AVPA to Play Two Concerts Before Frost Closes

Culminating a prolific year of performing and musical growth, Culver City High School’s Academy of Visual and Performing Arts will present two spring concerts showcasing its student musicians in a variety of ensembles. The two concerts will represent the final performances in the Robert Frost Auditorium before the historic venue closes this summer for an extensive renovation.

Both Friday evening concerts start at 7 p.m. The first, on May 20, will feature the Orchestra, several Chamber Music ensembles, Chamber Singers, and the Jazz Combo. Co-directed by Dr. Tony Spano and Lauren Hayes, the Chamber Singers will perform repertoire from the L.A. Master Chorale High School Choir Festival at Walt Disney Concert Hall last month.

The Orchestra, directed by Dr. Tania Fleischer, will perform Granada by Agustin Lara, featuring senior soloist Oliver Berliner. Cellist and senior William Ellzey will also be featured on Punchinello by Victor Herbert. Other Orchestra highlights include St. Paul Suite by Gustav Holst and a suite from the movie Airplane. Among the chamber music ensembles will be a brass quintet, flute sonata, violin sonata, and wind trio.

The second concert, on May 27, will feature the CCHS Concert Band, AVPA Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combo, and Sax Ensemble. The Concert Band, which earned “excellent” ratings at the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association’s 2016 Band Festival in March, will perform several of its festival hits, including Gustav Holst’s Second Suite in F and Frank Ticheli’s Cajun Folk Songs. The Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo are also performing on the heels of a successful competition. At the Fullerton College Jazz Festival in April, the Jazz Ensemble received “excellent” ratings while the Jazz Combo, directed by Dr. David Brennan, earned high scores and “superior” ratings.

Admission is free; donations are welcome and benefit the Academy of Visual and Performing Arts. The Robert Frost Auditorium is located at Culver City High School, 4401 Elenda St., Culver City, CA 90230.