PRESS RELEASES
| One of Russia’s Top Virtuoso Orchestras, Moscow State Symphony Orchestra Makes Debut at The Soraya
The internationally celebrated Moscow State Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Pavel Kogen, Music Director and Chief Conductor, will make their debut on the stage of the Great Hall of Valley Performing Arts Center (The Soraya) on Thursday, November 2 at 8pm. The all-Russian program which honors the traditions and romantic history of Russia includes Rachmaninov’s The Rock, Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1, and Scriabin’s Symphony No. 2. This concert is the first of the season’s SOARING performances that will feature several of the world’s greatest orchestras during the 2017-2018 season at VPAC (The Soraya). It also marks the debut of the fourth of the largest Russian orchestras to appear on the VPAC stage—the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra in 2011, the Russian National Orchestra in 2016 and The St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra in 2017.
| California State University, Northridge and Dignity Health Announce Significant Campus+, Multi-Year Partnership
Announced today by CSUN Director of Athletics Dr. Brandon Martin and Dignity Health – Northridge Hospital CEO Saliba H. Salo, the relationship will allow for unprecedented synergies between the two parties, particularly in the areas of health, education, research and athletics. Effective immediately, Dignity Health will assume the university’s first-ever designation as “Community Health Partner of the CSUN Matadors” and be notably visible across campus.
| Maceo Parker Pays Tribute to the Incomparable Ray Charles in To Ray with Love
The 2017/18 Swinging Jazz series at VPAC (aka. The Soraya) kicks off when American funk maestro Maceo Parker takes to the stage for an unforgettable tribute to the great Ray Charles. In the fall of 1963, Parker was standing out the back of The Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina waiting to catch a glimpse of anyone from the band after a very special concert. After only seeing strangers, the band eventually spilled out followed, finally, by the great man himself, Ray Charles. The awestruck young saxophonist muttered to himself ‘One of these days you’re all gonna know me!’ Now, over half a century later, Parker brings it full circle as he performs a tribute to Ray Charles.
| Cheech Marin Hosts an Evening of Latin Comedy
CSUN Alum Cheech Marin (Up in Smoke, Jane the Virgin) hosts an evening of comedy for the 3rd annual CSUN alumni performance on September 28 at Valley Performing Arts Center (The Soraya). The evening will also feature Paul Rodriguez, Marcella Arguello, Frankie Quinones and Francisco Ramos.
| Valley Performing Arts Center Celebrates Bernstein at 100!
Valley Performing Arts Center will partner with New West Symphony in November to celebrate the centenary and extraordinary legacy of American composer Leonard Bernstein with Bernstein on Stage. Bernstein specialist John Mauceri, a protégé of the legendary composer and conductor, will lead the New West Symphony Orchestra, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles (Dr. Joseph P. Nadeau, Artistic Director and Conductor), Women of Areté Vocal Ensemble & California Lutheran University (Wyant Morton, Director) along with Suzanna Guzmán, Davis Gaines, Celena Shafer and Casey Candebat on Friday, November 17 at 8:00pm. The official Bernstein at 100 celebrations begin Sept 22 in Washington, DC and the VPAC performance will be among the first concerts subsequently to perform in Los Angeles.
| Paco de Lucía Project to Launch North American Tour in Fall 2017
In the early 1980s, guitarist and composer Paco de Lucía assembled a sextet that, in its instrumentation and jazz-like approach, would forever change the sound of flamenco. It would take the guitarist 20 years to put together another group that would provide him with both the support and push for his talent and his vision.
| Symphonic Music is SOARING at VPAC in 2017-18!
Director Miloš Forman’s film AMADEUS one of the greatest biopics ever made, swept the 1984 Oscars winning eight awards including Best Picture. Now, Valley Performing Arts Center opens its 2017-18 Season on Saturday, September 16 at 7:00pm with a live performance featuring the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO) and LA Opera Chorus, conducted by film music specialist and CSUN alum Richard Kaufman, to a newly mastered print created for live orchestral accompaniment.
| CSUN Names the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts
Dr. Dianne F. Harrison, president of California State University, Northridge, today announced the renaming of CSUN’s Valley Performing Arts Center to the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts.
| Valley Performing Arts Center brings the world to its stage for the 2017-18 season!
VPAC’s new season makes a strong commitment to international artists, and to artists who demonstrate VPAC’s theme Music Knows No Borders.