World-class musicians and celebrated visual artists will launch the first of a series of Artistic Voyage concerts / art exhibitions at the Messiah Lutheran Church in Yorba Linda on Sunday, March 14.
Titled Hope for Haiti, the concert features acclaimed pianist Yana Reznik and members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic playing selections from Beethoven, Rachmaninoff and Shostakovich. The gallery exhibition spotlights works from landscape painter Glenn Dean and photographer Javiera Estrada, among others. A portion of gallery and concert proceeds will be donated to the Haitian relief efforts of Giving Children Hope, a faith-based nonprofit headquartered in Buena Park. Tickets are $20; $10 for students. Gallery viewing begins at 6 p.m. and the concert starts at 7 p.m.
“Our Artistic Voyage series is designed to celebrate the beauty of the arts,†says Yana Reznik, founder of Artistic Voyage and featured performer for the series premiere. “As musicians, it is our responsibility to be ambassadors of the arts, to use our God-given talents to help spread joy throughout our community and the world – and to enrich the lives of others through our music.â€
Future Artistic Voyage concerts are scheduled for April 10 and May 22, featuring New York-based Biava String Quartet, the members of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and the faculty of Colburn Conservatory.
“Artistic Voyage is our outreach effort to encourage the community to embrace the arts,†says Robert Mooney, senior pastor at Messiah Lutheran Church. “We are committed to bringing the church back into the celebration and encouragement of the arts – and to becoming a cultural center for our community.â€
Originally from Moscow, pianist Yana Reznik has performed as a recitalist, chamber musician and soloist with orchestras through North America, Europe and Russia. In 2004, she gave a sold-out Carnegie Hall debut in New York as winner of the Artists International Competition. Called “phenomenally talented…with textural refinement and blistering virtuosity†, Reznik is founder / artistic director of the Artistic Voyage series and music director / organist for the Messiah Lutheran Church in Yorba Linda.
Reznik will be performing with violinist Robert Gupta and cellist Serge Oskotsky from the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Gupta joined the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 2007 at the age of 19. He received a Master’s degree in Music from Yale University and a Bachelor’s degree in premedical biology from Marist College. While completing his undergraduate studies, Gupta attended the Manhattan School of Music and the Juilliard School of Music, Pre-College Division. Making his solo debut at the age of 11 with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Zubin Mehta, he has performed with the New York Philharmonic, the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Bombay Symphony Orchestra, among many others.
Oskotsky joined the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 1996. Earlier, he worked with the San Diego Symphony and San Diego Chamber Orchestra – and completed the prestigious Artist Diploma program at the University of Southern California in 2000. He is a top prize-winner in a number of competitions, including the 1989 Nyirbator Festival Competition in Hungary; Moscow Conservatory College Concerto Competition in 1990; the 1994 Irving Klein International String Competition; USC Concerto Competition in 1995; and the 1996 Antonio Janigro International Cello Competition in 1996.
Painter Glenn Dean is recognized for his landscapes of the West. Appearing in Southwest Art, Art of the West, and American Artist, Glenn won the first-ever “Emerging Artist Award†from Art and Antiques magazine and is the recipient of the Grand Prize and Artists Choice awards at the inaugural Tucson/Sonoran Desert Museum Invitational.
Javiera Estrada is a Mexican-born photographer specializing in fine art portraiture. Her passion for dance, art, metaphysics, music and nature are intrinsically woven into her work. She has exhibited in numerous galleries such as the Tracy Parks gallery in Malibu and The Whole 9 gallery in Culver City. Estrada has attained commercial recognition through many album and magazine covers.
The Hope for Haiti event benefits Giving Children Hope (GCHope), serving impoverished children and their families through holistic relief and development both nationally and globally. GCHope has distributed $53 million worth of aid in the 2008-2009 fiscal year – with more than 99.3% of all donations go to programs. Thus far, in response to the Haitian disaster, GCHope has hand-carried more than $100,000 in medical supplies and pharmaceuticals; delivered $4.7 million worth of pharmaceuticals to help stop disease and treat infections; air-freighted more than 88,000 pounds of medical supplies and humanitarian aid worth over $1 million; and shipped 40,000 pounds of beans and 40,000 pounds of rice and corn.
Artistic Voyage is a Yorba Linda-based classical music / art exposition series with a worldwide vision. The series uses the transformative power of music and art to inspire people from all walks of life to unite behind a common purpose to make a difference in the world. A portion of the proceeds from each event within the series is donated to worthwhile humanitarian causes throughout the world.
Messiah Lutheran Church is located at 4861 Liverpool Street, Yorba Linda, CA 92886. For more information or to order tickets, please call 714-579-2998 or go online at www.artisticvoyage.org.
