The California Philharmonic has composed a new and more stable financial future, shifting ownership to Pasadena Entertainment. The orchesta’s funding arm, the non-profit CalPhil Foundation, is being phased out through bankruptcy. The for-profit Pasadena Entertainment, owned and managed by Andre Vener, the son of Cal Phil conductor Victor Vener, has served as the production and marketing firm for the Cal Phil and its concert series for the past four years. The transition of Cal Phil to Pasadena Entertainment began earlier this year.
“We value the professionalism of Pasadena Entertainment as part of our marketing and production team,” said Pete Siberell, Director of Special Projects for Los Angeles Turf Club. “Teaming up with California Philharmonic has been a great opportunity to develop Santa Anita Race Track as a premier concert venue.”
The shift in ownership comes after several years of struggling to pay its own musicians as well as its former summer concert home of the L.A. County Arboretum in Arcadia.
See April 30, 2011 story and video report of news conference to announce Cal Phil move from Arboretum to Santa Anita.
See Nov. 26 story about complaints filed over non-payment by Cal Phil.
Under its new organization, all past and present professional obligations with Cal Phil musicians have been met. A new collective bargaining agreement has been set and Cal Phil is moving forward with the Musicians Union and its members in good standing.
“AFM, Local 47 is pleased to announce that all back wages owed to California Philharmonic musicians for services rendered have been paid,” comments John Acosta, Vice President of Local 47. “Local 47 and its new partner Pasadena Entertainment look forward to a long and successful relationship.”
“Maestro Vener and California Philharmonic create the kind of energy that John Mauceri, Arthur Fiedler and Leonard Bernstein brought to the concert stage,” says Dennis Karmazyn, California Philharmonic’s principal cellist. “California Philharmonic takes the audience on a musical journey.”
The popular Cal Phil orchestra based at Westfield Santa Anita in Arcadia just concluded its second season of Festival on the Green outdoor summer concerts on Saturday nights in the infield at Santa Anita Park, followed by a Sunday afternoon show at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Combined attendance for the five concerts at Santa Anita was more than 20,000, with another 10,000 people in audiences at Disney’s downtown L.A. venue. Cal Phil is set to play both venues again in 2014. Subscriptions and tickets are available for the 2014 summer season.
“It’s been our pleasure to work with Pasadena Entertainment since 2009,” says Sharon Stewart, Director of Scheduling and Events for the Music Center of Los Angeles County. “We look forward to working with them in future summers, and to another successful summer classical music series.”
— By Scott Hettrick