A Selective Guide to the Arts in Los Angeles

To celebrate its landmark 30th anniversary season, Piano Spheres presents ‘30 for 30,’ a special initiative that will commission 30 composers to write new works for the piano, to be performed by Piano Spheres’ Core Artists: Nic Gerpe, Aron Kallay, Thomas Kotcheff and Vicki Ray, Emeritus Artist Mark Robson, Stein Resident Artist Andrés Jaramillo and Emerging Artist Thomas Mellan. 

All ‘30 for 30’ composers were chosen by the performers and represent an impressive sampling of local, national and international talent including Thomas Meadowcroft, Donald Crockett, Paul Beaudoin, Paul Morovec, Veronika Krausas, William Alves, Thomas Flaherty and 23 others. 

Piano Spheres dedicates its 2024/25 season to beloved core artist Sarah Gibson and will honor her memory with a special concert on July 14, the anniversary of her tragic passing. Gibson’s duo HOCKET with pianist Thomas Kotcheff remains on sabbatical.

Below is a list of fall 2024 concerts. All concerts begin at 8 p.m. 

Oct. 22, 2024 | Thayer Hall, Colburn School

Guest Artist: Stephen Drury

Title: Charles Ives at 150

World renowned guest artist Stephen Drury will celebrate the Ives sesquicentennial with a special performance of Ives’ complete sonatas for piano, including the monumental “Concord” sonata. 

Nov. 9, 2024 | at Zipper Hall, Colburn School

Emeritus Artist: Mark Robson

Title: Spielfreude

Spielfreude, the joy of playing, describes the sheer physical and emotive pleasure of performing. Music by Ligeti, Glass, Cowell, Messiaen, Schoenberg, Aldo Clementi, Ginastera and three 30 for 30 composers

Dec. 9, 2024 | at Zipper Hall, Colburn School

Title: for Susan and Rick

Pianists: Gloria Cheng, Nic Gerpe, Aron Kallay, Thomas Kotcheff, Nelson Ojeda, Vicki Ray and Mark Robson honor Piano Spheres’ founding pianist Susan Svrcek and her composer-husband Frederick Lesemann.

Visit www.pianospheres.org for tickets and more information about the entire 2024/2025 season.