Louise Lofquist will solo with the Ventura College Symphony Orchestra performing Chopin’s Twenty First Opus on March 14.

VENTURA: Pianist Louise Lofquist, professor at Pepperdine University, solos with the Ventura College Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, March 14, 2009. The program begins at 8 p.m. in the Ventura College Theatre. There are no advanced ticket sales for the concert. Tickets are purchased at the door the evening of the concert for a cost of $5 students, seniors and students and $10 for general admission.

Ms. Lofquist is playing Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2. It is a brilliant work written when the composer was young and living in Poland. He used the Concerto to full advantage in creating his reputation as a genius composer and performer. The Concerto is widely admired and loved.

Ms. Lofquist holds several advanced degrees and is known as one of California’s best collaborative pianists. In addition, she is a vocal soloist.

Ojai music teacher and Ventura College student David Gorospe leads the Ventura College Symphony Orchestra percussion section. He is conducting the orchestra in Egmont Overture by Beethoven. This music tells a fabulous story of oppression, revolution and freedom of the Dutch people in times past. As such, the tale attracted the attention of Beethoven who cared deeply about social issues.

Beethoven ‘s Symphony No. 1 established him as a major composer in Vienna. It is the last piece in the March 14 concert. Compared to his predecessors, Beethoven takes the symphony form to new heights. It is more daring than any before him. In it, he introduced a new musical form called the Scherzo or “joke.” The youthful exuberance of the Symphony ushered in a complete new era of music.

Dr. Burns Taft is director/conductor of the Ventura College Symphony. The public is invited to attend the concert.

For additional information, please contact Dr. E. Burns Taft, Professor of Music, 805-654-6400 ext. 3210, or Alisa Sparkia Moore, Esq., Public Information Officer, 654-6462, asmoore@vcccd.edu.