New West Symphony's First Violin and Concertmaster, Elizabeth Pitcairn, (center) performs Beethoven's Symphony No. 2 in D Major at Barnum Hall on Sunday, October 12, 2008. The New West Symphony was founded in 1995 and is the resident orchestra of the 1,500-seat Oxnard Performing Arts Center, the 1,800-seat Countrywide Performing Arts Center at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza and the 1,200-seat Barnum Hall in Santa Monica.The New West’s players are all professional musicians drawn from the rich pool of classical musicians in the Los Angeles region, many of whom play for other area orchestras as well as being active “session players” for film, television and audio recording in the entertainment industry. Under the leadership of its founding Music Director, Maestro Boris Brott, the orchestra performs predominantly 19th and 20th century symphonic repertoire. The New West Symphony has also served as the touring orchestra for Andrea Bocelli, having completed three tours, most recently in December 2007. Now established as one of the pre-eminent orchestras in Southern California, the New West Symphony continues to thrill its audiences with its virtuosity and richness of sound. The power, drama and beauty of musical masterpieces come alive at New West Symphony performances. The New West Symphony is a 501c3 charity and governed by a 50-member board of directors

(1,2,3) Broadway Legend Barbara Cook performs American songbook classics during  Eli and Edythe Broad Stage's  Inaugural Gala on Saturday, September 20, 2008. 4,5) String Theory court dancers perform during the Inaugural Gala. 6) Actor Dustin Hoffman welcomes guest during the Gala. The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage was built at a cost of $45 million, financed with a $35 million bond measure passed by the cities of Santa Monica and Malibu in 2004; $5 million from other government agencies and from private donors; and a bond measure for Santa Monica College improvements passed in 2002.

Soprano Dale Franzen, Director of The Broad Stage, performance during the Santa Monica College Associates 27th Annual Membership Celebration on Thursday, September 11, 2008. After a 20-year career as a professional opera singer (lyric soprano), Dale's career transitioned into a leadership role in arts education. While teaching voice at Santa Monica College, she designed its Opera Workshop program, and organized many successful master classes featuring leading opera stars and theater directors. For the last six years Dale has held the position of Director of the Madison Project of Santa Monica College, a $40 million dollar visual and performing arts center that broke ground in 2005. and will celebrate its gran opening on Saturday, September 20, 2008. She created the Madison Project Performance Series for Santa Monica College, which presents high-level performing arts and educational outreach programs to the college and surrounding community, serving over 10,000 attendees annually. Its mission is to promote multi-ethnic, diverse young artists, as well as established artists, in all facets of the performing arts. In addition, its focus is to promote international cultural understanding. This highly acclaimed series has honored Valery Gergiev, of the Kirov Opera, as well as legendary mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne. Through The Performance Series, she has produced such performances by Jeffery Kahane and soloists from the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, world artist singer Lila Downs, soloists from the Kirov Opera, the Rosetti String Quartet and African musician Prince Diabaté, among many others. She is also responsible for creating the Madison Project’s “Youth Opera Camp” (a partnership with Los Angeles Opera, under the direction of Placido Domingo), now in it’s fifth year. The camp is designed to introduce community and underserved youth to the world of opera. In addition, collaborating under the guidance of renowned actor Dustin Hoffman, the Madison Project plans to have a professional theater company in residence. Her community work includes coordinating events and benefit performances, with a variety of advocacy groups working for the environment, children's fair housing, cancer education, holocaust education, and the development and promotion of educational arts programs for children and young adults. In her spare time she likes to study hula, sing Irish ballads and eat dark chocolate. She is married, has three children and lives in Los Angeles.

Chris Mulkey and his daughter Amelia, 26, perform during 'Celebrate America' at John Adams Middle School on Saturday, June 28, 2008. Celebrate America was presented by Santa Monica College.