AlmaNova MAY 2010 PERFORMANCES

Dear Friends,

Hope to see you at one of our upcoming performances!

Sunday, May 2, 2010
Benefit Concert and Silent Auction in support of Breast Cancer
5-9pm
TIX: $25 includes wine and refreshments
*ALL PROCEEDS go directly to a dear friend who is currently battling breast cancer
South Pasadena Music Center and Conservatory
1509 Mission
South Pasadena, CA

Wednesday, May 5, 2010
12noon
Jessica Pierce, flute and Angela Cholakyan, piano
program includes Bach, Enesco, Khachatourian, and Mendelssohn-Rachmaninoff
Pasadena Presbyterian Church
585 E. Colorado Blvd.
Pasadena, CA

Friday, May 7, 2010
12:15pm
Bach's Lunch @ Trinity Lutheran Church
1340 Eleventh St.
Manhattan Beach, CA

Saturday, May 8, 2010
7pm
AlmaNova plays with Matt Hilly (percussion)
Jessica plays Piazzolla's 'Four Seasons' with piano and cello
Live at the Lounge
1014 Hermosa Ave.
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

Saturday, May 22, 2010
8:00pm
"The Sound of the Balkans" hosted by Annette Bening
feat. AlmaNova, Rade Serbedzija, Miroslav Tadic, and Zana Mesihovic
$50/each ALL PROCEEDS benefit the orphaned children in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Barnsdall Gallery Theatre
4800 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
TIX CALL: (310) 733-6858

Music for a Cause: Support Breast Cancer

AlmaNova plays Benefit for Bosnian Orphans hosted By Annette Bening

Dear Friends:

On behalf of the Democracy Council and Bosana Foundation, it is our pleasure to invite you to attend “Sound of the Balkans, Music that transcends boundaries and divisions” to be held on 22 May, 2010 at Barnsdall Gallery Theatre in Los Angeles.

All proceeds collected from the event, including the sale of tickets will go towards a scholarship fund for a number of exceptional young adults living at the orphanages all over Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) that would like to pursue university education. The program will cover university costs, a small stipend and, if necessary, the housing costs. Our goal is to give these young adults the skills and opportunity to become self-reliant and productive citizens of their country. We are expecting approximately thirty (30) people to participate in the pre-event cocktail party and over three hundred (300) to attend the concert.

The featured musicians include Rade Serbedzija and Miroslav Tadic, AlmaNova and special guest appearances. The event will be a rich cultural evening, filled with music from various parts of the Balkan region. We will have three distinguished performances each with a slight variation and adaptations of added worldly cultures and sounds. In addition, American actress Annette Bening will give a special performance at the main event.

The Democracy Council is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization based in Los Angeles that will provide tax-deductible letters for any generous donations. Bosana Foundation is an organization that has worked two years with a number of orphanages in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

You can purchase the tickets by going online to www.bgttix.com/

If you cannot attend the event but you would still like to contribute to the cause, please visit www.bosanafoundation.org

Visit from a Kiwi!

Had a great time last week with one of the premier guitarists from New Zealand, Owen Moriarty. He was my duo partner during our time together at USC. He's an exceptional guitarist and a great friend! Enjoy this photo of Owen and I with Maestro Scott Tenannt.

Upcoming concerts in Northern California!

Santa Clara University-Music at Noon
Santa Clara, CA
April 7
12:00pm

Carmel Classical Guitar Society-Masterclass
Moneterey, CA
April 7
6:00pm

Theater at the Stanton Center
Monterey, CA
April 9
7:30pm

Le Petit Trianon
San Jose, CA
April 10
8:00pm

South Bay Guitar Society-Masterclass
San Jose, CA
April 11
11:00am

Concert in Monterey-tickets on sale now!

The music of Henry Mancini

I am very happy to present three new digital downloads now available through iTunes. I recorded these with guitarist and friend, Gregg Nestor for BSX Records. Gregg is also the arranger of these great and fun tunes.

Here are the links:

1."Who's Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?" (Mancini)

2. "The Sweetheart Tree" (Mancini)

3. "The Pennywhistle Jig" (Mancini)

Music Lessons with AlmaNova

AlmaNova, flutist Jessica Pierce and guitarist Almer Imamovic, is currently offering private music instruction and group music classes in flute and guitar. For the past 15 years, Dr. Pierce and Mr. Imamovic have provided a nuturing environment and the inspiration necessary to help students reach their musical goals.

Our studio is located in Pasadena, CA near Pasadena City College. Please contact us if you would like to set up a free 20 minute trial lesson.

email: almanovaduo@gmail.com

or call: 626-434-5585

All ages and levels welcomed!

For more information please click here!

New mp3's Now Available for Download!!!

Jessica recently had the privilege to record for BSX Records two themes for flute and guitar arranged by good friend and exceptional guitarist, Gregg Nestor. They are both available on Amazon and iTunes for immediate download!

Theme from the Motion Picture Cross Creek music by L. Rosenman (click here)

The Inner Light from Star Trek: The Next Generation music by J. Chattaway (click here)

Link on iTunes!

Photos and reviews from ASTO Concert

Please enjoy these photos from our recent concert at the ASTO museum in Los Angeles. Thanks to everyone who came...it was a fun night especially with our guest artists, Matt Hilly on cajon!

We were grateful to the Pasadena Classical Music Meet-up Group who also attended. Read what they had to say about our performance:

"Terrific married duo of flute and guitar--energetic, heartfelt, refined playing. And the repertoire was eclectic but focused on stylized dance, from Piazzolla to Ravel to Bosnian and Macedonian music." - A.D.

"Guitarist Almer Imamovic's and his flutist wife Jessica Pierce's marvelous mastery of their instruments was beautifully demonstrated in pieces they played by Astor Piazzolla, Maurice Ravel and Jacques Ibert. In the second half, they---along with percussionist Matt Hilly---dazzled the audience with pieces (love songs and dances) from Bosnia and Macedonia, beautifully arranged or composed by Almer. The audience was captivated. It was a concert well-worth attending. To sample some of the award-winning duo's eclectic music visit www.almanovaduo.com" -M.E.

AlmaNova performs at ASTO Museum of Art in Los Angeles on January 30th at 7:30pm

FREE music-just press play!

After Hours by AlmaNova

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Spotlight on Kenny Hill Guitars

In the past few months I have received many emails inquiring about my guitar. Therefore, I thought I would take the time to introduce you to one of the best American luthiers, Mr. Kenny Hill. I have been playing my stand-up model Kenny Hill for the past two years and have fallen in love with it. It suits me very well because of its beautiful and well-balanced sound. It is very easy to play, has a comfortable neck, and since it is a double-top, it responses quickly making live performance very enjoyable. I like this stand-up model because I had back surgery a few years ago. This makes practicing much easier and relieves tension in my back. It is also aesthetically better for our duo, putting both Jessica and I on the same level.

For more info about Kenny and his fantastic instruments click here. He also has a great blog with a lot of valuable information about guitar-related subjects.

Enjoy the photos of Kenny and I and my guitar!

Standing Ovation in Bosnian National Theater!

Enjoy these photos from our latest tour of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We played concerts in Zenica, Tuzla and finished our tour with a great concert in the National Theatre in Sarajevo. Almer was a guest of the Bosnian-Herzegovinian American Academy of Arts and Sciences and performed Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez for a national live television broadcast. For an encore, AlmaNova performed 'Jamilla's Dance' and brought the entire audience of 800 to their feet. Special thanks to Eldin and the BHAAAS, the Sarajevo Philharmonic and the city and people of Sarajevo, Zenica and Tuzla for a great reception and wonderful memories that will stay with us always.