La Sierra University offers chamber music for Mother’s Day

With the enchanting music of Robert Muczynski, Aaron Copland and Joaquin Nin, La Sierra University's music faculty and guest artists will present a program of chamber music to celebrate Mother's Day.

La Sierra University Orchestra conductor and pianist Daniel Cummings will perform on the piano along with adjunct flute Professor Martin Glicklich and adjunct saxophone Professor David Brennan. Special guests Chelsea Howell, clarinet, and mezzo-soprano Betty Lee Feinblatt will join La Sierra's faculty in the performance. The concert will take place May 9, 7 p.m., in Hole Memorial Auditorium. Ticket prices are $5 seniors; $10 general admission; $20 family admission. Children age 12 and under are free.  La Sierra University is at 4500 Riverwalk Parkway, Riverside. Call 951-785-2036 for additional information.

“It will be a sweet program for Mother's Day and some wonderful music,” said Cummings who is performing in each piece and introducing the program.

Cummings also teaches piano proficiency at La Sierra in addition to conducting the university orchestra. He received his Doctor of Musical Arts in orchestral conducting in June 2007 from the University of California, Los Angeles. He is currently pursuing post-doctoral studies in conducting and advanced orchestral topics with Dr. Stephen Tucker at the University of California, Irvine.

Most recently he was on faculty of the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival and was chamber music coach for the UCLA Summer Music Academy in 2007. His resume includes serving as conducting assistant to John Mauceri of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and rehearsal pianist for their production of “Sunset Blvd.” He also served as assistant music director for Music Theatre Southwest of New Mexico. Additionally Cummings was music director and conductor for UCLA Music Theatre Workshop's productions of “West Side Story” and “Lakmé: Redux” as well as the arranger and pianist for the Carol Burnett Awards. 

As a composer, Cummings has written film scores, concerti for piano and clarinet, a requiem, songs and song cycles, and over one hundred arrangements of hymns and folksongs for various ensembles and singers.  He has studied conducting with Dr. Jon Robertson, Professor Neal Stulberg, John Mauceri, opera coaching with Rakefet Hak and piano with Dr. Jennifer Snow.

Brennan, a widely sought-after performer and teacher in the greater Los Angeles area, has recorded music for and appeared in several motion pictures, including “A Bright Shining Lie,” “Pumpkin,” “Road Trip,” “Don't Say A Word,” “Shrek the Halls,” and the summer blockbuster hit “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.” In addition, he has had the honor of playing for President Bill Clinton and worked as a consultant for the hit ABC show “Grey's Anatomy.”

He has performed the national anthem at the NCAA tournament championship finals in gymnastics and volleyball. His ensemble experiences include performances with the Santa Barbara Symphony, West Hollywood Orchestra, Santa Monica College Symphony, Santa Monica Civic Light Opera, and Gang Nam Symphony from Seoul, South Korea.

After receiving permission from Lindsey Buckingham's publishing company, Brennan wrote an arrangement of the hit Fleetwood Mac song “Go Your Own Way” for saxophone quartet, which premiered in concert in Los Angeles.

He holds Bachelor of Arts, Master of Music and Doctorate of Musical Arts degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles where he studied saxophone performance, conducting, and music education. At La Sierra he teaches saxophone, chamber music, jazz improvisation/theory, woodwind technique and music appreciation. Additionally, he has served on the faculty at UCLA, Pepperdine University in Malibu and The Master's College in Santa Clarita. He is proud to be an endorsed artist/clinician with the Conn-Selmer Company.

Glicklich has pursued a successful career as performer, educator, arranger, and concert producer. He has played with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Opera Orchestra, and Long Beach Symphony, among others. His music can also be heard on numerous motion picture and television recordings. At La Sierra he teaches flute and chamber music. Martin received his Doctorate in Flute Performance from the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music in Los Angeles, where he was awarded the Most Outstanding Doctoral Wind and Percussion Student.  He also holds degrees from Northwestern University and California State University, Northridge.

PR Contact: Larry Becker
Executive Director of University Relations
La Sierra University
Riverside, California
951.785.2460 (voice)