John Sawoski Musical Directs for Academy Award Cinematography Nominees Event Friday, February 25, 2011 - John Sawoski supervises, arranges, plays piano, and conducts the music for the Kodak Cinematography Awards Ceremonies (private event for cinematographers nominated for Academy Awards, featuring musical excerpts from the nominated films).
Friday, March 4, 2011 from 6:30 to 10:00 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. Cabaret Scenes said recently: Gregg Marx knows his way around a song. Whether it’s Cole or Hoagy or the Gershwins or the Bergmans, Marx articulates lyrics and communicates emotions with sharp precision in a lush, honey-tinged voice whose beauty can break your heart, especially on the ballads. Though he’s singing once a month in the lounge of a restaurant, Marx is no lounge act. He’s a full-fledged main-room attraction who’s been making the lounge at Maggiano’s at The Grove the place to be on the first Friday of every month since May. http://www.reviewplays.comsays: 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.
April 10, 2011 - OperaArts Festival -John Sawoski plays keyboards with the orchestra for the OperaArts Festival of Opera & Art. Conductor: Gualtiero Negrini. Opera show begins at 2:00 p.m. and ends at 4:30. There will be multiple activities for the children including face-painting, arts and crafts, and interactive art activities presented by SCRAP Gallery. Artists in different genres will demonstrate their techniques. FREE to the public. Bring your blankets, chairs and umbrellas. Food will be on sale from Las Casuelas Nuevas and Jensen's Finest Foods. See http://www.operaarts.org or call (760) 323-8353 for more information.
May 10 through May 15, 2011 - 9 to 5: The Musicalat Segerstrom Center for the Arts (Formerly Orange County Performing Arts Center), Segerstrom Hall. John Sawoski subs as keyboardist in the orchestra pit for this hit show.
9 to 5: The Musical is a hilarious story of friendship and revenge in the Rolodex era. This new musical comedy, direct from Broadway, is based on the hit movie and features Dolly Parton's original hit title song along with her new Tony Award® -and Grammy-nominated score. The book is by Patricia Resnick (co-writer of the original screenplay).
9 to 5: The Musical tells the story of three unlikely friends who conspire to take control of their company and learn there's nothing they can't do -- even in a man's world. Outrageous, thought-provoking and even a little romantic, 9 to 5: The Musical is about teaming up and taking care of business... it's about getting credit and getting even... and it's coming to the Center!
John Sawoski plays first keyboard with the orchestra in all performances of the Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach, CA. For more information about the Pageant of the Masters, please click on http://www.PageantOfTheMasters.com
Pictured here is a glimpse of John Sawoski's complex keyboard rig as used on Pageant of the Masters: Keyboard Wizard software by Paul Nahay, triggering EastWest Quantum Leap Pianos and Orchestra, and a Roland RD-700GX Stage Piano.
News Update:
IN THE STUDIO -
Currently John Sawoski is orchestrating an album of 10 songs using 35 musicians for a young singer-songwriter. More information will follow. In November 2010, Sawoski arranged a song for Lisa Vroman, which will be included in her upcoming Philly Pops performance with Peter Nero.Lessons and Carols - Sunday, December 19, 2010 - John Sawoski accompanied three choirs and several soloists in A Festival of Lessons and Carols at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Los Angeles under the direction of renowned composer Christopher Walker.
Disney Candlelight Concert - The first weekend of December 2010, John Sawoski played keyboards for Disney's massive Candlelight Concert with full orchestra and 600-voice choir. For YouTube videos, please click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ePAHzqHWXo
Jazz Vespers - John Sawoski played piano for Praying Our Godbyes in Jazz Style at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Corona del Mar, CA on Nov. 7, 2010, with Nedra Wheeler on bass and Jay Mason leading on alto sax, clarinet, and flute. The service featured jazz standards such as In Your Own Sweet Way, Gentle Rain, Two for the Road, All the Things You Are, Everything I Have Is Yours, Always, and I'll Be Seeing You.
An Officer and A Gentleman - John Sawoski is doing the initial music preparation (copying, transcribing, adapting, and some arranging) for the new musical based upon the filmAn Officer and a Gentleman - Words and Music by Robin Lerner and Ken Hirsch (click to hear music from the show). In May, John Sawoski's keyboard, vocal, and drum parts were performed at an invitation-only "backers" presentation, at New York City's New 42nd Street Studios. An article about this presentation appeared on the Broadway World Web site. More performances are being scheduled worldwide, with the show scheduled to open in a full production in Sydney Australia next year. Click here and here for news reports, and here for more information.
The History Channel with Tonia Bern-Campbell - November 6, 2010 - John Sawoski played for cabaret artist Tonia Bern-Campbell at her show in Palm Springs, which was videotaped by Sky News / The History Channel for a documentary about her late husband, English speedboat racer Donald Campbell, who died in a spectacular crash on England's Coniston Lake trying to break a record. His body was recovered in the last few years (35+ years later).
Golden State Pops Orchestra - On Oct. 30, 2010, John Sawoski played keyboards with the Golden State Pops Orchestra, in their "Halloween Fright Night" concert. Conducted by Jeffrey Schindler, and featuring mezzo-soprano Bonnie Schindler, the concert included a rare performance of Erich Wolfgang Korngold's lush and evocative tone poem Tomorrow, Op. 33 for mezzo-soprano, women's chorus and orchestra. 8pm, at the Warner Grand Theatre, 478 W. 6th St., San Pedro, CA 90731. See video of rehearsal, below or at http://www.lapianist.com/videogallery.htm
Capistrano Valley Symphony Star Spangled Spectacular - On September 26, 2010 at 3 pm, the City of Dana Point presented a FREE picnic concert in Lantern Bay Park. The Capistrano Valley Symphony led by conductor John Santana presented All-American music including works by Bernstein, Copland, Ellington, Gershwin, Foster and Sousa. Special guests, the 1st Marine Division Band from Camp Pendleton will be presenting patriotic favorites. Click photos at left to enlarge, or see article and photos at http://www.ocregister.com/articles/event-268429-school-dana.html?pic=7
Young Frankenstein - September 12 to Sept. 25, 2010 - John Sawoski was keyboard substitute in the pit orchestra for "The New Mel Brooks Musical: Young Frankenstein," at Orange County Performing Arts Center, Costa Mesa, CA. For more information, see http://www.scfta.org/home/Events/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=886
VIDEO GALLERY UPDATES
Trailer for "Lemo" In February 2009, John Sawoski played the piano with a 60-piece orchestra on a series of scoring sessions at Capitol Records Studios and Glenwood Place Studios for Finnish composer Tuomas Kantilenin's score for Lemo, released in 2009 in Europe, but still unreleased in the USA.
Rehearsal of Korngold's "Tomorrow" Rehearsal Saturday afternoon, October 30, 2010: John Sawoski using Keyboard Wizard to enhance the Golden State Pops Orchestra, in their "Halloween Fright Night" concert. Conducted by Jeffrey Schindler, and featuring his wife, mezzo-soprano Bonnie Schindler, the concert featured a rare performance of Erich Wolfgang Korngold's lush and evocative tone poem Tomorrow, Op. 33 for mezzo-soprano, women's chorus and orchestra. 8pm, at the Warner Grand Theatre, 478 W. 6th St., San Pedro, CA 90731. Keyboardist John Sawoski uses Keyboard Wizard to play synth, organ, celeste, tiefe glocke (deep bell) and female choir parts (from Quantum Leap Symphonic Choirs), simultaneously, live.
Recently seen on YouTube: "Quake Rap" John Sawoski and Scott Fivelson were the members of Scared Boy. Lyrics by Scott Fivelson, Music by John Sawoski, Arranging and Rapping by John Sawoski.
Scenes from "Winning Ugly: Twenty Years Later" - Music by John Sawoski Produced, Edited, and Directed by Jeff Einhorn - Music by John Sawoski. Courtesy of Jeff Einhorn.
First 5 minutes from Winning Ugly: 20 Years Later, a documentary on the 1983 Western Division Champion Chicago White Sox season and twenty year reunion.
From winning ugly to just plain winning, see how it all happened. Includes the pennant clinching moment and locker room celebration from September 17, 1983.
The reunion section of Winning Ugly: 20 Years Later. (Produced, Edited, and Directed by Jeff Einhorn - Music by John Sawoski)
Sundays 9:30 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. , on the 2nd and 3rd Sunday of each month. St. Paul's is located at: 10750 Ohio Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024.
March 9 through April 3, 2011 - 
May 10 through May 15, 2011 - 
An Officer and A Gentleman 
