Mount Wilson Observatory presents Cabaret Tzigane concerts featuring Trio Dinicu

For Immediate Release:

Mount Wilson Observatory’s
Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome
Presents “Cabaret Tzigane” with Trio Dinicu
Featuring Luanne Homzy, Tommy Davy, and Felix Kochendörfer
Sunday, October 6, 2024 at 3:00pm & 5:00pm

PASADENA, CA – September 23, 2024 – Mount Wilson Observatory—the place where humankind discovered its place in the universe—is pleased to present the sixth and final date in the 2024 season of its six-month series, Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome, to take place on Sunday, October 6, 2024. The concert event, entitled “Cabaret Tzigane” will feature Trio Dinicu whose talented members include Luanne Homzy (violin), Tommy Davy (guitar), and Felix Kochendörfer (double bass), performing in the remarkable acoustics of the dome which houses the 100-inch telescope at the Observatory. The trio will reveal the concert’s program from the stage. The same concert will be offered twice: first at 3:00pm and again at 5:00pm.

Each year, the six-month series featuring classical or jazz programs, is thoughtfully curated by Artistic Director Cécilia Tsan (Principal Cellist, Long Beach Symphony). An artist reception with light fare and refreshments is offered between the performances. Tickets cost $60 each and are available for purchase online in advance (highly recommended) or at the door, given availability. For more information on the concert series, please visit https://www.mtwilson.edu/concerts.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Trio Dinicu
Hailed as “dazzling” by the San Francisco Chronicle, Trio Dinicu combines the forces
of three distinguished musicians—Luanne Homzy, Tommy Davy, and Felix Kochendörfer. Highly regarded for their creativity, Trio Dinicu blends virtuoso musicianship with the improvisatory language of jazz and the richness of Eastern European folk traditions, including Classical Hungarian Gypsy Music, Romanian Lautareasca music, Russian romances, and French "Jazz Hot." Paying homage to the golden age of the Parisian-Russian cabaret, the Trio is named after the Romanian Gypsy virtuoso violinist and composer Grigoras Ionica Dinicu, who influenced the one and only Jascha Heifetz and who was admired by Stéphane Grappelli, the world's most famous jazz violinist.

In 2019, after Luanne Homzy’s prize win at the Roby Lakatos International Violin Improvisational Competition, she began to look deeper at the Hungarian Gypsy violin tradition. She went on to study Hungarian Gypsy music with the renowned prima violinist  Miklos Lakatos and later recorded a full length recording with his orchestra in Budapest. During this time the trio also dove deeper into Hungarian Gypsy music.

Trio Dinicu’s recently released album, Cabaret Tzigane, was the culmination of their many musical experiences while traveling throughout Europe and performing. The name of the album is derived from the Parisian tradition of the Cabaret Russe. Their heroes and teachers played every night at clubs in Paris like Karlov, La Balalaika, Raspoutine, La Roue Fleurie, and Les Tziganes Ivanovitch. Gypsy musicians played rich musical treasures such as the Hungarian Csardas, Kolos, and Russian romances. Trio Dinicu pays homage to the golden age of Gypsy and Eastern European music in Paris. Learn more at www.TrioDinicu.com

Luanne Homzy
Internationally acclaimed French-Canadian violinist Luanne Homzy is highly sought-after for her technical facility, sensitive musicality, and expansive versatility. She has brought home First Prizes in international and national competitions and has performed concerts with orchestras such as the Montréal Symphony Orchestra, the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra, and the Colburn Chamber Orchestra. She has served as concertmaster for the Colburn Orchestra, the American Youth Orchestra, and the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, and has worked closely with masters such as Sir Neville Mariner, Gustavo Dudamel, James Conlon, Kent Nagano, and John Williams. Read the full artist bio here.

Tommy Davy
Whether it’s French waltzes, poignant interpretations of gypsy folk music or the swinging standards of the Hot Club of France, guitarist Tommy Davy demonstrates technical mastery, compositional creativity, and sensitivity beyond his years. At just 25 years of age, he has toured nationally with David Grisman, Stephane Wrembel, Angelo Debarre and Robin Nolan, and has performed internationally with the greatest masters of the Gypsy Jazz genre, such as Opus 4, Florin Niculescu, Tcha Limberger, Lolo Meier, and Andreas Oberg. His vast repertoire also includes Romanian, Hungarian, Yugoslavian, and Russian traditional folk music. He is one of the rare few who can deftly navigate this language uncommon to the guitar. Davy and his ensemble have been featured at Djangofest Northwest, Djangofest LA, Djangofest San Francisco, Djangofest Colorado, Music By The Sea at Bamfield, and NY Birdland’s Django Reinhardt Festival Tour. Read the full artist bio here.

Felix Kochendörfer
Felix Kochendörfer was born in Weimar, Germany, into a musical family and started playing violin in primary school. In his early teenage years he picked up the trombone which got him into jazz and he started to learn upright bass at the age of 17. Soon after, he joined a group of young musicians dedicated to the music of Django Reinhardt, with whom he toured through Germany and Italy. Kochendörfer had lived in Germany, Denmark, and Austria before moving to the United States, where he continues to be an established bass player in the Los Angeles gypsy jazz scene. He has appeared with artists such as Yorgui Loeffler, Christiaan van Hemert, Trio Dinicu, Jimmy Grant, Brad Brose, and the New Orleans Swinging Gypsies. Read the full artist bio here.

Cécilia Tsan, Artistic Director
Praised by the Los Angeles Times for her “...uncompromising musical character and towering technique,” French born cellist Cécilia Tsan graduated from the Paris Conservatory summa cum laude and is a prizewinner at the Barcelona, Florence, and Paris International Competitions. An international soloist and chamber musician, she has recorded several CDs and hundreds of movie soundtracks in Hollywood. She serves as Principal Cello with Long Beach Symphony Orchestra and the Los Angeles Master Chorale Orchestra.

In August 2024, Warner Classics released a 2-CD set dedicated to the music of John Williams entitled John Williams Reimagined with Sara Andon, flute, Cécilia Tsan, cello, and Simone Pedroni, piano. A vast array of his featured scores are arranged for flute, cello, and piano by Pedroni. The release was preceded by, and is followed by, international concert tours featuring the trio. For more information, please visit: https://longbeachsymphony.org/musicians/cecilia-tsan

MOUNT WILSON OBSERVATORY
Since its founding in 1904 by astronomer and visionary George Ellery Hale, the research conducted at Mount Wilson Observatory has revolutionized our understanding of the Universe. Perched on top of Mount Wilson, a 5,710-foot peak in the San Gabriel Mountains near Pasadena, California, the Observatory boasts a rich history and significant contributions to science and the heritage of Los Angeles. The Observatory’s 100-inch Telescope—the world's largest telescope from 1917 to 1949—forever changed our understanding of the scale and nature of our Universe and deeply expanded human knowledge. This world-heritage class instrument, used by many of the greatest astronomers of the Twentieth Century, launched a revolution in astronomy that continues through today.

Mount Wilson Institute has independently operated and maintained the Mount Wilson Observatory since 1989 under a long-term agreement with the Carnegie Institution of Washington. The Observatory and grounds are open to the public to visit, and during the spring and summer months the Institute produces programs including observing sessions through the historic telescopes (the largest on the planet made available to the public), lectures, concerts, art exhibits, educational programs, and more. Many of these cultural offerings are presented inside the singular vaulted dome of the 100-inch Telescope.

PROCEEDS
All proceeds from ticketed events go to support Mount Wilson Institute in its mission to preserve, protect, and promote the Observatory and its scientific accomplishments.

THE VENUE
The 100-inch telescope is the instrument with which astronomer Edwin Hubble discovered our place in an expanding universe and deeply expanded human knowledge. The dome for the telescope—designed by seminal Chicago architect Daniel Burnham—is a 20th century temple to science whose acoustics rival the great cathedrals of Europe, a truly unique setting for this ambitious music series.

VISITING MWO
The gates to Mount Wilson’s campus open at 10:00am daily and close at 5:00pm in the spring and summer, and 4:00pm in the fall. Entrance to the grounds is free. Visitors can hike, gaze at the telescope domes and towers that dot the landscape, and take a look at historic Mount Wilson photos and letters in the Museum.

The Cosmic Café, located above the parking lot at the Observatory entrance, is open on weekends in the spring, summer, and fall, weather permitting. In addition to traditional menu items such as hot dogs, drinks, and snacks, the Café is offering various lunch and sweet treats from Little Flower Café.

LOCATION
Mount Wilson Observatory
100 Mt Wilson Circle Rd
Mount Wilson, CA 91023

On MWO’s website the “Map” page shows various SoCal routes to the 2 and 210 Freeways which feed into Angeles Crest Highway, which goes to Red Box Road, which then leads to Mount Wilson Circle Road.

PARKING
A U.S. Forest Service Adventure Pass is required to park at the Observatory, as it is located on U.S. Forest Service land. A day pass may be purchased at the Cosmic Cafe. The $5 day pass or a $30 dollar annual pass may also be purchased at other locations around Los Angeles before heading up. Click here to go to the U.S. Forest Service website for more information about the $5 Adventure Pass and where to buy them. The Shell station in La Canada at the bottom of the Angeles Crest Highway should be selling them as well.

NOT ADA-COMPLIANT
Please be advised that access to the 100-inch dome is via an open-air, 53-step staircase inside the building. There is no ADA-compliant access

LINKS:
- Mount Wilson Observatory - https://www.mtwilson.edu
- Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome - https://www.mtwilson.edu/concerts
- October 6 Tickets - https://www.mtwilson.edu/events/concert100624
- MWO Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/WilsonObs
- MWO Twitter – https://twitter.com/MtWilsonObs
- MWO Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mtwilsonobservatory
- MWO Images including concert photos & flyers – https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1BNnQN8rn4NLSFx75zCQms5G7e0F7HeMy

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To request more information, photos, or to schedule an interview or request press passes, please contact Green Galactic’s Lynn Tejada at lynn@greengalactic.com or 213-840-1201.