Gold Medal Series Set at Ambassador

Twelve Monday night concerts and one Sunday matinee, to be given through the 1992-93 season, make up the 15th annual Gold Medal series at Ambassador Auditorium in Pasadena.

The series, begun in 1979 “to introduce to Los Angeles artists of the first rank who have not as yet achieved full public recognition,” opens Oct. 26 with an appearance by pop singer Nancy LaMott. A second pop event on the series will be given by guitarist Howard Alden, Feb. 22.

The first pianist on the 1992-93 Gold Medal season will be Awadagin Pratt, a 26-year-old prize-winning musician from Pittsburgh. Pianist Gail Niwa, winner of the 1991 Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition, will play April 19.

Baritone Yu Chen, who has sung with L.A. Music Center Opera, appears on the series, Nov. 9, to be followed by mezzo-soprano Jane Bunnell, a winner of the Metropolitan Opera auditions, Nov. 23.

French musician Marie-Pierre Langlamet, a harpist with the Metropolitan Opera orchestra in New York, gives an Ambassador Auditorium recital, Nov. 16. Violinist Dmitri Berlinsky appears on the series Feb. 8. Duo guitarists Michael Newman and Laura Oltman play in Pasadena Feb. 1, to be followed by guitarist Marc Teicholz, May 10.

Two instrumental groups appear on the series. On March 15, the Meridian Arts Ensemble, a 5-year-old wind quintet from New York, plays at Ambassador. And on April 26, a piano trio made up of violinist Adela Pena, Sara Sant’Ambrogio and pianist Erika Nickrenz, winners of the 1991 Naumburg Chamber Music Award, will play in Pasadena.

One non-subscription event is also part of the season. That is the Los Angeles Concert Opera Assn. presentation of Emmerich Kalman’s “Countess Maritza,” in English, Jan. 17 at 2 p.m. Cast, conductor, orchestra and chorus will be announced later.

All other Gold Medal events will be given Monday nights at 8 o’clock.

Information: (818) 304-6161.