St. Matthew’s Concert Season Starts Friday
Petronel Malan
St. Matthew’s Music Guild will begin its 34th year of concerts under the direction of new Music Director and Conductor, Dwayne S. Milburn, at 8 p.m. this Friday, October 12 at St. Matthew’s Church, 1031 Bienveneda Ave.
Concert tickets are $35 at the door. Advance tickets and discounted season passes for all concerts are available through the Music Guild’s website, MusicGuildOnline.org or by calling (310) 573-7422.
The season opens with an all-Beethoven program featuring pianist Petronel Malan in the “Emperor” concerto.
Malan was described by New York reviewer Harris Goldsmith as “Formidable…dizzying…magical.”
As a multiple Grammy nominee and gold medalist of several international piano competitions, Malan’s career was launched following five gold medals at international piano competitions throughout the United States.
Although a resident of the U.S., Ms. Malan continues strong ties to her native South Africa. She received the “Rapport/City Press Prestige Award” as one of the “10 Most Inspirational Women in South Africa,” and has appeared on magazine covers, fashion spreads and even as picture-clues in crossword puzzles.
In addition to Beethoven’ Piano Concerto No. 5, the program will feature his Symphony No. 4 and the Coriolan Overture.
Dwayne Milburn
New to Pacific Palisades, Milburn is a multi-faceted conductor, composer, singer and keyboard artist whose career has taken him around the world over the past twenty years.
A native of Baltimore, Milburn earned his bachelor’s and doctoral degrees in music education and composition at UCLA, then received a master’s degree in conducting at the Cleveland Institute.
For three years he was Director of Cadet Music and the Glee Club at West Point and in 1993 he joined the U.S. Army, serving as Bandmaster of the Continental Army Band and the U.S. Army Band, “Pershing’s Own.” Since then he has served in the Middle East and Eastern Europe and most recently as Commander and Conductor of the U.S. Army Band and Chorus in Europe. He retired from the U.S. Army in September.
The St. Matthew’s Chamber Orchestra consists of some of the finest studio and concert orchestra players in the city, many of whom have been with the orchestra for more than 25 years.