Burbank Cultural Arts presents “Songs in the Key of Burbank”

The Burbank Cultural Arts Commission presents an online event, “Virtually Burbank: Songs in the Key of Burbank,” on Monday evening, January 31. The program includes performances and Q&As with local groups like the VocArte Choir, big band Angela O’Neill and the Outrageous8, a small ensemble of musicians from the Burbank Chamber Music Society, as well as solo musicians like the singer-songwriter Sara Dee and singer Lauren Patrice.

“Our community will be so impressed with the incredible range of musicians, who all live, work or grew up in Burbank,” said Raj Mallikarjuna, host of “Songs in the Key of Burbank” and curator of cultural arts. “Although they are of varying ages and backgrounds, they are all incredibly good at playing their chosen genres of music – from soul to classical, musical theater to jazz and so much more.”

Mallikarjuna, a composer of orchestral and chamber music who graduated from Boston University and Berklee College of Music, has worked with the Musicians at Play Foundation and was a 2019 Arts For LA Activate Fellow. She is thrilled to share “Songs In The Key of Burbank” with the community.

“Music has the power to uplift the spirit, and making music also promotes a sense of being connected,” Mallikarjuna added. “With all the challenges and setbacks we’ve faced during the pandemic, it’s important to provide our city with a source of comfort, as well as give our community of musicians a way to show their love for their form of art.”

“Having all these performers on one stage would have been extremely difficult even in the most normal of times, which certainly isn’t the case these days,” commented Cultural Arts Commissioner Eric Connor. “With just a few clicks, you can be entertained by a multitude of musical acts and maybe find a band you’ll want to join!”

“We are so grateful for this opportunity to connect with members of our special community alongside our fantastic colleagues,” says Nicolina Logan, co-director of the Burbank Chamber Music Society, “Sharing music is spreading love, and with the great casualties of the pandemic still daily upon us, celebrations like these couldn’t be more needed or plentiful!”

Yoni Fogelman, a current USC composition student and 2020 graduate of John Burroughs High School, will also participate in the online event. A piece for string orchestra composed by Fogelman was recently performed by the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (YOLA) conducted by Gustavo Dudamel.

“I’m so honored to contribute a song in the Burbank key. Art gives us all a voice and reveals what we love, what we fear, what we hope for and what we miss,” he said. he said, “I’m excited to hear what inspires other writers in our community, and I can’t wait to attend on the 31st.”

As of summer 2020, the Burbank Cultural Arts Commission has been hosting its programs online. the Practically Burbank The series discussed and highlighted a variety of diverse local Burbank artists.

“We were all on ‘lockdown’ and desperate to stay connected with the creative and larger community in Burbank,” Connor explained. “After nine monthly virtual events — including hosting the City of Burbank’s Christmas tree lighting — we found there were more programs we could still share online.”

The Cultural Arts Commission plans to offer a variety of online programs on Facebook Live and InstaLive as the pandemic continues.

“Our upcoming ‘Songs in the Key of Burbank’ is a great fit for this online platform,” adds Connor, “Anyone can click through and watch and listen to these talented performers from the comfort of their home. And in case you miss it – and why would you? – it can be viewed later on social media and on the BurbankArts website.”

“Virtually Burbank: Songs in the Key of Burbank” begins at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, January 31 via Burbank Cultural Arts’ Facebook Live. More information about the event can be found on the commission’s website.