Glendale, CA – The Glendale Philharmonic Orchestra (GPO) made an auspicious debut in their Inaugural Concert playing to a Sold Out audience at the First Baptist Church of Glendale on Saturday evening, January 9, 2010, under the baton of Artistic Director and Principal Conductor, Mikael Avetisyan. Soloists included renowned cellists Ruslan Biryukov (also the Founder of the Orchestra) and Maksim Velichkin, along with soprano soloist Marine Abrahamyan-Abdasho.
Ruslan Biryukov, Founder of the GPO, told the audience: “Wow, what a great house! We are very grateful for your support. Our orchestra’s mission is to present professional quality orchestral and chamber music concerts. We are very happy to be a new addition to the community in the City of Glendale.”
Mikael Avetisyan, GPO’s Artistic Director and Principal Conductor, added: “I’m overwhelmed! This is all just amazing!”
The orchestra was rewarded with a prolonged standing ovation at the conclusion of their two-hour concert, which included compositions by J.S. Bach, Karl Jenkins, Arno Babajanian, Edward Mirzoyan and The World Premiere of “Andante Dolente & Scherzo” for Two Cellos and String Orchestra written by Andrey Rubtsov.
Notables in the audience included: John Drayman and Laura Friedman, Councilmembers, City of Glendale; Natalie Garrotto, Former Principal Singer, San Francisco Opera; Natasha Middleton, Artistic Director of Media City Ballet of Los Angeles; Zara Mirzoyan, daughter of composer Edward Mirzoyan; Cindy Pease, Board President of Media City Ballet of Los Angeles; Deon Nielson Price, Composer and Interim President of the Los Angeles Chapter of the National Association of Composers of the USA; Reverend Charles L. Updike of First Baptist Church of Glendale; Joseph Taylor, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor, Bellflower Symphony; composer Carol Worthey; and world renowned violinist and Professor Emeritus from USC Thornton School of Music, Alice Schoenfeld.
The Glendale Philharmonic Orchestra is a non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization whose mission is to present professional quality orchestral and chamber music concerts. The concerts will be held every first Saturday of the month at the First Baptist Church of Glendale for the musical enjoyment of Southern California residents and tourists visiting the Greater Los Angeles region. Under the baton of Mikael Avetisyan, Artistic Director & Principal Conductor (of Glendale), the orchestra presently consists of 20 professional musicians. The orchestra is founded by Ruslan Biryukov.
Musicians on GPO’s roster include: Mikael Avetisyan, Artistic Director & Principal Conductor (of Glendale); Violin I: Limor Toren-Immermann (of Irvine), Concertmaster, Shushan Akopyan (of Glendale), Armen Mangasaryan (of Glendale), Mishkar Nunes (of Los Angeles), Edgar Sandoval (of West Hollywood),
Ruzanna Sargsyan (of Hollywood); Violin II: Haovhannes Meghrikyan (of Granada Hills), Principal, Katerina Kolesnik (of Los Angeles), Marisa McLeod (of Orange County), Levon Mkrtchan (of Los Angeles), Siranush Mukhsi-Hoveyan (of Los Angeles); Viola: Laura Pearson (of Los Angeles), Principal, Kate Vincent (of Los Angeles), Bryan Gonzalez (of Los Angeles); Cello: Maksim Velichkin (of Silver Lake), Principal, August Lee (of Beverly Hills), Patricia Ryan (of San Diego); Double Bass: Jeff Bandy, Principal; and Timpani: Artashes Sinanyan (of Glendale).
For further information about the Glendale Philharmonic Orchestra, including upcoming concerts, please visit the website, www.glendalephilharmonic.com and www.positivemotions.org. A portion of the proceeds from GPO’s Inaugural Concert were donated to the First Baptist Church of Glendale, a recently restored architectural and acoustic jewel of Los Angeles, which is nearly 100 years old.
