TicketsonSaleNowThevoiceofSystemofADownandoneofthegreatperformersinhardrockhistory!

VPACpresentsNorthAmericanPremiereofSerjTankian’sElecttheDead&OrcaSymphonies

Thursday,November10at8:00PMLosAngeles,CA,July15,2016–Withavocalrangeoverfouroctaves,SerjTankian,consideredoneofthegreatestsingersinhardrockhistoryandaCSUNalumnus,willpresenthisOrcaSymphonyandperformandsinghisElectTheDeadSymphonyalongsidetheCSUNOrchestraunderthedirectionofJohnRoscignoatValleyPerformingArtsCenterforonenightonlyonThursday,November10at8:00pm.“ThoughtheworldfirstknewSerjasthefrontmanforSystemofADown,hehasmanydiversetalentsandpassionsincludingsocialactivism,orchestralcompositions,andvisualart,”saysThorSteingraber,ExecutiveDirectorofValleyPerformingArtsCenter.“TheVPACgallerywillexhibithismostrecentartwork,availableforviewingpriortotheperformance.I'mproudtopresentSerjTankianasthesecondannualCSUNAlumniconcert.”“I’vegotthisincredibleopportunitytogobacktotheschoolwhereIgraduatedfrom,CalStateUniversity,Northridgeandplaywithmyalmamater,CSUNSymphonyOrchestra,”saidSerjTankianinaYoutubevideo.“Thisissomethingyoudon’twanttomissandwillbethefirstshowofitskindinNorthAmerica.”AboutElecttheDead&OrcaSymphonyTankianhasalwayscreatedmusicasanoutlettoexpresshisthoughtsandfeelingswithalevelofpassionandconsciousnessthatfewintoday’sworldofmusiccanrival.Introducedtothemeldingofcultures,ideasandidealsfromaveryyoungage,Tankianlearnedprinciplesfromthisintegrationandadaptationthathaveledtohisunderstandingoftheonenessofallthings;hehassincetransfiguredthesethoughtsintothemusicandartthathelivestocreate.

HeemergedasasoloartistwithhisdebutalbumElectTheDead,whichshowcasesthewritingandarrangingprowessofamanbestknownforhisinimitablevocals,incisivelyrics,anddedicationtobringinglighttovariousissuesrevolvingaroundinjustice.Neitheramellowexcursionintoworldmusicorthefranticwar-cryofSystemthatsomehadpredicted,ElectTheDeadismulti-facetedandmulti-layered,containingelementsofpsychedelia,classical,andthetrademarksurrealistimagesandskewedtimesignaturesthatTankianhasmadehisown.Twoyearsafteritsinitialrelease,hebeganworkingwithNewZealandcomposerJohnPsathastorearrangeandorchestrateElectTheDeadforafullsymphonyorchestra.ThiswasfollowedbyaninauguralElectTheDeadSymphonyconcertinAucklandwiththe

NewsRelease

AucklandPhilharmoniaOrchestrathatwasrecordedandfilmedandreleasedthefollowingyear,debutingatnumber4ontheClassicalMusicchartshereintheUSA.

In2012,TankiancomposedhisfirsttruesymphonytitledOrcaSymphonyNo.1,andhaditsfouractsrecordedattherenownedBrucknerhausinLinz,AustriawiththeDasKarussellOrchestraunderthedirectionofWernerSteinmetz.AccordingtoTankian,“Orcaisknownasthekillerwhale,butisreallyadarkdolphin,asymbolismforhumandichotomy.”ThefouractsofOrcamixinfluencesfromearly20thcenturycomposerswithmodernfilmcompositionaldynamicsshowinginfluencesrangingfromEnnioMorriconetoPhilipGlass.Listenersaremetwithaminglingofsoundsandintertwiningpiecesthatarebothsereneandbombasticatthesametime,offeringafreshinterpretationtotheclassicalart.AboutSerjTankianEarlyinhiscareer,Serjfoundanoutletastherabble–rousingleadsingerandsongwriterofthelargelysuccessfulrockbandSystemofADown,abandthathasreachedintotheheartsandmindsofmillionsofpeoplerelayingmultiplemessagesoflove,awarenessandactivism.SystemofADownhasfivestudioalbumreleases,threeofwhichdebutedatnumberoneontheBillboard200,andhasalsobeennominatedforfourGrammyAwardsandsnaggedonein2006for'BestHardRockPerformance'fortheirsong"B.Y.O.B."Despitethissuccess,Serjnevergrewcomplacentwithhisart,alwaysstrivingtoopenupnewchannelsofsoundandarrangementtoarticulatehisartisticexpressions.Tankianhasreleasedfivealbumsofhisownsolomaterial,beginningwith2007'schart-toppinghardrockalbumElectTheDead.HissophomoresoloalbumImperfectHarmonieswasreleasedin2010,followedbyHarakiriin2012.2013sawtwodistinctreleasesfromSerj,withthefirstbeingthecriticallyacclaimedOrcaSymphonyNo.1,releasedinJuneofthatyear,followedupwiththeveryuniqueJazz-izChristonemonthlater.Overthepastcoupleyears,histimespentintherecordingstudiohasbeenfocusedoncreatingmusicalscoresandcompositionsforfilmandvideogameprojects,namelyindependentfilms1915,TheLastInhabitantandHardcorealongwiththevideogame'MidnightStar',whichwascreatedbyoneofthechiefcreatorsofthefamed'Halo'gamefranchise.SerjTankian’sresumealsoincludestheformationofarecordlabel,SerjicalStrikeRecords(establishedin2001)whichhasreleasedalbumsbyeightcriticallyacclaimedartists,includingFairToMidland,BucketheadandDeathByStereo.AlongwithfellowmusicianTomMorello(RageAgainstTheMachine,Audioslave),Serjco-foundedthenon-profitorganizationAxisOfJusticein2002,whichstrivestobringtogethermusicians,fansofmusicandgrassrootspoliticalorganizationstofightforsocialjustice.Hehasalsodabbledwiththeworldofbroadcastingasco-hostoftheAxisOfJusticeRadioNetwork,whichcanbeheardviaSiriusSatelliteRadioandKPFKinLosAngeles.Withamissionofspreadingdiversityandunderstandingthroughmusic,poetryandactivism,SerjTankianwillcontinuetosurpriseandenlightenthosewholistentohismusicandhearhiswords.Inrecentyears,Tankianhassplithistimebetweenholdingamicandpaintbrush,havingfeverishlycreatedover40piecesofartsince2013.HisjourneyintotheworldoffineartbeganwithhisDisarmingTimeMusicalPaintingsthatwereexhibitedatProjectGalleryinLosAngeles.Sincethen,hehashadmultipleexhibitionsatgalleriesinboththeUnitedStatesaswellasNewZealand.Mostrecently,hisartworkwasexhibitedatthegrandopeningofNewMuseumLosGatosinNorthernCaliforniaaspartofagroupexhibitthatranthroughSeptemberof2015.

TicketsTicketsforSerjTankianperformingwiththeCSUNSymphonystartat$33andcanbepurchasedbyvisitingValleyPerformingArtsCenter.orgorcalling(818)677-3000.ValleyPerformingArtsCenterislocatedonthecampusofCaliforniaStateUniversity,Northridge(CSUN),18111NordhoffStreetNorthridge,CA91330-8448,atthecornerofNordhoffandLindley.AboutValleyPerformingArtsCenterNowinitssixthseason,VPAC'smissionistopresentawidevarietyofperformancesthatnotonlyincludesnewandoriginalworkfromtheLosAngelesregion,butalsoworkfromaroundtheworldthatappealstoallofLA'srichanddiversecommunities.TheValleyPerformingArtsCenter’s2016-17Seasonsignalsaneweraforthepremiereeventvenue.UndertheleadershipofExecutiveDirectorThorSteingraber,VPACexpandsitsprogrammingandoutstandingmulti-disciplinaryperformances.LocatedonthecampusofCaliforniaStateUniversity,Northridge,VPAC’sseasonoffersavibrantanddiverseperformanceprogramofnearly50classicalandpopularmusic,dance,theater,familyandinternationaleventsthatwillservetoestablishVPACastheintellectualandculturalheartoftheSanFernandoValleyandfurtherestablishitselfasoneofthetopartscompaniesinSouthernCalifornia.Theaward-winning1,700-seattheatrewasdesignedbyHGAArchitectsandEngineersandwasrecentlycitedbytheLosAngelesTimesas“agrowinghubforlivemusic,dance,dramaandotherculturalevents.”CalendarListingforSerjTankianperformingwithCSUNSymphonyVenue: ValleyPerformingArtsCenter 18111NordhoffStreet Northridge,CA91330 Date: Thursday,November10at8:00pmTickets: Price:Startingat$33 InPerson:VPACTicketOffice,locatedintheVPACCourtyard

ByPhone:(818)677-3000 Online:ValleyPerformingArtsCenter.orgPressContacts:TimChoy,NikiBlumberg,Davidson&ChoyPublicity

323-954-7510|t.choy@dcpublicity.com;n.blumberg@dcpublicity.comGaryW.Murphy,PublicRelationsConsultant310-914-0178|gmurphypr@gmail.com

Photos:Clickhereforphotosfromthe2016-17Season:http://www.valleyperformingartscenter.org/press/press-photos/

###