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DTSTART:20260927T040000
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STATUS:TENTATIVE
SUMMARY:David Benoit: Resonance and Renewal — World Premiere
DESCRIPTION:An evening with David Benoit featuring the World Premiere 
 of “Resonance and Renewal” \, a cello concerto with soloist Cecili
 a Tsan\nSoka Performing Arts Center opens its season with an extraordi
 nary and deeply personal musical event: the world premiere of Resonan
 ce and Renewal\, a new cello concerto by acclaimed pianist and compose
 r David Benoit.\nBest known for his luminous contributions to contemp
 orary jazz\, Benoit now turns inward—offering a work born not from a
 bstraction\, but from lived experience. Following a life-altering kidn
 ey transplant\, Benoit found himself navigating a profound journey of 
 vulnerability\, resilience\, and ultimately\, gratitude. Resonance an
 d Renewal is the artistic expression of that journey.\nIn interviews\
 , Benoit has spoken candidly about the emotional and physical challeng
 es of his transplant experience—the uncertainty\, the fragility\, an
 d the overwhelming sense of second chance. Rather than retreat from th
 at experience\, he transformed it into music. The result is a concerto
  that speaks with rare authenticity: at once intimate and expansive\, 
 deeply human yet universally resonant.\nThe choice of the cello as the
  central voice is no coincidence. With its rich\, vocal timbre\, the i
 nstrument becomes a surrogate for the human spirit—at times fragile 
 and searching\, at others soaring with renewed strength. The concerto 
 unfolds as a narrative arc: from tension and introspection\, through s
 truggle\, to a place of healing and luminous renewal.\nThis world prem
 iere is more than a concert—it is a moment of connection. It invites
  audiences not only to witness a major new work\, but to share in a st
 ory of transformation told through music of striking emotional depth.\
 nAs we launch a new season dedicated to artistry that engages\, educa
 tes\, and elevates the human spirit\, Resonance and Renewal stands a
 s a powerful testament to music’s ability to give voice to our most 
 profound experiences—and to remind us of the beauty and resilience o
 f life itself.\nJoin us for this unforgettable opening night.\nInfo: 
 \nThe program opens with remarks by world-renowned kidney surgeon Jeff
 rey Veale\, head of the kidney transplant program at UCLA. David Benoi
 t will then share reflections on his personal journey through End Stag
 e Kidney Disease\, offering insight into the experience that shaped th
 e music to follow. \nThe concert will begin with the world premiere o
 f Resonance & Renewal\, during which Benoit will conduct a 40-piece or
 chestra\, with acclaimed cellist Cecilia Tsan as featured soloist. In 
 the second half of the program\, Benoit returns to the piano to perfor
 m a selection of his most beloved works\, favorites among audiences w
 orldwide. The orchestra will rejoin him for a vibrant and uplifting fi
 nale\, bringing the evening to a spirited and memorable close.\nDavid 
 Benoit: \nDavid Benoit is an acclaimed conductor\, composer\, arrange
 r\, and jazz pianist whose career spans more than four decades across 
 jazz performance\, orchestral music\, and film and television scoring.
  Born in Bakersfield\, California\, he began composing at an early age
  and went on to study theory\, composition\, and piano at El Camino Co
 llege.\nA Grammy nominee multiple times\, he has also earned an Emmy A
 ward for his work on “It’s Your 50th Christmas\, Charlie Brown”\
 , continuing the musical legacy of the Charlie Brown specials.\nHis 
 film and television scoring credits include The Stars Fell on Henriet
 ta and The Christmas Tree\, and he has performed and conducted with 
 major orchestras such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic and London Symph
 ony Orchestra. He served for over two decades as Music Director of the
  Asia America Symphony Association\, where he founded the Asia America
  Youth Orchestra.\nA globally recognized performer\, Benoit has appear
 ed for three U.S. presidents and continues to bridge jazz and symphoni
 c traditions. He now presents the world premiere of his cello concerto
 \, Resonance & Renewal\, a deeply personal work inspired by his recen
 t life journey.\nCécilia Tsan:\nCécilia Tsan is an internationally a
 cclaimed cellist praised for her “uncompromising musical character a
 nd towering technique” (Los Angeles Times). Born in France\, she stu
 died at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris\, wh
 ere she earned top honors in both cello and chamber music\, and is a p
 rizewinner of several international competitions.\nAn active soloist a
 nd chamber musician\, she has performed worldwide with distinguished a
 rtists including Jean-Yves Thibaudet and Augustin Dumay. Since relocat
 ing to Los Angeles\, she has become one of the most sought-after studi
 o musicians in the film industry\, recording hundreds of scores with c
 omposers such as John Williams\, Hans Zimmer\, and Danny Elfman.\nTsan
  serves as Principal Cellist of the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra and 
 the Los Angeles Master Chorale\, and has performed in major televised 
 events including the Academy Awards and Emmy Awards. In addition to he
 r performance career\, she is the Artistic Director of the “Sunday A
 fternoon Concerts in the Dome” series at Mount Wilson Observatory.
URL:https://performingarts.soka.edu/calendar-events/david-benoit-reson
 ance-and-renewal-world-premiere?utm_source=mycity scene&utm_medium=cli
 ck&utm_campaign=david benoit
DTSTAMP:20260728T042358Z
ORGANIZER;SENT-BY="mailto:performingartscenter@soka.edu";CN=Renee Bodie:
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