West Covina Symphony Chamber Players Special Engagement

– About the Concert:

Sylvia Lee Mann, 2010 West Covina Community Hero and the West Covina Symphony Chamber Players (WCSCP) are proud to perform in the Family Concert Series at the Nixon Library in Yorba Linda, CA on Sunday, October 24, 2010 at 2:00 p.m.

“We are very honored to be invited to perform on the Nixon Library Family Concert Series,” Mann says.  “This invitation is a validation of the important role WCSO plays in the music scene in Los Angeles and Orange Counties and communities beyond. This recognition and appreciation of the wide diversity of cultures present in the San Gabriel Valley helps to encourage members of WCSO to continue their hard work in bringing live music to the community we serve.”

The featured artists in the WCSCP program on October 24, 2010 will include: Japanese-American flutist Lisa Cheoros Yamamoto; 16 year old Japanese/Greek American soprano Andrea Yamamoto; Maestro Sylvia Lee Mann (Artistic Director of WCSO, “West Covina Community Hero, 2010”); Caroline Bordinaro (cellist/librarian of Cal State University Dominguez Hills); and Sandy Gunn (celtic harp/manager of WCSO), among others.

In addition to works by Bach, Brahms, Delibes, Dowland, G. Faure, Mozart, Purcell and Quilter, WCSCP will perform selected works from the “Celtic Journeys” collection by Sylvia Lee Mann, and many more.

About the Artists:

Lisa Yamamoto, Flute/Piano

Lisa Yamamoto, flutist, enjoys an active career as a teacher, soloist, chamber and orchestral musician. She is professor of music at both National University and Irvine Valley College.   Her private studio for flute and piano students numbers over 20 per week.  She presents her students in annual recitals. As principal flutist, she has performed with the Carson-Dominguez Hills Symphony Orchestra, Bellflower Symphony, Cal State Fullerton Symphony Orchestra and the West Covina Symphony Orchestra. She holds a Master of Music degree from Cal State University Fullerton, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Cal State University, Dominguez Hills, both in flute performance.  She is married to a music teacher and they have two musical daughters.  Lisa is the primary accompanist for her daughter, Andrea who aspires to be an opera singer.

Andrea Yamamoto, Soprano

Sixteen-year-old Andrea Yamamoto has appeared regularly as soprano in solo recitals and performances.  She has performed with the Center Stage Opera Company Chorus in The Marriage of Figaro, Faust and Lucia Di Lammermoor.  She was lead soloist in the role of Rosina in The Tinker of Tivoli, as well as chorus member in The Star Child, both presentations of the Opera Pacific’s Opera Camp for Children. She was soprano soloist with the ABC Unified School District’s All District Honor Jazz Band. Her upcoming performances will include the world premiere of a new opera, Marie’s Orchard by composer Philip Westin with the Center Stage Opera chorus.  Classically trained since the age of 4 on the piano and baritone horn, and vocally since the age of 8, Andrea is currently in the voice studio of Renee Hoffman-Heath. She has also studied with Linda Leyrer (Professor of Music at CSU Fullerton), Joseph Bascetta (Director of Fresno Opera), Dylan and Shira Thomas (Director and lead soprano of Center Stage Opera Company), and Dr. Robyn Frey-Monell (Opera Pacific). Andrea is a senior at the Pacific Coast High School in Tustin, CA.

Dr. Sylvia Lee Mann, viola/composer/conductor/educator

Dr. Sylvia Lee Mann, West Covina Community Hero 2010, is a composer, conductor and virtuoso performer, appearing often with many orchestras in the Southern California area. In addition to her positions as Music Director and Conductor of The West Covina Symphony Orchestra and San Gabriel Valley Symphony Orchestra, she serves on the faculty of California State University Dominguez Hills, where she teaches String Pedagogy, String Ensemble, Private Studio Strings and Piano. She is a popular guest conductor for the Culver City Symphony Orchestra, the Coachella Valley Symphony and the Inland Valley Symphony, the Director of Music at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Studio City, CA, and assistant conductor of the Bellflower Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Mann is a frequent performer with The Chamber Orchestra of the South Bay, The Rio Hondo, La Mirada, Peninsula, Southeast, Beach Cities and Culver City/Marina del Rey Symphony Orchestras. She is also a busy music director and composer for the Theater and Motion Picture Industry. More information about Dr. Mann and her music can be found on http://sylvialeemann.com

Caroline Bordinaro, cello/librarian

Caroline Bordinaro is a much sought after cellist, performing in numerous orchestras in the Southland including the Bakersfield Symphony and the West Covina Symphony Orchestra, among others. She has served as a member of the Academic Senate of the California State University between 2006-2009.  Caroline is currently a Reference Librarian and serves on the faculty at Cal State University Dominguez Hills.

Sandy Gunn, Celtic harp/educator

Sandy Gunn is the manager/librarian of the West Covina Symphony Orchestra.  She plays violin and piano in the orchestra and Celtic harp and piano with the West Covina Symphony Chamber Players.  Sandy was a professional folk singer at age 13 and had her own radio show at the age of 14. Currently, Sandy works as a piano teacher, accompanist of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Studio City choir, and a graphic artist.

West Covina Symphony Orchestra

The West Covina Symphony Orchestra (WCSO), under the leadership of Maestra Sylvia Lee Mann, Music Director and Conductor, is a community orchestra that offers concerts and educational outreach programs to West Covina, San Gabriel Valley and Southern California communities, as well as performance opportunities for musicians in Southern California.

“Currently, the symphony presents a ull season of orchestral concerts each yearat Citrus College’s Haugh PErforming Arts Center, chamber music concerts at various locations, and several special events annually.

Music and art are the life-blood of society. Realizing this, with the support of musicians, donations from the community and the perserverance, dedication and self-sacrifice of Dr. Sylvia Lee Mann, WCSO has been presenting concerts to the community, its schools and people, since 2008.

WCSO is seeking private and corporate sponsorship to allow it to continue its mission and purpose “to enrich its community by engaging audiences and inspiring a love of music through exciting live symphony performances, chamber music performances, innovative programming, and educational outreach.””

For more information about upcoming concerts and events, please visit http://westcovinasymphony.com or call 626.593.7927.

Show your support of the orchestra by giving online or by sending your tax-deductible donation of any amount to the West Covina Symphony Orchestra, 216 S Citrus St, #364, West Covina, CA 91791

Please help WCSO publicize the upcoming performance at the Nixon Library by Dr. Sylvia Lee Mann and the West Covina Symphony Chamber Players to the community of Orange County, and invite as many audience as possible to help make this concert a big success.

* Free Admission

* To hear some of WCSO’s music, please visit http://www.westcovinasymphony.com/music.html

* To request interview or press package for WCSO, WCSCP, Dr. Sylvia Mann and other artists:

Please call (626)593-7927 or email her at drmann@westcovinasymphony.com.

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