A vibrant and inclusive community of faith serving the beach cities and westside of Los Angeles
FRIENDS OF MUSIC
The Friends of Music at St. Bede’s are the primary source of financial support for the parish’s renowned music program. Through contributions, concerts, and use of the building by outside musical groups, the Friends of Music raise money to support their annual concert series and the ongoing music every Sunday morning and other important services.
Each year, the Friends of Music series presents three concerts (October, January, and the popular “Summer Cabaret” in June) and two Evensongs (one in Lent and one in Eastertide). In addition, it supports the music for the Advent Festival of Lessons and Carols, Christmas Eve, and the Easter Vigil. But most importantly, the Friends of Music support the regular Sunday morning music by providing money for two of the four paid section leaders in the St. Bede’s Choir.
Agnes Schwartz, Violin
A native of Hungary, violinist Agnes Schwartz has performed in 25 countries assoloist, recitalist, and chamber musician, specializing in early and classical music, contemporary repertoire, works by Hungarian composers, folk music, Klezmer, and free improvisation. Her performances have been broadcast on Hungarian Radio, Television, Bratislava Radio, Icelandic Radio, Radio France Paris, and Duna TV California, and can be heard on Hungaroton Recordings.
Schwartz has been the concertmaster of the Whittier Regional Symphony (formerly Rio Hondo Symphony) since 2007 and is a member of the Long Beach Ballet, LA Sinfonietta, Vicente Chamber Orchestra and The Master’s University Orchestra. She has served as guest concertmaster for numerous opera and musical theatre companies, as well as professional, studio, and college orchestras in the Los Angeles area. As
soloist, she has performed with the Whittier Regional Symphony, San Fernando Valley Symphony, CSUN Philharmonic, World Zoroastrian Orchestra, and the PCC Jazz ensemble. She holds an M.M. degree in Viola Performance from the Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest and an M.M. in Violin Performance from CSU Northridge where she was a winner of the 2009 Concerto Competition.
Sonia Lee, Piano and Organ
Pianist and organist Sonia Lee performs a wide repertoire ranging from classical to contemporary to commercial to early music. She has been invited to give solo and collaborative performances and masterclasses in more than 150 cities on four continents, including festivals and venues such as the Rome Festival, Nordic Historical Keyboard Festival, Milwaukee Museum of the Pianoforte, Tagliavini Collection at San Colombano (Bologna), Taipei National Concert Hall, Olympus Hall (Seoul), and the early music festivals of Boston, Costa Rica, Hong Kong, and Utrecht. Her discography includes leading roles with the Classical Chamber Players and La Donna Musicale featuring the first recordings of music by Antonia Bembo, Joseph Weigl, and Leopold
Kozeluch. As director or guest director, she has led the University of Illinois Collegium Musicum, Dulces Exuviae, Musicerend Gezelschap, the Phantasie String Orchestra, and La Réunion Musicale.
Lee holds graduate degrees in music from McGill University and the University of Illinois. She is lecturer in music at California State University, San Bernardino, staff pianist at Río Hondo College, and music director and principal organist at St. Mary in Palms Episcopal Church in L.A. and Christ Church Parish in Ontario.
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Your ongoing support of the Friends of Music is an essential part of St. Bede’s strong commitment to a ministry of music and hospitality.
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