Calling all Amateur Instrumentalists Intermediate-level and above!

Want to experience the thrill of playing alongside Salastina's Resident Artists and Co-Artistic Directors in an intimate, private, casual setting? Join us for a chamber music reading party at a private home near the Segerstrom Center in Santa Ana.

Bring any music you'd like to play with us. We'd recommend piano and string trios by Beethoven, quartets by Haydn and Mozart, and anything else you feel comfortable and confident playing through with us -- and in front of those gathered for the occasion.

Because space is limited, priority will be given to Salastina Members. The exact address will be given to attendees 24 hours before the event.

There is no cost to attend. RSVP by September 8th. Be sure to include your instrument, approximate skill level, the info on any pieces you’d like to play, and the number of guests in your party.

The phrase “Here Be Dragons” means “dangerous or unexplored territories, in imitation of a medieval practice of putting illustrations of dragons, sea monsters and other mythological creatures on uncharted areas of maps where potential dangers were thought to exist.”

Join us for music reflecting a poetic idea that’s been very front-of-mind for us all.

Program:
Mikhail Gnessin: Songs of a Knight Errant
Yun Isang: Oboe Quartet - Part II
Joaquin Turina: I. Las cuevas del Dragón
Carolina Eyck: Fantasias for String Quartet and Theremin - III. Sleepy Dragon and IV. Jumping River

Intermission

Salvador Brotons: Allegro Spiritoso
Derrick Skye: Old Soul, Different Body (world premiere)
Charles Ives: The Unanswered Question
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 2 for Piano Trio - IV. Allegro Molto

Artists:
Kevin Kumar and Maia Jasper White, violinists
Meredith Crawford, violist
Yoshika Masuda, cellist
HyeJin Kim, pianist
Benjamin Smolen, flutist
Cristina Montes Mateo, harpist
Ben Brogadir, oboe
Steve Bryson, theremin player
Derrick Skye, electronics player
Brian Lauritzen, host

Back by popular demand: Sounds Mysterious, the musical equivalent of a blind wine-tasting.

This time, we’re going to tell you pertinent details of time and place up-front: all the music you’ll hear is French, from the earlier part of the 20th century. And we’re thrilled to feature guest harpist Charles Overton, one of 2021’s star Happy Hour guests.

Join us for the story of one grossly overlooked mega-talent told through his/her music and that of his/her contemporaries.

Program:
Maurice Ravel: Introduction et Allegro
TOP SECRET: Work for solo harp
Louis Durey: Nicolios et la Flute
TOP SECRET: Work for solo piano
Claude Debussy: Sonata for Flute, Viola, and Harp
TOP SECRET: Work for piano trio

Artists:
Kevin Kumar and Maia Jasper White, violinists
Meredith Crawford, violist
Yoshika Masuda, cellist
Charles Overton, harpist
HyeJin Kim, pianist
Benjamin Smolen, flutist
Joshua Ranz, clarinetist
Brian Lauritzen, host

Our season-opener centers around themes of transcendence, renewal, sublimation, and growth.

Program:
Arnold Schoenberg: Verklärte Nacht (“Transfigured Night”)
Reena Esmail: Interglow
Judd Greenstein: City Boy
Kenji Bunch: Suite for Viola and Piano - I. Rhapsody
Michi Wiancko: To Unpathed Waters, Undreamed Shores - I. Pelagic Within
Paul Wiancko: Lift - Part III

Listen to this program’s corresponding playlist on Spotify here, or YouTube here.

Artists:
Kevin Kumar and Maia Jasper White, violinists
Meredith Crawford and Jonathan Moerschel, violists
Yoshika Masuda and Sarah Kim, cellists
HyeJin Kim, pianist
Benjamin Smolen, flutist
Philip Graulty, electric guitarist
Sean Krissman, clarinetist
Stephen Pfeifer, double bassist

Learn more about the courtyard at Bowers Museum and find our current COVID-19 safety policies here.