Melodia Mariposa debuted our inaugural Holiday Concert at the beautiful Altadena Town & Country Club on December 21, 2022. Nestled in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, this elegant venue offered a breathtaking view and a unique setting for our Music & Dining holiday experience!
Melodia Mariposa’s inaugural concert was graced by the attendance of the Office of Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Los Angeles County Supervisor representing the Fifth Supervisorial District. Irina Voloshina, Melodia’s founder was honored to be presented with the Los Angeles County Commendation in recognition of the dedicated service to the affairs of the community and for the civic pride demonstrated by numerous contribution for the benefit of all the residents of Los Angeles County.
The Holiday Concert attended by an audience of about 120 featured winter-inspired favorites and beloved holiday traditions from Melodia Mariposa’s all-star Orchestra led by esteemed, three-time Tony Awards nominee Conductor Larry Blank and world-renowned soloists Michele Zukovsky, principal clarinetist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic for 54 years and Lisa Vroman, Broadway star and recipient of the Theatre Critics’ Awards for the role of Christine Daaé in The Phantom of the Opera in a record-breaking run (2500 times) in San Francisco.
Program
Selections from Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky
Sleigh Ride by L. Gabriel’s Oboe from “The Mission” – E.
Over the Rainbow by H.Arlen & E.Harburg
Ave Maria by Caccini
All I Ask of You from “The Phantom of the Opera” by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Pizzicato Polka by J Strauss
and of course, White Christmas!
Conductor Larry Blank,
Three-time Tony Awards Nominee
Larry Blank is one of the most prolific and sought after composers, conductors, and orchestrators in the entertainment business today. His work has been presented all over the world, including some of Broadway’s most successful musicals, Carnegie Hall, and top television and film projects.
He was the Music Director/Conductor and/or vocal arranger for many shows on Broadway and in Los Angeles including They’re Playing Our Song, Evita, Sugar Babies, La Cage Aux Folles, Phantom Of The Opera, Onward Victoria, Copperfield, Colette, A Chorus Line and A Little Night Music. He has been nominated three times for both the Tony Award and the Drama Desk Award for his orchestrations in The Drowsy Chaperone, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas and with Marc Shaiman for Catch Me If You Can. Larry received a Drama Desk Nomination for orchestrations for A Christmas Story and Honeymoon In Las Vegas.
Lisa Vroman,
Broadway Star and Recipient of the Theatre Critics’ Awards
From broadway to classics, on stage and in concert, Lisa Vroman has established herself as one of America’s most versatile voices.
Lisa starred for several years on Broadway as Christine Daaé in The Phantom of the Opera. As Christine, she garnered Theatre Critics’ awards for the role in a record breaking run in San Francisco, and did a return engagement at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles. Lisa starred as Rosabella in The Most Happy Fella, making her New York City Opera debut with Paul Sorvino playing the title role. She played the role of Charlotte in A Little Night Music with Michigan Opera Theatre, starring Leslie Uggams and Ron Raines. She starred as Lili Vanessi in Kiss Me Kate with both Glimmerglass Opera and the MUNY Theater of St. Louis, and played Marian Paroo in The Music Man with Shirley Jones (Mrs. Paroo) and Patrick Cassidy (Harold Hill) at The Bushnell Theatre in Hartford CT. Lisa sang the role of Birdie in Regina with Utah Opera, conducted by Keith Lockhart; made her New Jersey Opera debut as Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus (directed by Ira Siff); and premiered and recorded two Comic Operas by composers John Musto (Bastianello) and William Bolcom (Lucrezia) with the New York Festival of Song.
Michele Zukovsky,
Principal Clarinetist of the
Los Angeles Philharmonic for 54 years
At a mere 18 years old, Michele Zukovsky became the orchestra’s principal clarinetist, prompting her to leave her studies at the University of Southern California ten weeks into her first year. She went on to become the orchestra’s longest-serving female woodwind player and by the time she retired in December 2015, she had played under five of the orchestra’s major directors: Zubin Mehta, Carlo Maria Giulini, André Previn, Esa-Pekka Salonen, and Gustavo Dudamel.
During her first decade and a half on the job, she had already worked under a cast of internationally renowned conductors such as John Barbarolli, Charles Munch, Erich Leinsdorf, and Pierre Monteux, and Pierre Boulez. This same period also yielded a session with composer and conductor Igor Stravinsky for Capitol Records, from which a number of other creative partnerships with living composers emerged. Working with closely with Leonard Bernstein led her to later record his beloved paen to jazz, Rhapsody In Blue. She also interpreted Copland’s concerto under the composer’s own baton.In 1986, the LA Philharmonic approached Luciano Berio to compose a concerto for Michele, to which he responded with his colorful orchestration of the first Brahms clarinet sonata. Michele can also be heard across a selection of film soundtracks as well including scores by Jerry Goldsmith, James Horner and the Oscar-winning John Williams, whose elusive 1991 clarinet concerto was given to Michele to premiere.
Also featuring our young musician,
Alistair Picken
Alistair Picken began studying piano at the age of four, the violin at age six, and later the viola. At age 12 he discovered his true passion- the bassoon, and has never looked back. Alistair began his bassoon studies at the Colburn School with Sara Hiner and has studied privately with Judith Farmer since 2018. Alistair has participated in Master Classes with Billy Short, Victoria King, Miriam Gussek, and Ben Kamins. Mr. Picken received his High School diploma in June of 2022 from the Pacific Academy in Irvine, and currently attends the Colburn Academy where he studies with Richard Beene. In primary school Alistair attended the Lycée International in Pasadena, and speaks fluent French.