January 26, 2022
The La Mirada Symphony is thrilled to announce that concerts will resume with the first performance of the season on Sunday, February 20, 2022, 3pm at the La Mirada Theater for the Performing Arts. Free tickets must be reserved online at: lamiradatheatre.com/programs/la-mirada-symphony/february_concert/
The concert includes the West-Coast Premiere of Maria Newman’s piece Our Rights and Nothing Less which was written in honor of Susan B. Anthony’s 200th birthday. The La Mirada Symphony is honored to be presenting the West-Coast Premier of this important work. Maria Newman is a composer of classical music, violist, and pianist, and is the youngest child of legendary Hollywood film composer Alfred Newman. She has been presented with many awards and commissions including musical commendations from the United States Congress and the Annenberg Foundation. Other works on this concert include Lyric for Strings by George Walker who was the first African American to win the Pulitzer prize for Music; the Overture to Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss Jr. (who is known as “The Waltz King”); and the Red Poppy Suite by Reinhold Glière which features the rousing “Russian Sailor’s Dance.” The orchestra is conducted by music director Alan Mautner.
The La Mirada Symphony was created in 1963 with the mission to provide free concerts for residents who appreciate the cultural value of beautiful music in their lives, and as an opportunity for local musicians to share their talents. This mission has carried on to today and was later expanded to include Youth Enrichment Programs that provide education, classroom performances, and special daytime full-orchestra youth concerts to students in the Norwalk/La Mirada School District. Former principal cellist Alan Mautner was appointed as the Music Director in 2014. His qualifications, enhanced by his involvement with community, university and youth orchestras, make him an ideal leader who continues to take the La Mirada Symphony to exciting new levels. The orchestra is poised to celebrate their 60th anniversary next season.
Later this season, the orchestra will perform another free concert on May 22nd featuring the music of Bach, Bernstein, Grieg, and Shostakovich. In addition to these two free concerts, the symphony will be featured in two paid performances: the April 8th Symphonic Sinatra concert, and The Symphony Tribute to the Music of John Denver on May 27th. For more information on this season’s concerts, visit www.lamiradasymphony.com/events/
For your safety, the theater requires that all adults and children of all ages must show proof of full COVID vaccination or a negative COVID test taken within 48 hours (2 days) of the performance for PCR tests; or, for antigen tests, taken within 24 hours (1 day) of the performance time. Also, masks are required at all times while indoors regardless of vaccination status, except when eating and drinking in designated areas. Sorry, no exceptions.
To enter the theatre, please bring a photo ID and either a negative test result or proof of vaccination (either your physical vaccination card, a picture of your vaccination card, or a digital vaccination record). Visit the “Safe at La Mirada Theater” webpage for more details and updated guidelines: https://lamiradatheatre.com/safeatlamirada/updates/
The La Mirada Symphony and its Youth Program are made possible through generous gifts from individuals and corporate sponsorships. The community’s support is vital to keep music alive in La Mirada so please support the symphony at https://cart.lamiradatheatre.com/donate/i/generaldonation
Make sure to reserve your free tickets now to the February 20th performance!
-by L. C. Harnsberger