FAREWELL TO…

Kenneth Coon Born 1967 Saxophonist

As a member of the renowned Raschèr Saxophone Quartet, baritone saxophonist Kenneth Coon’s collaboration with instrumentalists, vocal groups and orchestras included a memorable performance of Bernstein’s Wonderful Town with Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic at the 2002 New Year’s Eve Concert. Coon, born in Atlanta, Georgia, joined the quartet in 1992, 23 years after it was founded by Sigurd Raschèr. In the group’s history, it has performed the premieres of over 250 new works by composers including Kalevi Aho, Philip Glass and Iannis Xenakis. Coon also worked as a lecturer on saxophone history and pedagogy, chamber music principles and contemporary music techniques.

James Arkatov Born 1920 Cellist

In 1968, a roster of musicians – many working in film music – were cobbled together by James Arkatov to play classical repertoire suited to smaller forces than those of the LA Philharmonic. This ensemble became known as the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. A love of chamber music stemmed from Arkatov’s early days as a cellist, playing in a string quartet with friend Isaac Stern. Born in Russia, he moved to San Francisco as a child, which is where he went on to develop his career as a Hollywood studio musician working on film soundtracks and pop recordings for the likes of Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra.