Organ Concert
featuring Mark Robinson
MAY 21 2023 • 4 PM
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
1014 East Altadena Dr., Altadena
Thank you to all who joined us for an evening of beautiful music this May featuring Mark Robson, a renowned organist and pianist who has been hailed by the Los Angeles Times as a pianist with “one of the great techniques,” “an inquiring mind,” and a performer capable of evoking an “exquisite engulfing pastel haze!” Performing with Mark were soprano Haiming Wu, our young artist 16-year old violinist Anna Yoo, and Melodia Mariposa String Ensemble.
PROGRAM
- E.Ysaye Sonata 3 “Ballade”
Young Artist, Dan Stover Youth Competition 2023 Winner, Anna Yoo, Violin - G.H.Handel Concerto No.13
in F Major, HWV 295
“Cuckoo and the Nightingale” - W.A.Mozart “Laudate Dominum”
KV 339
Haiming Wu, Soprano - O.Respighi Preludio from Suite in G Major for organ and strings
- Lili Boulanger “Pie Jesu”
Haiming Wu, Soprano - D.Pinkham Sonata l
For Organ and Strings - H.Schmidt Concerto for Organ and Strings “Andante Religioso”
- A.Guilmant Final alla Schumann Op.83
- T.Albinoni/R.Giazotto Adagio
Mark Robson, piano and organ
Mark Robson began his first music study on the piano at age 6 and took up organ studies when he was 13, obtaining his first position as a church organist while still in high school. Although he continued at Oberlin College with an emphasis in organ and French, he switched his major to the piano—this, despite having performed Bach’s massive compendium of chorale preludes, the third portion of the Clavierübung. Nonetheless, he continued on occasion to perform organ recitals ranging in repertoire from Buxtehude and Bach to Messiaen. He has also appeared at Disney Hall playing Arvo Pärt’s Annum per annum for the LA Philharmonic’s Minimalist Jukebox and has assisted with the LAP for numerous orchestral organ and keyboard parts. Since 2015 he has been an organist for St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Altadena, CA.
Mr. Robson started composing at an early age, writing works for piano, flute, and organ. His aesthetic was informed by a particular sensitivity to harmony and counterpoint, as well as his later exposure to the fertile contemporary music scene in Paris during his years there as a piano pupil of Yvonne Loriod. Among his compositions are Dances and Dirges for piano, clarinet, and cello, the soprano cycle A Child of Air (recorded by Patricia Prunty) and other songs, Trio Botanica for three bassoons, Three Pieces for Chamber Orchestra, the piano cycle 24 Preludes for the Left Hand, and numerous works for organ for liturgical use.
He has worked extensively as a coach and opera assistant for the Los Angeles Opera and taught at CalArts, Chapman University, CSUF, and USC. Among his major performing achievements are the Vingt Regards sur L’Enfant-Jésus by Messiaen, Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations and the complete 32 Sonatas in eight concerts, and Bach’s Goldberg Variations.
Haiming Wu, soprano
Haiming Wu is a soprano from Wuhan, China. Wu is currently studying at the USC Thornton School of Music, earning her Master of Music degree in Vocal Arts and Opera. Wu will simultaneously make her American and role debut as Younger Alyce in Glory Denied by Tom Cipullo in USC Opera’s Spring 2023 production.
During her undergrad in Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Wu performed several leading roles of Rong in the world premiere of the contemporary opera The Voice of May with Shanghai Symphony Orchestra in Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and Newspaper Boy in the Chinese original Opera He Lvting in Shangyin Opera House.
Wu also performed in the opera scenes programs at SHCM, performing the roles of Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro, Adina in L’elisir d’Amore, Zerlina in Don Giovanni, Pamina and Papagena in Die Zauberflöte, Norina in Don Pasquale, Musetta in La Bohème, Gilda in Rigoletto, and Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor. She also has sung and had masterclasses with Hartmut Höll, Sherrill Milnes, and Maria Zouves. Wu was a former member of Shangyin Opera House’s Young Artist's program “Ying Cai Zhu Fei.
Anna Yoo, violin
Prizewinner at the Pasadena Rotary Club Dan Stover music competition in 2023 Anna Yoo Will perform E. Ysaye Sonata No.3 “Ballade” for violin solo.
Anna Yoo has been passionate about violin since she was 5 years old. She studied with Aimee Kreston from 2012-2018, and her teachers since then have been Fabiola Kim and more recently Robert Lipsett at the Colburn Academy.
At 9 years old, she was the invited soloist to play the Bach double violin concerto with the LASI orchestra, and since then have played with the Bellflower Symphony, the OCC orchestra, and the La Canada High School orchestra as a result of winning their concerto competitions.
This past summer, Anna attended Center Stage Strings, Bowdoin Music Festival, and Sounding Point Academy and was the first-place winner in the CSS solo competition junior division. This year Anna also was a prizewinner at the Pasadena Showcase Instrumental Competition and at the Dan Stover music competition.
Melodia Mariposa String Ensemble
Aaron Oltman, viola
Aaron Oltman has performed with many of the orchestras in the Southern California area, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Opera, Pasadena Symphony, and New West Symphony. He has appeared in chamber music concerts for the Camerata Pacifica, Sundays Live at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the South Bay Chamber Music Society, the Los Angeles Philharmonic's Green Umbrella series, and is active in the Recording Industry.
Tina Soule, cello
A native of Baltimore, Maryland, cellist Tina Soule studied piano and cello at Peabody Prep and began her professional career at age 16 with the Bach Society of Baltimore.
She has worked on hundreds of film scores with composers such as John Williams, Danny Elfman, and Hans Zimmer, and has played on the Grammy’s, the Oscars, and the Tonight Show.
After receiving a Bachelor of Music degree from Indiana University and a Master of Musical Arts degree from Yale, she moved to Los Angeles where she has since enjoyed an active life as a studio recording musician and as a freelance orchestral and chamber music player.
For 30 years, Ms. Soule served as principal cello with the San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival (later called Mozaic), where she performed as soloist under conductor Christopher Hogwood and collaborated with some of the world’s most esteemed chamber musicians.
She has also performed with the Santa Fe Opera, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, and as principal cello with the Boston Ballet, the Orange County Chamber Orchestra, and the Santa Monica Symphony.
She currently resides in Altadena, where she enjoys playing local concerts with her beloved colleagues of Melodia Mariposa.
Philip Vaiman, violin
The professional career of violinist Philip Vaiman has taken him to concert halls around the globe and premier recording studios. In his performances he demonstrates his great desire for expressive and imaginative music-making. Vaiman’s profound musicality and unlimited technical possibilities have captured audiences in Europe, America, and Asia.
Philip Vaiman has been the recipient of many awards such as: “The Award of the Leni Fe Bland Foundation,” “The Sophia Guzik Foundation Award,” “The Julia F. Lotze Prize for String Players,” “The Winner of the Atwater Kent Concerto Competition,” “The Leroy Collins Memorial Scholarship,” and “Member of the Pi Kappa Lambda the National Music Honor Society.”
Philip started playing violin at the age of four. At the age of five, he was admitted to the Gnesin Academy of Music, and had his first public appearance at the age of seven. By the time he graduated from the renowned academy, he had performed as a soloist and chamber musician in England, Israel, Russia, and Cyprus. Philip continued his education at the Maymonedes Academy, UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles), and USC (University of Southern California), graduating Cum Laude with a Master’s Degree in Music.
Philip has performed in major halls across the world and at international festivals including The Huddersfield International Music Festival in England, The Spoleto Music Festival in Italy, The Music Festival of Pitea in Sweden, The Hvar International Summer Festival in Croatia, The Soesterberg International Music Festival in the Netherlands, and the Bruman Chamber Music Festival in California.
Philip Vaiman’s recordings are featured on the soundtracks of award-winning motion pictures, documentaries, and commercials. He has also appeared on screen in such blockbusters as “The Wedding Planner”, “Amy’s O’s”, and “Spider-Man 3.” Philip has recorded and performed with a diverse roster of artists including Aretha Franklin, Sting, Taylor Swift, Tony Bennet, Pharrell Williams, Shakira, Michael Jackson, Dido, Andrea Bocelli, Adam Lambert, Robin Thicke, Sebastian Yatra, Juan Gabriel, Googoosh, Josh Groban, Amanda McBroom, Dwight Yoakam, Dave Matthew, Brad Mehidau, Nina Whitaker, Sheryl Crow, Lenka, Tori Amos, Nerina Pallot, Marty Friedman, and Alan Parson, as well as such bands as Pearl Jam, Goo Goo Dolls, Crash Kings, Buffy Clyro, Low Stars, Brocken Bells, Pentatonix, KISS and Guns N’ Roses.
Since 2018, Philip has been a Grammy Voting Member at the Recording Academy.
Philip Vaiman stays active as a soloist, chamber music performer, and recording artist.
William “BJ” Johnson, bass
William “BJ” Johnson is an accomplished musician in the Greater Los Angeles region. He attended Oberlin College and U.S.C. Thornton School of Music. His musical adventures incorporate all avenues of music, from film and television recordings to orchestral and operatic performances. Mr. Johnson has worked on over 100 film/television scores, and performed live internationally on The Grammy Awards Show, Jimmy Kimmel Show, and many other television shows. He has performed with many orchestras in the Southern California area, including Los Angeles Opera, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and Long Beach Symphony, San Bernardino Orchestra, Riverside Philharmonic Symphony, and serves as principal bass of the St. Matthew
Irina Voloshina, violin
Born in Odesa, Ukraine, Irina Voloshina had her first violin lesson at 6 years old. She studied at the Odessa Music School, the famous institution founded by Professor Stolyarsky early in the 20th century that brought to the world some of the greatest violin masters, such as Nathan Milstein and David Oistrakh. From there, Irina advanced into Odessa State Conservatory.
Graduated from the Conservatory with a master’s degree in Violin Performance and Pedagogy, Voloshina played in the Odessa Philharmonic for nine years.
Since moving to Southern California in 1993, Irina has appeared in recitals, chamber music groups, and orchestras such as Pasadena Symphony and Pops, Los Angeles Opera, California Philharmonic, and Hollywood Bowl orchestras.
She has performed in over 600 film scores including those by John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith, James Horner, and Hans Zimmer, to name a few. She performed for “American Idol” and the “MTV Music Awards” and was a member of the Academy Awards orchestra. LA Times has described her playing as “a showcase of brilliant virtuosity.”
During the pandemic, Irina founded the “Melodia Mariposa” music series performing on the driveway of her Altadena home, presenting over 65 free public concerts. On July 24, 2021, she was named Volunteer of the Year and received the Congressional Leadership Awards: Hometown Heroes of the Pandemic in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the People of the 27th Congressional District from Congresswoman Judy Chu.
On December 21, 2022, Kathryn Barger, Supervisor of the 5th District of the County of Los Angeles awarded Irina and Melodia Mariposa with a commendation certificate in recognition of their dedicated service to the affairs of the community and for the civic pride demonstrated by numerous contributions for the benefit of all the residents of Los Angeles County.