Buddhist Music Festival to Bridge Cultural Gaps

The 2001 North American Buddhist Music Festival presents “Sounds of the Ganges River” and “Praying for a Pure Land of Harmony on Earth” at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, 300 E. Green St., Pasadena.

The festival is part of Fo Guang Shan and the Buddha’s Light International Assn.’s world tour of the Buddhist Monastic Choir.

The festival will feature 80 monks and nuns from the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Monastic Choir and the Taipei Municipal Chinese Classical Orchestra.

Master Hsing Yun, founder of the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Order, has focused his attention on Buddhist cultural and educational activities that help promote the importance of music and its ability to bridge cultural gaps for more than 30 years. The 60-piece Taipei Municipal Chinese Classical Orchestra, founded in 1979, plays a leading role in the preservation, study and development of Chinese music.

The groups will perform a variety of Chinese Buddhist music using traditional and classical instruments.

Ticket prices are $20 to $100. Proceeds will be donated to the Red Cross to aid families of the victims of the attacks in New York City. Information: (626) 961-9697, ext. 187-188 or https://www.hsilai.org.

EVENTS

Dr. Jack Rogers, moderator of the 213th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), will be guest preacher at Pasadena Presbyterian Church at 10 a.m. Sunday. Rogers, a Pasadena resident who holds the highest national elective office in the denomination, will also lead a forum on the state of the church from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the church sanctuary.

* The Westside Jewish Community Center presents “Middle Eastern Culture Encounters Western Traditions: Jerusalem, Israel and Dodge City, U.S.A.,” a photo exhibit by Jo Carroll, from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at 5870 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles. The event will include a discussion and reception with the photographer. Admission is free. (323) 938-2531, ext. 2225.

* “Earth-centered spirituality: Now more than ever” will be the topic presented by radio correspondent Margot Adler from 9 to 11 a.m. Sunday at the Neighborhood Unitarian Universalist Church, 301 N. Orange Grove Blvd., Pasadena. Adler is a correspondent from New York who has been covering the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. (626) 449-3470.

MUSIC

Rolling Hills United Church presents “The Best of Broadway” with performances by Tamra Glaser and Jan Bunker at 7 p.m. Friday at 26438 Crenshaw Blvd., Rolling Hills. Glaser’s previous performances include “Cio-Cio,” “Madame Butterfly” and “The Phantom of the Opera.” Bunker has appeared on the TV shows “Happy Days,” “American Bandstand” and the “Carol Burnett Show.” Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children younger than 12. (310) 377-6771.

* Morten Lauridsen’s “Lux Aeterna” will be performed by the St. Charles Borromeo Choir at 7:30 p.m. Friday at St. Charles Borromeo Church, 10800 Moorpark St., North Hollywood. The concert will be under the direction of Paul Salamunovich. James Buonemani of St. James’ Episcopal Church will be the guest organist. (818) 766-3838.

* St. Matthew’s Chamber Orchestra will continue its 17th season of concerts at 8 p.m. Friday at St. Matthew’s Church, 1031 Bienveneda Ave., Pacific Palisades. The orchestra will be under the direction of Thomas Neenan and will perform the works of Mozart, Vaughan Williams and Lutoslawski. Admission is $15 for adults, $10 for students. (310) 573-7787, ext. 2.

PEOPLE

The Rev. Bronnie F. McNabb Jr. has been appointed chief development officer of Claremont School of Theology. McNabb previously served as president of the United Methodist Foundation of the Western North Carolina Annual Conference, as well as president and chief executive of the First Bank and Trust of Clarendon. He is also an ordained elder of the United Methodist Church. “His leadership and management abilities, along with his commitment to theological education, will be crucial to ensuring the continued stability and financial health of Claremont School of Theology,” said the school’s president, Philip A. Amerson. McNabb will oversee fund-raising at the school.

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