Laszlo, Justin & Friends: 4 + 1 Cellos
Continuing The Studio’s 2015-16 season of storytelling, Laszlo, Justin & Friends: 4 + 1 Cellos presented an evening of multi-media performances Wednesday night.
Irvine High School senior Justin Koda, a five-year member of the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra, served as the “plus one” to the quartet of accomplished professionals including Laszlo Mezo, Jacob Braun, Timothy Landauer and Dennis Karmazyn.
With their storied instruments, three dating to the 1600s and 1700s, they collaborated on solo, duo and “tutti” presentations of both classical and modern pieces.
Koga and his mentor and music fundraising partner Mezo, mixed it up on Joseph Haydn’s ode to a lost stringed instrument in “Duo for Two Barytones.” Landauer challenged the other four during a fast-paced rendition of the spirited “Dance of the Elves” by David Popper.
Other works by Paganini and the poignant “Sun Beam” from Academy Award-winning composer John Williams showcased the range of the cello, from first to seventh position.
Personal and historic slides provided visual background featuring images of composers and a show of Koga’s most recent trips to Costa Rica where he teaches music at Escuela de Musica Cobano SINEM. Koda is musical ambassador for the nonprofit CultureSaves.org and is listed as “Good Man #74 in the International 100 Acts of Male Goodness Project winners.
Events at The Studio at Sage Hill are planned and coordinated by Mary Robinon, director of community programming and The Producers Circle members.
For future events and performances at The Studio, go online to www.sagehillschool.org/studio.
