IN THE ARTS

Concert Band plans anniversary show

The Laguna Community Concert Band will perform their 10th anniversary concert at 3 p.m. April 19, at the Artists’ Theatre, 625 Park Ave.

Highlighting the celebration will be the world premiere of a new piece, “Sketches of Laguna,” composed and conducted by Jim Christensen, a musician and composer who has more than 450 compositions and arrangements to his credit.

Christensen has had a 40-year association with the Walt Disney Co., serving 12 years as music director for both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. He conducted the All-American Marching Band at the grand opening of Euro Disneyland in Paris in 1992, and has appeared as guest conductor with symphonic orchestras throughout the United States and Canada. The “Christensen sound” is recognizable through recordings, radio, TV specials and documentary films. His arrangements are used today by bands, orchestras and artists throughout the world.

Ed Peterson, an accomplished trombonist and one of the band’s three resident conductors, said the piece was commissioned by the band in October to commemorate the band’s milestone anniversary.

“We chose Jim not only because of his professional background as an international composer but because of his familiarity with Laguna Beach and his personal association with the band as a guest conductor in the past,” Peterson said. “The band feels very fortunate to have such a talented and well known composer and arranger take on this project.”

Christensen’s composition will be accompanied by a visual backdrop of Laguna scenes projected on a large screen in back of the band. Local artist and award-winning photographer Scott Sporleder will show the beauty and diversity of the community through his photographs. Laguna’s Historical Society has also supplied photographs which capture images of Laguna’s past.

While the concert is free and open to the public, reservations are needed for the gala reception immediately following the concert at Tivoli Terrace. Guests will be treated to a light buffet and refreshments, and will have an opportunity to meet the conductor and band members. Local videographer Rob Wood will screen a montage of the band’s concerts during the reception. A limited number of tickets are available for the reception at $30 each. Reservations may be made by calling Sue White, at (949) 494-2216.

Current band president Brian Cameron, a retired systems analyst for Douglas Missiles and Space Systems division and lead tenor sax player, said the 10th anniversary is a significant milestone for the band, which has grown from its original eight members to more than 60 musicians.

“When a musical group is formed you never know who will show up,” Cameron said. “Our current membership includes not only music educators, but professional artists who played with Stan Kenton, Woody Herman, Les Brown, the Disneyland Bands and even Frank Zappa. Included in the entourage are many players with advanced degrees in a variety of fields. You would expect that most of these honors would be in music but you would be incorrect. Our founding director, Bill ‘Take Two Eighth-Notes and See Me in the Morning’ Nicholls holds a PhD in the musical field. As diverse as we may be in our choice of vocations, we are knit together with a common avocation: a love of music and a desire to play.

“While the band attempts to become as good as it can become musically, our overriding goal is to provide entertaining musical performances for Laguna Beach and guest audiences. That is why our concerts always feature a wide range of programming including classical, Broadway, Dixieland and jazz literature. Within our band there is a wide variety of musical group and soloists. We recently joined with the Gallimaufry performers to add additional vocal interest.”

Cameron praises the efforts of the band’s three band directors, Bill Nicholls, Peterson and Pete Fournier. All three hold master’s degrees in their musical fields in addition to their other individual accomplishments.

All have been recognized in their respective fields for excellence in conducting and performance and have devoted their lives to instructing and encouraging musicians of all ages and backgrounds.

Consort Trio performs Sunday

Three members of the Hutchins Consort will perform in a free concert from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday. The concert is presented by Laguna Beach Live!

The Consort is a group of string players who have acoustically-matched instruments.

The Trio, consisting of Beth Folsom on soprano violin, Omar Firestone on tenor violin and Joe McNalley on grand saraswati violone bastardo d’amore and bass, will perform classical and contemporary works at Laguna College of Art & Design, 2222 Laguna Canyon Road.

The College Art Gallery opens at 2 p.m. with “Best of the Best,” All Student Competition and Exhibition. First Sundays, an afternoon of music and art, is supported by LCAD, lodging establishments and city of Laguna Beach, and contributions from the audience. For more information, visit www.lagunabeachlive.org or www.lagunacollege.edu, or call (949) 715-9713.

SKYLAB hosts Live and Local event

SKYLAB modern art gallery owners Doug and Lydia McLaughlin will take the Laguna Beach art scene to the next level with the debut of Live and Local at 6 p.m. April 11, a night of local art and local music, with proceeds going to a local charity.

“There’s really nothing like this happening in Laguna,” Doug McLaughlin said. “Orange County is full of exceptional emerging artists and musicians, and we wanted to provide the right venue for meeting them.”

The show will feature Sean Woolsey, a wildlife painter known for his unique imagery “” wild, yet contained. A recent piece features a portrait of a tiger painted a top a pastel background. Live and Local will be Woolsey’s first show of his promising art career. For more information visit seanwoolsey.com

Music will be provided by Tavis Bohlinger, a songwriter and acoustic guitarist whose laid back lyrics coupled with cool guitar riffs complement SKYLAB’s candlelit patio. For more information about Bohlinger, visit tavismusic.com

A portion of the proceeds from the pieces sold will go Falling Whistles, a project of local resident Sean Carasso, whose goal is to end the war in the Congo “” specifically the use of children in the military.

For more information about Falling Whistles, visit fallingwhistles.com

SKYLAB modern art is at 1452 S. Coast Hwy. For more information, call (949) 376-2400 or visit skylabmodernart.com

Deadline looms for Seniors exhibit

Seniors 55 and older are invited to participate in the city of Laguna Beach and Community Art Project’s 2009 Senior Art Exhibit, from April 11 through 17 at Wells Fargo Bank, 260 Ocean Ave.

Entries will be accepted from residents of Orange County 55 or older as of Sept. 1, 2008.

All entries must be original and have been executed within the last two years.

Categories are: Two-Dimensional (includes drawing and photography); Oils; Acrylics; Watercolors; and Multimedia.

Two-dimensional work must measure no more than 2 feet by 3 feet including the frame and be no more than 3 inches in depth. No three-dimensional artworks will be accepted. The frame must be sturdy enough to support the art without buckling.

The artwork must be ready for hanging with wire (no saw tooth hangers). An entry form must accompany each piece of artwork submitted. All artwork must be framed and ready for hanging.

Artworks may be submitted from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday on the second floor of the Wells Fargo Bank. A reception and awards ceremony will be from 11 a.m .to noon April 11 at Wells Fargo Bank.

Artwork must be picked up between 9 and 11 a.m. April 18.

For an entry form, call Patty Koss, Senior Services Coordinator, at (949) 464-9535.

Art class at Marine Mammal Center

The Pacific Marine Mammal Center is the setting of a new series of art workshops with an environmental message. Presented by Laguna Outreach for Community Arts (LOCA), the workshops include a docent lead tour of the Center and a close up view of live seals and sea lions undergoing rehabilitation.

Participants will learn to identify species, how they live, and what can be done to protect them in our oceans.

Following the tour, participants will enjoy a hands-on art class, taught by a professional instructor, with a focus on marine mammals. Finished art can be taken home.

The workshops are offered from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday and May 2.

Cost, including art supplies, is $20 adults and $15 for young people ages 6 to 18 accompanied by an adult.

Free on-site parking is available and advanced registration is required, by calling (949) 363-4700, or e-mail LOCAarts@yahoo.com.

For more information, visit www.LOCAarts.org.

This program is supported by local lodging establishments and the city of Laguna Beach.