The Thousand Oaks Philharmonic (www.tophil.org), a non-profit organization founded to give local young artists a unique professional performance experience, today announced that its new Artistic Partner, Steinway & Sons, is providing two exceptional grand pianos for use at the organization’s Recital Hall in the Paseo Marketplace in Thousand Oaks.  The donation and relationship with Steinway & Sons will be celebrated with a gala recital January 3rd that also will honor the Thousand Oaks Philharmonic’s family of donors and sponsors.

Several Thousand Oaks Philharmonic alumni soloists will collaborate in a performance of three connected mini-recitals during the gala.  The young artists include: pianists Daniel Lessler, a freshman scholarship student at the USC Thornton School of Music; Sean Y. Chen, a senior at the Juilliard School in New York, and Joshua Hong, violinist, a sophomore at the Juilliard School.  The performances start at 2:30 p.m. with a reception beginning during the intermission.

Since 1853, Steinway pianos have set an uncompromising standard for sound, touch, beauty, and investment value.  Handcrafting each Steinway requires up to one full year – creating an instrument of rare quality and global renown. Not surprisingly, Steinway remains the choice of 9 out of 10 concert artists, and countless pianists, composers, and performers around the world.

“Steinway & Sons has always taken pride in its role of nurturing talent and promoting the art of piano playing,” said Gavin English, general manager of the Steinway Gallery in West Hollywood, who will introduce the community to Steinway's art of piano manufacturing at the gala.   “In that spirit, Steinway is honored to become an Artistic Partner of the Thousand Oaks Philharmonic and to support the incredible opportunities it provides for youth in solo recitals, chamber music recitals and as featured soloists with the full orchestra.”

There is no charge to attend the recital gala, but priority admission to the event will be given to donors and sponsors of the Thousand Oaks Philharmonic.  Interested parties should contact the Thousand Oaks Philharmonic office at 805.376.2485, or edwardfrancis@roadrunner.com, with a reservation request.

The Thousand Oaks Philharmonic, a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization, offers an annual series of three concerts performed at Camarillo United Methodist Church and then repeated at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza.  

For more information on the Thousand Oaks Philharmonic’s programs, or to support the opportunities it creates for local youth, please visit the web site, www.tophil.org, contact the office at 805.376.2485, or Mr. Francis via email at edwardfrancis@roadrunner.com.  For information about auditions, visit the website and click on the auditions@tophil.org link.  For more information, visit the Thousand Oaks Philharmonic web site, www.tophil.org.