The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts presents Bridge to Everywhere, considered one of the Southland’s most compelling new chamber music ensembles, on Thursday, March 3, 2022, 7:30 pm, at the Bram Goldsmith Theater. The program for the company’s Wallis debut, conducted by Artistic Director Derrick Skye, features 11 cross-cultural contemporary works by seven L.A.-based composers that reflect the world’s interconnectedness. The works, composed by Skye and ensemble members Philip Graulty, Yvette Holzwarth, Anna Kouchnerov, Dimitri Mahlis and James Watterman, explore connections found across diverse musical traditions, including Hindustani and Carnatic classical music, traditional West African music, American folk music, Arabic music, Western classical music and jazz. Bridge to Everywhere strives to build bridges among instruments, musical genres, cultures and people. A Concert Prelude moderated by Classical KUSC’s Brian Lauritzen will be held at 6:30 pm.
At its core, Bridge to Everywhere, founded by Skye in 2015, promotes compassion and empathy through music. The ensemble uses music to bring people together to celebrate their differences and find common ground, embracing musical collaboration to serve as a model for how people from different backgrounds can work together to forge harmonious relationships. San Francisco Classical Voice proclaims “inclusion is…at the heart of Bridge.” Bridge to Everywhere received the prestigious blog’s 2020 Audience Choice Award for “Best Chamber Performance.”
In addition to Skye, the ensemble includes Rachel Iba, concertmaster; Hannah Arista, voice/percussion; Yvette Holzwarth, voice/violin/viola; Rachel Mellis, flute; Anna Kouchnerov, violin; Philip Graulty, acoustic and electric guitars; Marc Nimoy, acoustic guitars; Dimitris Mahlis, oud; Michelle Elliott Rearick, cello; Mark Gutierrez, electric bass; and James Waterman, percussion/vibraphone.
LACO will continue to exceed state and local covid safety protocols.
Tickets, $29-$59, are on sale now. The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts is located at 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills. To purchase tickets and for more information, please call 310-746-4000 or visit TheWallis.org/bridge.