El Camino’s Center for the Arts to Present Tenor Arnold Livingston Geis, Featuring Grant Gershon on Piano
The El Camino College Center for the Arts will present a performance by tenor Arnold Livingston Geis, along with Grant Gershon on piano. This extraordinary recital featuring two prolific Los Angeles-based artists is set for 8 p.m. March 30 in the Campus Theatre.
Arnold Livingston Geis began his career as a church soloist but quickly grew to become one of the top collaborative performers in the area. Known for his versatility and musicianship, Opera Today has praised his “honeyed tone on all registers.” Ten years ago, Geis began his first season as a chorister in Los Angeles Opera’s performances of Wagner’s “The Flying Dutchman,” and has since performed on the Dorothy Chandler stage in favorites such as “Carmen,” “La Traviata,” and made his LA Opera soloist debut in “Pagliacci” under the baton of Plácido Domingo.
In addition, Geis sings with the Los Angeles Master Chorale, which has led to solo appearances at the Walt Disney Concert Hall among other world-renowned venues. His most recent stage credits include the Count in “I due Figaro,” Cavaliere Belfiore in “Il viaggio a Reims,” and Chevalier in Poulenc’s “Dialogues of the Carmelites.” Gies is also an active session singer and can be heard in movie blockbusters such as “After Earth,” “Maze Runner,” “Godzilla,” and “Bridge of Spies.” Geis has worked under esteemed conductors such as Gustavo Dudamel, Michael Tilson Thomas, James Conlon, and Grant Gershon. He earned a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from Biola University and a master’s in vocal arts from the University of Southern California.
Acclaimed for his adventurous and bold artistic leadership, Grant Gershon is the Kiki & David Gindler Artistic Director for the Los Angeles Master Chorale. He’s celebrating his 21st season with the chorale, which he has turned into the “best-by-far major chorus in America” (Los Angeles Times). In 2022, Gershon and the Chorale received the Grammy Award for Best Choral Performance. That same year, he received the Michael Korn Founders Award from Chorus America for his lifetime of leadership in the field of choral music.
A passionate advocate of new music, Gershon led the world premieres of John Adams’ “Girls of the Golden West” and “I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky.” Gershon conducted the West Coast premiere of Philip Glass’ “Satyagraha,” and led the world premiere of Daniel Catán’s “Il Postino” at LA Opera. He has also led premieres of works by Esa-Pekka Salonen, Steve Reich, Tania Léon, and Louis Andriessen, among countless others. Gershon has led the Chorale in recordings for several motion picture soundtracks including, “The Last Jedi” and “The Rise of Skywalker,” following a personal request of John Williams. He has also worked closely with many legendary conductors, including Claudio Abbado, Pierre Boulez, Gustavo Dudamel, Zubin Mehta, Simon Rattle, and his mentor, Esa-Pekka Salonen. In 2016, Gershon and Peter Sellars created a ground-breaking staging of Orlando di Lasso’s “Lagrime di San Pietro,” which has appeared to enormous acclaim in London, Paris, Montreal, Mexico City and at the Salzburg Festival.
The El Camino Community College District encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation, or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact the Center for the Arts as soon as possible, but no later than seven days prior to the event.
Tickets are $10-$26 and may be purchased at www.centerforthearts.org using the online ticketing system. Campus parking is free for this production; no permit required. El Camino College is located at 16007 Crenshaw Boulevard, Torrance.