http://www.tractionorchestra.com Traction Ave Chamber Orcehstra Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:40:30 +0000 http://www.tractionorchestra.com en http://www.tractionorchestra.com/Music http://www.tractionorchestra.com/following/tractionorchestra.com/Music Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:40:30 +0000 Traction Ave Chamber Orcehstra 3309827 http://www.tractionorchestra.com/Contact http://www.tractionorchestra.com/following/tractionorchestra.com/Contact Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:34:01 +0000 Traction Ave Chamber Orcehstra 3306012 We'd love to hear from you! info@tractionorchestra.com WWW.ALIHELNWEIN.COM We'd love to hear from you! info@tractionorchestra.com WWW.ALIHELNWEIN.COM http://www.tractionorchestra.com/Press http://www.tractionorchestra.com/following/tractionorchestra.com/Press Mon, 30 Apr 2012 02:27:55 +0000 Traction Ave Chamber Orcehstra 3306373 <img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-212" style="border-width: 1px; border-color: black; border-style: solid;" title="listen_tn" src="http://www.alihelnwein.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/listen_tn.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="375" /> “Traction Avenue is the main artery of the Los Angeles arts district, an edgy neighborhood where old warehouse buildings have been converted into studio lofts. This is where violinist-composer-conductor Ali Helnwein established the Traction Avenue Chamber Orchestra. So far, his motivating hunch — that a new kind of orchestra would attract a new kind of audience — has been validated. “When I talk to young people,” says Helnwein — who himself is not quite thirty –”many will say they’re interested in classical music and would love to go out to concerts. But they never end up doing it. So I started this orchestra as an experiment, to go out and play in the places where they do hang out.” Helnwein did just that: his orchestra played its first concert at a skateboarding park and has played on rooftops and in alleyways. He’s also taken his orchestra indoors — to art galleries, a circus school and even the Herbert Zipper Concert Hall (home of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra). There’s an ephemeral, impromptu quality to this ensemble; concerts are planned on a one-off, ad-hoc basis. But the Traction Avenue Chamber Orchestra has found traction: it’s now in its sixth year, presenting four or five concerts per year. There’s no staff or board of directors yet — and Helnwein does most of the organizational work himself. But he’s quick to share artistic credit with others in the ensemble. “I run it,” he says, “and I end up making the final decisions. But what I like about the orchestra is that it’s a collaborative experience, a small group of musicians who are passionate about what they do. I do always ask for input from them, for ideas on repertoire and places to play.” As for that repertoire, there’s been a strong Baroque leaning in the music Helnwein puts on the music stands. But he’s also attracted to new works. “More recently,” he says, “we’ve been featuring contemporary local composers. There are a lot of composers in L.A., and I’m interested in what they’re doing. Also, the audience responds to new music surprisingly well. You’d think they’d prefer the traditional repertoire, but some people respond well to the most atonal piece on the program.” – Listen, Colin Eatock “Traction Avenue is the main artery of the Los Angeles arts district, an edgy neighborhood where old warehouse buildings have been converted into studio lofts.... http://www.tractionorchestra.com/Video http://www.tractionorchestra.com/following/tractionorchestra.com/Video Sun, 29 Apr 2012 23:59:46 +0000 Traction Ave Chamber Orcehstra 3306019 http://www.tractionorchestra.com/Past-Concerts http://www.tractionorchestra.com/following/tractionorchestra.com/Past-Concerts Sun, 29 Apr 2012 23:59:16 +0000 Traction Ave Chamber Orcehstra 3306014 Skatepark <img src="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306014/skate.png" width="240" height="315" width_o="240" height_o="315" src_o="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306014/skate_o.png" data-mid="16965652" border="0" align="left"/>This was the orchestra's first ever performance. It took place on October 21st, 2006 as part of a downtown art exhibition that featured several local visual artists and also premiered Brian Lotti's film "1st & Home - Arts District Version" (with a score by Ali Helnwein).Unlike a typical orchestral setting, it was at the Berrics, the downtown skate park of pro skateboarder Steve Berra. The mix of cultures sparked an interest in classical music for a large part of the audience which is normally not exposed to classical music; and in turn sparked an interest in skating for the classical musicians.Music featured at this concert included Tchaikovsky, J. S. Bach and Mendelssohn. Zipper <img src="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306014/zipper.png" width="222" height="430" width_o="222" height_o="430" src_o="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306014/zipper_o.png" data-mid="16965660" border="0" align="left"/>The official debut concert of the Traction Ave Chamber Orchestra was held at Downtown Los Angeles' Zipper Concert Hall, on December 17th 2006.On the program was an original piece written for the orchestra by composer Jason Turbin, music by Corelli, J. S. Bach and Pachelbel.The performance featured several guest soloists: violinist Haim Shtrum, violinist Petros Boyadzhyan, trumpeter Brett Klein and harpsichordist Bettie Ross.The concert poster was design by artist Kevin Llewellyn.In part sponsored by Thomas Metzler Violin Shop. Biscuit <img src="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306014/biscuit.png" width="398" height="223" width_o="398" height_o="223" src_o="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306014/biscuit_o.png" data-mid="16965661" border="0" align="left"/>On May 12th, 2007 the orchestra played another unique concert that drew the attention of a diverse audience. It was at an art exhibition at the Biscuit Factory Lofts, again in downtown Los Angeles.The program included works by Jason Turbin, Mendelssohn, Mozart and Massenet, and featured Jack Krumbein on solo violin.The event was sponsored by Thomas Metzler Violin Shop, Archrival on 349 E. 2nd Street and Steve Kalinich Music. Church <img src="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306014/church.png" width="298" height="224" width_o="298" height_o="224" src_o="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306014/church_o.png" data-mid="16965663" border="0" align="left"/>Emmanuel Lutheran Church, North Hollywood.The Concert featured several guest soloists such as Andrew Duckles (viola), Mario Feninger (piano), Denise Briese (viola da gamba), Shanon Zusman (viola da gamba), Bettie Ross (piano, harpsichord and organ), Mariana Popzlateva (soprano) and Scott Smith (trumpet). The program included works by J. S. Bach, Mozart, Stravinsky and Vivaldi.The baroque pieces were performed on period instruments - viola da games, harpsichords and organ. Spring <img src="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306014/spring.png" width="398" height="258" width_o="398" height_o="258" src_o="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306014/spring_o.png" data-mid="16965666" border="0" align="left"/>By invitation of soprano Mariana Popzlateva. February 23rd, 2008, Plummer Park Fiesta Hall.Featuring soprano Mariana Popzlateva, tenor Nick Palance, composer Anthony Michaels and ballet dancers Elena and Zlat Popzlateva.The program included music by Puccini, Verdi, Mozart and Anthony Michaels.Presented by Unity in Diversity Arts Foundation, European Arts Agency, City of West Hollywood and the Russian Advisory Board. Chinatown <img src="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306014/chinatown.png" width="451" height="337" width_o="451" height_o="337" src_o="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306014/chinatown_o.png" data-mid="16965667" border="0" align="left"/>Sunday, March 15th, 2009 the orchestra performed an outdoor concert in Chinatown, Downtown Los Angeles. It took place on Chung King Row, under the red lanterns, between the old chinese store fronts and galleries.The program started with Copland's "Our Town", then Beethoven's 2nd Symphony and finished with Dvorak's 2nd Slovanic Dance in E minor. Industrial <img src="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306014/industrial.png" width="473" height="353" width_o="473" height_o="353" src_o="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306014/industrial_o.png" data-mid="16965669" border="0" align="left"/>The program featured harpist Alison Bjorkedal performing Debussy's "Sacred and Profane Dances", J. S. Bach's Concerto for 3 Violins (featuring Ina Veli, Robert Matsuda and Joshua Heaphey) and Brandenburg Concerto No. 1, Music by Stravinsky and the premiere of an original piece by Jason Turbin.The concert took place in a unique Downtown space, in a dark setting lit from the floor with red and white lighting. Loft <img src="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306014/loft.png" width="244" height="344" width_o="244" height_o="344" src_o="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306014/loft_o.png" data-mid="16965677" border="0" align="left"/>A concert taking place in a Downtown LA loft. . . in the true sense of the words chamber music: with audience and orchestra intermingled in close quarters.Featuring LA Phil violinist Grace Oh and cellists Maksim Velichkin and Garik Terzian.Special thanks to Paul Solomon. Rain <img src="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306014/rain.jpg" width="350" height="537" width_o="350" height_o="537" src_o="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306014/rain_o.jpg" data-mid="16965680" border="0" align="left"/>On May 27th, 2010 the orchestra played a concert to an audience of around 500. It was hosted by Kat Von D and featured conductor David Campbell and soloist Alyssa Park.Aside from featuring the premiere of Ali Helnwein's "Rain" Violin Concerto, it also featured music by Gernot Wolfgang, Sharon Farber and Raven Kane.This all went down at Downtown Los Angeles' historic Million Dollar Theater. Rooftop <img src="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306014/rooftop.png" width="240" height="311" width_o="240" height_o="311" src_o="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306014/rooftop_o.png" data-mid="16965693" border="0" align="left"/>Orchestra on a rooftop, specifically the rooftop of the Standard Hotel in Downtown LA.This concert featured compositions by Ali Helnwein and was part of an artistic series of collaborations called The Series, created by Nicole Disson. It featured artistic contributions by artists of many disciplines: Diaz of Clothesline, Jasmine Albuquerque Crossiant, writer Mandy Kahn, sound designer Ian Ross, singer/ songwriter Anna Oxygen, artist Bethany McCarty, performers Oliwa and Nicole Disson, amongst others, with guest director Mecca Vazie Andrews. Cirque <img src="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306014/cirque.png" width="207" height="323" width_o="207" height_o="323" src_o="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306014/cirque_o.png" data-mid="16965695" border="0" align="left"/>To mark 5 years of Traction Avenue Chamber Orchestra, the orchestra performed at Cirque School LA.This performance featured trapeze work by Aloysia Gavre, fashion coordination by Ai for Ai, stage design by Noah Olmstead and additional creative design and lighting by Rex Camphius. Soloists included Radu Pieptea, Paula Hochhalter, Mariana Popzlateva, Sisu Raiken, Tim Friedlander and Ken Luey.Produced by Ali Helnwein and Szu-Hua Wang.Special thanks to Ginger Crane. Gallery <img src="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306014/Unknown.jpeg" width="225" height="225" width_o="225" height_o="225" src_o="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306014/Unknown_o.jpeg" data-mid="16966199" border="0" align="left"/>A special performance at Merry Karnowsky Gallery. This concert featured exclusively original music by composers Ali Helnwein, Jason Turbin and Jamie Green.Guest soloists included string players Joel Pargman, Albert Romero, Daniel Oguri and Paula Hochhalter. Bootleg <img src="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306014/trimurtialbumrelease.jpg" width="200" height="286" width_o="200" height_o="286" src_o="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306014/trimurtialbumrelease_o.jpg" data-mid="16966256" border="0" align="left"/>A performance at the Bootleg Theater, this was one of the most stripped down sets the orchestra has ever performed. It featured violinist Albert Romero, flautist Lauren Rogers, keyboardist Gavin Gamboa and several others.The evening featured a combination of acoustic, classical instruments accompanied by electronic synth sounds, performing mainly baroque gems. The Last Bookstore <img src="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306014/last_bookstore.png" width="400" height="44" width_o="400" height_o="44" src_o="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306014/last_bookstore_o.png" data-mid="18242722" border="0" align="left"/>This performance, at The Last Bookstore, in Downtown LA featured a composition by Ali Helnwein, accompanying a poem by writer Mandy Kahn. Albert Romero on violin, Gavin Gambo on harpsichord, Lauren Rogers flute, Tim Friedlander clarinet, Jamie Green xylophone, Cassidy Turbin timpani and Ali Helnwein on banjo. Standard <img src="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306014/282947_288185237945397_791272291_n.jpg" width="590" height="400" width_o="590" height_o="400" src_o="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306014/282947_288185237945397_791272291_n_o.jpg" data-mid="19062492" border="0" align="left"/>As part of The Series, on the rooftop of the Standard Hotel downtown, the orchestra stripped down to just a wind quintet for this performance of all original music. Skatepark This was the orchestra's first ever performance. It took place on October 21st, 2006 as part of a downtown art exhibition that featured several local... http://www.tractionorchestra.com/Gallery http://www.tractionorchestra.com/following/tractionorchestra.com/Gallery Sun, 29 Apr 2012 23:58:11 +0000 Traction Ave Chamber Orcehstra 3306008 <img src="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306008/orch_chinatown.jpg" width="670" height="502" width_o="800" height_o="600" src_o="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306008/orch_chinatown_o.jpg" data-mid="16965010" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306008/rain_1_5.jpg" width="670" height="422" width_o="800" height_o="504" src_o="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306008/rain_1_5_o.jpg" data-mid="16965021" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306008/rain_4_8.jpg" width="670" height="432" width_o="800" height_o="517" src_o="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306008/rain_4_8_o.jpg" data-mid="16965022" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306008/picture-1.jpg" width="670" height="500" width_o="800" height_o="598" src_o="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306008/picture-1_o.jpg" data-mid="16965000" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306008/picture-1.png" width="670" height="496" width_o="800" height_o="593" src_o="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306008/picture-1_o.png" data-mid="16965002" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306008/DSC_4028.jpg" width="670" height="445" width_o="1279" height_o="850" src_o="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306008/DSC_4028_o.jpg" data-mid="16965209" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306008/DSC_4041.jpg" width="670" height="445" width_o="1279" height_o="850" src_o="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306008/DSC_4041_o.jpg" data-mid="16965218" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306008/jyvonne.jpg" width="466" height="700" width_o="466" height_o="700" src_o="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306008/jyvonne_o.jpg" data-mid="16965267" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306008/_MG_1537.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="800" height_o="533" src_o="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306008/_MG_1537_o.jpg" data-mid="16965330" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306008/_MG_1482.jpg" width="670" height="463" width_o="800" height_o="554" src_o="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306008/_MG_1482_o.jpg" data-mid="16965333" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306008/_MG_1557.jpg" width="670" height="535" width_o="800" height_o="639" src_o="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306008/_MG_1557_o.jpg" data-mid="16965341" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306008/P1010016.JPG" width="650" height="488" width_o="650" height_o="488" src_o="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306008/P1010016_o.JPG" data-mid="16965372" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306008/P1010008.JPG" width="670" height="502" width_o="2048" height_o="1536" src_o="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306008/P1010008_o.JPG" data-mid="16965377" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306008/63065_1548492904838_1010527263_31500808_2677712_n.jpg" width="670" height="446" width_o="720" height_o="480" src_o="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/7/235113/3306008/63065_1548492904838_1010527263_31500808_2677712_n_o.jpg" data-mid="16965378" border="0" align="left"/>