Armen and Friends

Saturday September 28th at 7:00pm

Our first offering in the Studio Channel Islands: Concerts in the Gallery series. Acclaimed concert pianist Armen Guzelimian brings together three immensely talented friends: Louise Lofquist, Luvi Avendano and David Singer to perform an eclectic program of music…from Bizet to Gershwin to Rogers and Hammerstein as well as new music by composer Don Harper. Individually these performers have delighted audiences worldwide. Now Armen has assembled this amazing ensemble for the first concert in our new Concerts in the Gallery series. Not only are they renowned musicians and singers but they live and work right here in Camarillo!

This is the first in a series of concerts programmed by Armen Guzelimian and Don Harper. VIP tickets include special seating during the concert, a complementary bottle of wine and the opportunity to join our musicians after the performance in our coda lounge.

Armen Guzelimian – Pianist

Pianist Armen Guzelimian is celebrated for his versatility as a top-notch collaborative artist, a brilliant soloist and first-rate chamber musician not just in Southern California, but all over the world. He has received national and international critical acclaim for his appearances in many of the the major concert halls in the U.S. And Europe. In July of 2017 he moved to Camarillo Ca.

He has appeared as soloist with the LA Philharmonic, LA Chamber Orchestra, California Chamber Symphony, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, American Youth Symphony, with such conductors as Neville Marriner, Stuart Challender. Mehli Mehta, Bruce Ferden. In June of 2014 he made his debut with the Pasadena Symphony/Pops Orchestra with Michael Feinstein conducting.

Mr. Guzelimian’s chamber music successes have been with such groups as the Rossetti String Quartet, Los Angeles String Quartet, Camerata Pacifica, Dilijan Chamber Music concerts, Chamber Music in Historic Sites, Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, Aspen Festival , and he made his Disney Hall debut in March of 2014 with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Chamber Music Society.

The pianist has partnered such artists as violinists Viktoria Mullova, Thomas Zehetmair, Ani and Ida Kavafian, violists Lars Tomter and Kim Kashkashian. As collaborative artist, he has concertized with such stars as Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Placido Domingo, Thomas Hampson, Lucia Popp, Peter Schreier, Rod Gilfry, Florence Quivar, Marni Nixon.

In the realm of contemporary music, Guzelimian has had the privilege of working closely with the great composers Aram Khachaturian, Alan Hovhaness, Tigran Mansurian, Witold Lutoslawski, and most recently with the young Artur Avanesov. Thomas Pasatieri and Byron Adams have both dedicated works to the pianist : a piano sonata and “Illuminations” for piano, respectively.

A passionate and devoted educator, Mr. Guzelimian has been on the faculties of the USC School of Music, Music Academy of the West, and as guest lecturer at the Eastman School of Music, Loyola University New Orleans, Aspen Music Festival and School. He is invited frequently to adjudicate on the panel of various competitions and to give Master Classes.

The pianist has diverse recordings on the EMI, Angel, Teldec, Nonesuch, Delos, Crystal labels. He appears on the documentary film SHADOWS IN PARADISE,as well as Classical Arts Showcase and PBS.

For more information please see Armen’s website: www.armengpianist.com

Louise Lofquist – Pianist / Contralto

Contralto and pianist Louise Lofquist made her pianistic debut with the National Symphony at the age of 18, though she was studying liberal arts at Duke and Stanford. After deciding to pursue music, Lofquist suffered a vocal chord injury that cut her singing career short. She then returned to her pianistic studies, earning a master’s degree in Accompanying from UCSB and a doctorate in Keyboard Collaboration Arts from USC. As a pianist, Lofquist has performed with artists such as violinist Gilles Apap, baritone Rod Gilfry, cellist Zuill Bailey, and clarinetist Fred Ormand. As a piano soloist, she has performed with the Ventura Symphony and the Channel Islands Chamber Orchestra. She has become a respected collaborative pianist, vocal coach, and voice teacher in Southern California, and in 2001 she joined the music faculty at Pepperdine University, where she teaches voice, diction, and vocal accompanying. Her students have appeared with the Houston Grand Opera, Heidelberg Opera, and at Carnegie Hall, just to name a few.

Luvi Avendano – Baritone

An active singer, conductor, and educator in Southern California, Luvi Avendano has recently been engaged in mainstage roles with Opera Santa Barbara, National Opera Association, and the California Philharmonic at Walt Disney Concert Hall.

He has also performed several leading roles with the Riverside Lyric Opera, the Center Stage Opera, and Opera Tijuana, credits including Giorgio Germont in La Traviata, Alfio in Cavalleria Rusticana, and Dr. Dulcamara in L’elisir d’amore. Avendano earned both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Vocal Performance and a Master’s degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Redlands. He is currently completing his DMA in Vocal Performance at UCSB. 

David Singer – Clarinetist

David Singer is regarded as one of the most highly respected clarinetists in the United States, which has been established by his performances and recordings with the Grammy award winning Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.

He has played two separate performances at the White House for Presidents Carter and Clinton, appeared with the Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society, and has performed with some of the greatest musicians of our time, including Yehudi Menuhin, Rudolf Serkin, and Herbie Hancock.

David coaches chamber music groups throughout Southern California for Junior Chamber Music and teaches clarinet students in his hometown of Camarillo.