DAVID RAIKLEN

David Raiklen: composer-producer-host. David was mentored by Oscar winner John Williams and Pulitzer Prize winner Mel Powel. Dr. Raiklen studied at USC and CalArts and later taught at those universities. He has worked for the major studios including Sony, Fox, Disney, Sprint, Mattel, Warner Bros and PBS, plus many independent productions. His projects have starred Elliott Gould, Doug Jones, Blythe Danner, and Martin Sheen. David made the New York Film Critics Top Ten with the documentary Heist, the short list for an Academy Award® for Worth, and Mia, A Dancer’s Journey won the Emmy.

David Raiklen compositions have been performed at the Hollywood Bowl and Disney Hall. He is also host of a successful radio program, Classical Fan Club, where guests include Yo-Yo Ma and John Williams; and is host and leader of The Academy of Scoring Arts seminars. David is currently producing and composing for Space Command, a series of epic adventures set in a hopeful future, and producing Virtual Reality concerts.

BRYAN PEZZONE

Bryan is the consummate crossover pianist of his generation.  He has excelled in classical, contemporary, jazz and experimental genres and is known for both his versatility and virtuosity as a performing artist, improviser and composer. Bryan performs with composers and musicians as diverse as Pierre Boulez, John Williams, and John Adams, and records on countless film and television soundtracks. He is the pianist in the group Free Flight; a crossover classical/jazz quartet. These concerts feature many of his own compositions. In addition, Bryan has initiated a performing series that he calls “FREEDOM SERIES” which involves improvisations and verbal musings on life.

Bryan has  performed with many major symphony orchestra associations, and is known in the Los Angeles area as one of the primary freelance pianists for film and television soundtrack recording, contemporary music premieres, and chamber music accompany. As a soloist, Bryan has performed with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Pasadena Pops, Santa Monica Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute Orchestra, United States International University Orchestra, U.C. Irvine Symphony Orchestra, Eastman Philharmonic and the Pacific Symphony.

Bryan has produced CDs of his own music which blends jazz and classical styles– including “Flying on Water” produced by Steve Wight, featuring M.B. Gordy on drums and Bart Samolis on bass, as well as solo piano CD’s featuring his more introspective music, including Piano Prayers, Visits with Gershwin, Hymns for Holliston, and Music Candles and Mountaintops.

In addition, Bryan has been principal pianist in the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra from its inception in 1991-1999 as well as the former chair and founder of the Multi-focused keyboard department at the California Institute of the Arts from 1987-2000. He abandoned both those positions in order to discover new paths and is passionate about continuously redefining himself and his role as an artist, musician, and person in today’s complex and eclectic culture.

MARINA MANUKIAN

At the age of 11, violinist Marina Manukian joined the Radio and Television Violin Ensemble of Armenia thus becoming the youngest professional musician in the former Soviet Union. She received her musical training from Georgi Ajemian, Alice Schoenfeld, Yehudi Menuhin, Sandor Vegh, Edward Schmieder, and Sidney Weiss. Marina has studied at the prestigious Mozarteum School of Music in Salzburg, Austria and is also a USC graduate with Highest Honors.

Since childhood, Marina has performed radio and television broadcasts, recordings, solos with orchestras, chamber music concerts and recitals. Her passionate artistry has been heard and embraced throughout Europe, former U.S.S.R. and the United States.

She is the winner of numerous music awards and prizes including the 1st prize for National Young Artist Competition, in former U.S.S.R., Aspen International Music Festival and Herb Alpert Music Award from A & M Records.

Marina has performed with such renowned artists as Mstislav Rostropovich, Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, Valeri Giergiev, Kent Nagano, James Conlon, Lynn Harell, and others.

The Los Angeles Times identifies Marina Manukian as “a violinist extraordinaire…whose virtuosity is exceeded only by her calmness and confidence, working through the intricacies with masterful grace and strength.”

Since 2006 Marina has been the Music Director and Concertmaster of The Enlightenment Chamber Music Series which present concerts performed by the selection of expert chamber musicians, soloists and recording artists from around the world. In addition to her solo and chamber music performances Marina has recorded for over 600 television and motion picture scores working with numerous composers including John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith, James Newton-Howard, James Horner, Alan Silvestri, Danny Elfman, Hans Zimmer, and Michael Giacchino.

Marina Manukian’s recordings together with pianist Bryan Pezzone of “Brahms Violin Sonatas” and “Inspiration” have received critical acclaim and were chosen as the top classical CDs by several major radio stations worldwide. AMG All Music Guide writes: “listen to the radiant warmth of their tone, to the timeless stillness of the tempo, to the evanescent inwardness of their playing, to the rapt ecstasy of their ensemble: this is the soul and spirit of Brahms’ music made manifest and, great as the competition is, Manukian and Pezzone express it with almost unbearable poignancy.”