‘Singing Policeman’ Daniel Rodriguez to kick off season two
By Gary Kohatsu
A rousing first season of afternoon music has inspired the return of MidDay At Grace for second two this month.
The popular format of free concerts at Grace Church will open on Thursday, Sept. 19 with “The Singing Policeman,” American operatic tenor, Daniel Rodriguez. His voice and rendition of “God Bless America” was a beacon in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks 18 years ago. He reached global attention, singing patriotic tributes at memorial events and on television, which led to an offer of formal training by Plácido Domingo.
Rodriguez has recorded numerous albums and regularly appears in support of his chosen charities, as well as performing a full domestic and international concert schedule.
The concert begins at noon at Grace Church, 4427 Overland Ave, Culver City.
Church music director, Mary Lou Basaraba, will again introduce the concert series that she launched at Grace Church in December 2018.
“(We will give the community) a wide range of artists and music personalities through June 2020,” Basaraba, a noted musician herself, said. “In the inaugural season of seven concerts, approximately 700 people attended and donations of more than $3,000 were designated to various charities of the Artists’ choice.”
Presented by the Performing Arts Ministry, the 2019-20 roster includes Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra, orchestral conductor, Clyde Mitchell, the Four Cantors and, vocalists from the opera, musical theater and jazz stage. Donations received go to charities designated by the Artists and following each program, the audience is invited to meet the performers in the lovely Fireside Room for conversation and light refreshments.
MidDay At Grace monthly music series will continue on Thursday, Oct. 10 with a musical lecture by Maestro Clyde Mitchell, Founding Conductor and Music Director of the Lionsgate Sinfonia in Vancouver, Canada.
His conducting studies at Cal State University, Long Beach (Master of Music) and USC (Artist Diploma) led to positions in Canada and the U.S., including eight years as resident conductor of the renowned Vancouver Symphony.
Mitchell is the recipient of Canada’s Heinz Unger Award as “Canada’s Most Promising Conductor,” and the U.S. National Conductor’s Award and his guest conducting appearances include orchestras and opera companies including Houston, Rochester, South America, Asia, Europe, U.S., and Canada.
Following the program, the audience is invited to meet Clyde in the lovely Fireside Room for conversation and light refreshments.
On Thursday, Nov. 14, a concert by musicians from KALEIDOSCOPE, a conductor-less orchestra based in Culver City, dedicated to enriching lives through exhilarating concert experiences, artistic excellence, musician leadership, and connecting with the diverse communities of Los Angeles. Director, Alex Granger said: “We recently started a music education program at a Title I elementary school in Culver City, providing music instruction to 200 students each week. We are planning to expand this program to other grades and other schools in the future. Not only do we want every child in Los Angeles to love listening to music, but we also want every child to have the opportunity to read, play, and write music, too.”
As with all MidDay concerts, the program begins at noon and will conclude before 1 p.m. Following the program, the audience is invited to meet the performers in the lovely Fireside Room for conversation and light refreshments.
OPERA PLUS vocalists, Tara Alexander, Clare Snodgrass, and Randy Murphy will spotlight the Dec. 12 concert. Alexander and Snodgrass delighted the audience in their MidDay concert last season and are returning by popular demand. They have appeared as soloists with the Golden State Pops Orchestra at the historic Warner Grand Theater, and before tens of thousands of people with the California Philharmonic at the Los Angeles Arboretum, Santa Anita Race Track and, the iconic Walt Disney Concert Hall.
The ladies have invited baritone, Randy Murphy, to join them in a program of songs and ensembles from the opera and musical theater stage along with Holiday favorites. Following the program, the audience is invited to meet the Tara, Clare, and Randy in the lovely Fireside Room for conversation and light refreshments.
The 2020 new year will continue the MidDay season two series with more free concerts.
Performance artist Emer Kinsella will present an eclectic concert of contemporary and original music on Thursday, Jan. 9 at NOON.
Basaraba said, “the lineup of scheduled artists in 2020 includes soprano Tammy Jenkins, honoring Black History Month in February, and a return appearance of the Four Cantors.”