes closely are well aware that the renowned orchestra has been without an official Assistant Conductor since Lois Johnson retired in 2004.

The Pasadena Symphony decided this past season to fill the vacancy by inviting each candidate for the Assistant Conductor position to assist Music Director Jorge Mester at rehearsals for a particular concert. Since the number of candidates matched the number of performances – The Pasadena Symphony performs eight times yearly, October through May – the candidates took turns, in effect, "auditioning" as Interim Assistant Conductor.

"All eight candidates were exceptionally well-qualified musicians," says Tom O’Connor, Executive Director of The Pasadena Symphony. "We’re grateful for the time and invaluable aid each of them gave to the orchestra this past season."

"It was a difficult decision," Mester confirms. "But Jeffrey Bernstein has a unique combination of skills and experience. As Assistant Conductor, he’ll benefit The Pasadena Symphony tremendously."

Mr. Bernstein, who holds a Ph.D. in Composition from UCLA and a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from the Yale University School of Music, is the Director of Choral Music at Occidental College in Los Angeles, California and the Founding Director of Los Angeles Vocal Artists (LAVA). On December 10, 2005, his rôles with the orchestra and Occidental College will merge, when he prepares the Combined Choirs of Occidental College for The Pasadena Symphony’s performance of Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on Christmas Carols.
       
This will not be Mr. Bernstein’s first collaboration with The Pasadena Symphony. In December 2004, the Combined Choirs of Occidental College appeared with The Pasadena Symphony for a sold-out performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9.
       
"I’m thrilled to be associated with an orchestra that makes music at such a high, high level of excellence," says Jeffrey Bernstein. "I look forward to how much I’ll learn of the orchestral repertoire, working with Jorge. He knows the scores cold, backwards and forwards."

A composer as well as a conductor, Mr. Bernstein has written over 40 works in a variety of genres – among them, six string quartets, two symphonic poems and numerous songs and choral pieces. His latest work for choir, Tonight I Can Write…, premiered in Italy in 2004.

Mr. Bernstein has also composed scores for several films. Most recently, he provided vocal arrangements for director Dewey Nicks’ film Slackers, released by Sony Entertainment. The roster of renowned musicians with whom he has studied includes composers Peter Lieberson, James Yannatos, Jacob Druckman, and Roger Bourland as well as the Oscar-winning film composer Jerry Goldsmith.

In addition, Mr. Bernstein enjoys an active career as a singer and theatrical music director. He has sung with the Tanglewood Festival Chorus and the Los Angeles Master Chorale under such conductors as Neville Marriner, Seiji Ozawa, Esa-Pekka Salonen and Simon Rattle. His work in musical theatre includes 18 seasons of summer stock and the composition of four musicals for children. He also served as the Associate Conductor for the national touring company of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical, Cats.

Established in 1928, The Pasadena Symphony is committed to providing orchestral performances of the highest quality and to benefiting the community through its music, education and outreach programs. To subscribe to the 2005/2006 Season of music that will "Stir Your Senses" or to learn more about The Pasadena Symphony, call The Pasadena Symphony’s offices at (626) 793-7172 or visit the orchestra’s website at www.pasadenasymphony.org.

Jeffrey Bernstein