Monday, December 15, 2008
Page 3
Lawyers Orchestra Forming, to Play at ‘Person of Year’ Dinner
By a MetNews Staff Writer
The Los Angeles Lawyers Philharmonic Orchestra is being formed by an attorney-conductor and will hold its premier performance Jan. 30 at the Metropolitan News-Enterprise’s “Person of the Year” dinner.
Wielding the baton will be Gary S. Greene, an attorney for 33 years, and conductor of the Jr. Philharmonic Orchestra of California, succeeding his uncle, Ernst Katz, 94, who founded it in 1937. Comprised of musicians aged 12-25, the orchestra’s annual major concert took place this year at the Shrine Auditorium and in recent years at Disney Hall and the Music Center.
“I am excited about the proposition of founding and conducting an orchestra composed of judges and lawyers,” Greene said. “We truly will be creating harmony in our society.”
He disclosed that he plans to develop a full sized, non-profit symphony orchestra “within a year.” Performing briefly at the Person of the Year dinner, however, will be an initial group of about 20-30 musicians, Greene noted, the instrumentation possibly consisting of a piano, four violins, two violas, two cellos, two string basses, two flutes, one oboe, two clarinets, one bassoon, two alto saxes, two trumpets, two trombones, one tuba, and two percussion instruments.
Greene stressed that only advanced musicians with orchestral experience should apply.
The orchestra is accepting applications by e-mail at gary@lalawyersphil.org.
The “persons of the year” are the 2009, 2010 presiding judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court, Charles McCoy, and assistant presiding judge, Lee Edmon. Presenters of tributes will include Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich, Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley, Los Angeles County Public Defender Michael Judge, State Bar President Holly Fujie, and Los Angeles County Bar Assn. President Danette Meyers.
Acting as emcee will be former Los Angeles County District Attorney Robert H. Philibosian.
Copyright 2008, Metropolitan News Company