UPCOMING PERFORMANCES AND APPEARANCES

December 2005:

December 2 - John Sawoski accompanies tenor Dennis McNeil at The City of Angels Christmas Gala at the California Club, organized by Catholic Charities Los Angeles. This annual formal event is organized by Catholic Charities' Board of Trustees and the Knights and Dames of Malta, the Knights and Dames of St. Gregory, and the Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepulchre. The proceeds from the Gala benefit poor and homeless families including hurricane evacuees.

December 3 and 4 - John Sawoski plays keyboards with the orchestra for Disneyland's Annual Candlelight Concert, featuring a 650-voice choir, soloists including guest guitarist Peter Woodford, and guest narrator Dick Van Dyke. Town Square, Disneyland. The orchestra, made up mostly of Los Angeles studio musicians, performs in a beautifully moving collection of Christmas music, from Handel's Hallelujah Chorus to songs and carols arranged by Bob Krogstad, John Rutter, Jack Askew, Peter Knight, Ken Whitcomb, musical director Bruce Healey, and others. The conductor is Nancy Sulahian, Director of Chamber Singers in the Los Angeles Master Chorale. To get an idea of what this unadvertised yet huge event is like for Disneyland Park visitors, click here.

December 10 and 11 - John Sawoski plays and music directs SEASON'S GREETINGS WITH The Leading Ladies at Queen Creek Performing Arts Center http://www.qcpac.com/ (near Phoenix, AZ).

Dec. 10, 2005 at 8pm, Dec. 11, 2005 at 3pm.
Queen Creek Performing Arts Center
22149 E. Ocotillo Road
Queen Creek, AZ 85242
Box Office:  (480) 987-5964 or visit http://www.qcpac.com/

December 12-16 - The Leading Ladies - will perform John Sawoski's arrangements on tour on the Gulf Coast with Holiday Express - http://www.holidayexpress.org/ , bringing Christmas cheer and relief to hurricane victims in several cities, starting and ending in New Orleans.

December 18 - John Sawoski accompanies Lessons and Carols - 3 pm at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Parish in Los Angeles under the direction of renowned composer Christopher Walker. St. Paul's is located at: 10750 Ohio Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024. Treat yourself to 60 minutes of relaxed yet thoughtful
enjoyment as St. Paul's choirs and lectors celebrate the true spirit of the season with a festive hour of the words and music of Christmas. Open to all, families and children welcome.

December 25 - John Sawoski appears on camera in one scene of the new Warner Brothers film Rumor Has It. The on-camera band was organized and supervised by Rick Fleishman of Visual Music. In the film, Jennifer Aniston plays a woman who learns that her family was the inspiration for the book and film "The Graduate" -- and that she just might be the offspring of the well-documented event.

December 28 and the last Wednesday of each month from 6:30 to 10:15 pm -   John Sawoski plays piano, arranges, and music directs for Emmy Award-winning actor and vocalist Gregg Marx at Maggiano's Little Italy at The Grove. The group features veteran jazz bassist Nedra Wheeler and drummer Jack LeCompte. http://www.reviewplays.com says: Anyone who wants to feel the sounds of love should bring his/her significant other for a significant evening of song. Few singers have the magic in the voice that Gregg brings, and even fewer can reach through to your heart and play the love strings like a harp. The musical platter is full and rich, and everyone gets a little something they like. Maggiano's Little Italy at The Grove is located at 189 The Grove Drive Z80, Los Angeles, CA 90036 (323-965-9665). No cover charge or reservations necessary.

RECORDING:

John Sawoski recently recorded with pianist Alan Steinberger for Lucas Richman's annual BMI Conducting Workshop. Also, look for vibraphonist Carl Rigoli's upcoming release, Journey, on Carmelo Recordings, on which John Sawoski plays Alan Alper's string section arrangements on keyboards, along with pianist John Rodby, drummer Mark Stevens, bassist Richard Maloof, and vibraphonist/percussionist/composer Carl Rigoli. Other recent activities in the studio include work on cabaret artist Deborah Downey's album recorded live at the Gardenia, as well as 11 tracks recorded for vocalist Gregg Marx, which may become part of an album.

Other Recent Performances:

• John Sawoski accompanied Broadway performer Clent Bowers in a special cabaret appearance at Masquers Cabaret in Los Angeles on Oct. 29.
• John Sawoski music directed for cabaret artist Clay Crosby in Songs of the Night Sky at the Gardenia Room. See Cabaret West Spotlight. Also appearing on the show was renowned Los Angeles studio cellist Kevan Torfeh.
• Songs for A New World - Santa Monica College

Ongoing:

Sundays 9 am: John Sawoski accompanies for the Caritas Chorus at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Parish in Los Angeles under the direction of renowned composer Christopher Walker. St. Paul's is located at: 10750 Ohio Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024.