Date & Time: Saturday August 19, 2023 at 7:30 p.m.
Venue: Incarnation Episcopal Church, 1750 29th Avenue, San Francisco
Tickets: $25 General, $20 Seniors/Students (All ticket sales are final)
Eventbrite Ticketing: Buy online
Program
- Stephen Lias (b. 1996) Imaginary Folksongs (Part 1 and 2)
- Florence Price (arr. Harrison) Three Negro Spirituals
- Lori Laitman (b. 1955) Journey
- Ryota Ishikawa (b. 1983) Rhapsody on Japanese Folksongs
- Jennifer Jolley (b. 1981) Lilac Tears
About the Artists
Acclaimed for his unique approach, virtuosic performances, and as a champion for both new and forgotten works, Indian-American Saxophonist Andrew Harrison has captured the hearts of audiences across the globe with “electric performances of stunning expression (Classical Sonoma)”, while introducing the world to important voices, and showcasing the beauty and brilliance of the saxophone. Described as a “magician showing off his tricks” (Austin American Statesman), Andrew uses his distinctive style to create a new environment for classical music, to reflect our lived experience and mixed culture, blending the known and the not yet explored. He has commissioned and premiered works by a diverse group of emerging and celebrated composers, including Jules Pegram, Giovanni Santos, Viet Cuong, Nina Shekhar, and Derrick Skye, among numerous others.
Andrew’s playing, which has been described as “spectacular” (LA Opus) with a sound that is “broad and rich” (The Instrumentalist), has garnered him numerous awards in prestigious competitions, including the U.S. “Pershing’s Own” Collegiate Concerto Competition, the LMC Frances Walton Competition, and most recently the American Prize in Music. He has been featured with several symphonic groups, including the Downey Symphony Orchestra, Music Academy of the West Orchestra, Cal Poly Pomona and La Sierra University Wind Ensembles, Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble, with upcoming performances with the Chandler Symphony, Orchestra Santa Monica, the Sonoma County Philharmonic, and the Santa Rosa Symphony.
Andrew is passionate about mentoring the next generation of artists to find their unique perspectives and to craft a professional journey that is singular and meaningful. Currently he serves as the Professor of Classical Saxophone at Sonoma State University, and previously served at Mt. San Antonio College, Cerritos College, the French Conservatory of Music and the Colburn School. He holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, and a Masters degree from the University of Texas at Austin Butler School of Music. He is an endorsing artist of Eastman Saxophones and Key Leaves Saxophone Accessories. For more information, visit his website at http://www.andrewsharrison.com
Pianist, teacher, and chamber musician, Dr. Jason Lo is an in-demand performer whose diverse talents bring him around the globe. Audiences enjoy his performances in Strasbourg, London, Chicago, Honolulu, New York, and throughout Southern California, where he is based. He is proud to have performed at Westminster Hall, the 2012 London Olympic Games, and on multiple occasions, Carnegie Hall. Dr. Lo often collaborates and travels for competitions, conferences, and concerts for various organizations, such as the California Association of Professional Music Teachers (CAPMT), Music Teachers Association of California (MTAC), Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), and the North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA). He also presents guest lectures and recitals at Santa Monica College – Emeritus College, Los Angeles Harbor College, Mount San Antonio College, California Lutheran University, California State University Long Beach, the University of the Pacific, San Diego State University, Columbus State University Fullerton, Wright State University, Ohio University, University of Northern Kentucky, University of Central Arkansas, and Sonoma State University.
As an educator, Dr. Lo has taught general music, piano, and choir programs from grades K-12 in public schools. At the college level, he has taught and coached private piano, group piano, private voice, choir, and group voice. Students are always enamored by his musical instincts, kind nature, no-nonsense attitude, and an enthusiastic passion for music by breaking down mechanics of learning. Outside of academia, he enjoys baking, weightlifting, and studying French and Chinese.
Dr. Lo is proud to have shared the stage with John Thiessen (Baroque Trumpet, the Juilliard School), Megumi Kanda (Principal Trombone, Milwaukee Symphony), Alex López Velarde (Principal Trombone, la Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de México), Aralee Dorough (Principal Flute, Houston Symphony), and Maki Mae (America’s Got Talent). He has also played under the batons of Sharon Lavery, H. Robert Reynolds, Carl St. Clair, and Bruce Broughton.
Dr. Lo is a graduate of University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music, where he completed his Doctorate of Musical Arts in Piano Performance studying piano with Antoinette Perry, and conducting with Larry Livingston, with minors in Theory, Instrumental Conducting, and Arts Leadership, specializing in French and American Music. His Master of Music in Piano Performance is also from USC. Previously, he completed his Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance with High Honors, studying piano with Craig Richey from California State University, Long Beach’s Bob Cole Conservatory of Music. Other piano teachers include Susan Azaret Davies (Cal Poly), Martin Canin (The Juilliard School), Boris Slutsky (The Peabody Institute), and Edie Orloff (The Pacific Trio). While at USC, he served as a Keyboard Studies Graduate Teaching Assistant, and received the Outstanding Keyboard Studies Teaching Assistant Award for 2015.
Dr. Lo currently serves on the Piano Faculty at the University of La Verne.