By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor

St. Matthew’s Music Guild has announced its 40th anniversary season of concerts, presenting “world-class music close to home.”

“Music Guild concerts feature the critically acclaimed Chamber Orchestra at St. Matthew’s, under the direction of Dwayne S. Milburn, and an array of world-class soloists and ensembles,” according to a statement about the season.

The 2024-25 season begins on Friday, September 27, with saxophonist Jan Berry Baker performing Jacque Ibert’s “Concertino da Camera” and William Grant Still’s “Romance for Alto Saxophone and Strings.”

Baker is a professor of saxophone and head of woodwinds at UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. He regularly performs with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Chicago- and Atlanta-based symphonies, and different new music ensembles.

The program is also set to include a celebratory new work by conductor and composer Milburn, and concludes with Felix Mendelssohn’s “Italian Symphony.”

Other concerts this season include an all-Beethoven concert with Robert Thies on November 1; a Holiday Concert on December 6; a Valentine’s Day program of “love songs” with pianist David Kaplan on February 14, violinist YuEun Gemma Kim, soprano Liv Redpath and friends; and the world premiere of a new work commissioned by the Music Guild by composer and performer Dawn Norfleet on March 14.

The Music Guild’s Choral Initiative will present the 12-member, London-based Stile Antico in a program of Renaissance choral masterworks on April 4. LA Philharmonic Principal Flute Denis Bouriakov is also set to join the orchestra for Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Flute Concerto No. 1”  and other works.

The anniversary season will include a Sunday afternoon “bonus” concert on May 4, celebrating the 40th anniversary of  the dedication of the C.B. Fisk Pardee Organ at St. Matthew’s Church, with “one of the foremost organists of this generation,” Nathan Laube.

The season will conclude on May 30 with the Ukrainian-born pianist Inna Faliks performing the West Coast premiere of Richard Danielpour’s “Piano Concerto No. 4,” Gioacchino Rossini’s “Tancredi Overture” and Igor Stravinsky’s “Danse Concertantes.”

“Join us for our 40th anniversary season with The Chamber Orchestra at St. Matthew’s and world-class soloists and ensembles,” read the statement.

Tickets are available for $45, or part of a season pass for all eight concerts for $285. Ample parking will be available, and Music Guild offers free intermission refreshments.

All concerts will take place at St. Matthew’s Church, located at 1031 Bienveneda Avenue in Pacific Palisades.

For more information, tickets or season passes, visit musicguildonline.org or call 310-573-7422.

Palisadian Author Releases Sixth Book in Fiction Series, Following ‘Lovable’ and ‘Curious’ Little Mouse

By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor

Little Mouse goes on the biggest adventures—and Palisadian author Teresa Power’s latest in her series, “In Search of the Holy Grail,” is no exception.

The Marquez Knolls resident launched the Little Mouse Adventures book series in 2020 with “Yoga at the Zoo.” Power incorporated her love for yoga into her stories, as she is an internationally recognized expert on children’s yoga, with over 30 years of experience. She previously authored the bestselling series, “The ABCs of Yoga for Kids,” and founded International Kids’ Yoga Day

Power explained that the Little Mouse Adventure series follows “curious” Little Mouse and his best friend Mr. Opus, “the wise tabby cat.”

“I created the series with Little Mouse as the main character, as I wanted to write a picture book series using fun storytelling to teach yoga, mindfulness and life skills to children,” Power said to the Palisadian-Post. “In addition, animal characters—particularly those as endearing and relatable as mice—hold a special place in the heart of children’s literature. These characters serve as mirrors to a child’s world, reflecting their hopes, fears and dreams in a format that is both accessible and engaging.”

Power gave the Post a glimpse into her latest book, which published August 6, sharing that Little Mouse is left feeling sad in “In Search of the Holy Grail,” as he leaves the big city and Mr. Opus to move with his family to a farm out in the country with his grandparents.

Even though he is quick to make new friends—like Major the Horse and Maggie the Pig—Little Mouse finds that his “city ways” aren’t received well by the other animals.

“When his grandfather teaches him that showing appreciation and gratitude goes a long way with friends, it comes just in the nick of time when Little Mouse needs their help in thwarting old foes of their animal world,” according to a description of the book. “With a little yoga and some mindfulness, will Little Mouse and his friends be up to the challenge?”

Power said that her other Little Mouse books are picture books geared toward children 3 to 8 years old, with minimal text in the story. For this story, she wanted to write a chapter book for early readers, similar to the Magic Treehouse series.

“It is a longer story, with pictures, and teaches children important lessons in friendship, courage and faith,” Power explained.

Power has been a Palisadian since 1984. In an effort to combat the stresses of law school, she began practicing yoga, going on to teach yoga to adults and kids for 12 years. She uses “adventure and friendship stories” as the backdrop to foster early learning skills and the wellness power of yoga.

“Her mission is to make the life-changing practice of yoga accessible to everyone, regardless of age, location or finances,” according to a statement.

Interested readers can pick up “In Search of the Holy Grail” at all major bookstores, as well as Amazon. Power said there is an “adorable” Little Mouse stuffed animal that accompanies the book.

For more information, visit abcyogaforkids.com.

‘tick, tick… BOOM!’

Theatre Palisades will present “tick, tick… BOOM!”—with book, music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson, the creator of “Rent”—at Pierson Playhouse, 941 Temescal Canyon Road, through October 13. Showtimes are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. with tickets priced at $27 for adults, $25 for seniors and students.

theatrepalisades.org

‘Memnon’

Getty Villa Museum and Classical Theatre of Harlem will present “Memnon” for the 18th annual Villa Outdoor Classical Theater production through September 28. Performances take place at 17985 Pacific Coast Highway, Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. Tickets are $40 to $55.

getty.edu

Block Party

Marquez Knolls Property Owners Association will host its annual Block Party along Marquez Avenue, highlighting businesses and celebrating the community, on Saturday, September 14, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

palibu.org

Barbershop Harmony Ice Cream Social

An afternoon of “musical delights and fine frozen confections,” presented by The Oceanaires at Palisades Lutheran Church, 15905 Sunset Boulevard, on Saturday, September 14, between 2 and 4 p.m. for a suggested donation of $25.

evntn.co/e/VgOxL9DJ

Family Storytime

Palisades Branch Library will host Family Storytime with “stories, fingerplays and rhymes” for children ages 3 and up on Thursday, September 19, at 4 p.m. at 861 Alma Real Drive.

lapl.org

Jessica Vosk

A singer and actress known for roles on the musical theater and concert stage, Jessica Vosk will perform at Pepperdine’s Smothers Theatre, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, on Thursday, September 19, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 to $50.

arts.pepperdine.edu

Beach Clean Up

Kehillat Israel will host its annual Tikkun Olam Beach Clean Up Day on Saturday, September 21, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Temescal Canyon Park.

ourki.org

An Afternoon Concert

Chamber Music Palisades will begin its 28th season with a free community concert on Sunday, September 22, at 3 p.m. at Pacific Palisades United Methodist Church, 801 Via De La Paz.

cmpalisades.org

Hands-Only CPR

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health will provide drop-in, hands-only CPR training between 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. at Palisades Branch Library, 861 Alma Real Drive, on Wednesday, September 25.

lapl.org

Season Opener

The 40th Anniversary Season of St. Matthew’s Music Guild will begin on Friday, September 27, at 8 p.m. with a concert featuring Jan Berry Baker (saxophone) at St. Matthew’s Church, 1031 Bienveneda Avenue. Tickets are $45 or available as part of a season subscription.

musicguildonline.org

Yee Haw Fall Festival

Palisades Charter Elementary School will host its annual Yee Haw Fall Festival fundraiser on Saturday, September 28, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the school, 800 Via De La Paz.

yeehawpali.com

‘Twilight’

Street Food Cinema will present a showing of “Twilight” at Will Rogers State Historic Park, 1501 Will Rogers State Park Road, on Saturday, September 28, with doors at 5:30 p.m. and the film beginning at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 to $32.

streetfoodcinema.com

Mythical Creature Mask Making: Family Workshop

Getty Villa, 17985 Pacific Coast Highway, will host a drop-in workshop on Saturday, October 5, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to “explore the art of ancient Greek theater masks.”

getty.edu

Spooktacular

Palisades Recreation Center will host its annual Halloween Spooktacular on Sunday, October 27, from 4 to 8 p.m. at 851 Alma Real Drive.

laparks.org

‘Tribute to Joel Lish’

Palisades Symphony will host a “Tribute to Joel Lish”—the late founder of the symphony—with Music Director Maxim Kuzin on Sunday, October 27 beginning at 7:30 p.m.

palisadessymphony.org

Palisadian-Post Sports Editor Steve Galluzzo Highlights Star Student Athletes to Watch Out for this Year

Alexandra & Kingsley Wolf

In July, sisters Alexandra and Kingsley Wolf paired up to win the silver ball in the 16-and-under doubles division at the USTA Clay Court Nationals in Huntsville, Alabama. Seeded fourth in a draw of 128 teams, they upset the top-seeded duo in the semifinals before falling to the No. 2-seeded tandem in the final to take second place. Alexandra, or Lexi, is a junior while Kingsley, or Kiki, is a freshman at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks. They live in the Riviera, trained for many years at Palisades Tennis Center and graduated from Corpus Christi. Lexi has moved up to the 18s division while Kiki remains in the 16s.

Lars Refnes

In May, Lars Refnes made it clear he is one of the most gifted young baseball prospects in the Palisades after he led Pali Blue to the Westside Interlock Pony Division championship at the Field of Dreams. He struck out 16 batters in a three-hit shutout victory over Pali Black in the final. That came after his 13-strikeout performance in five no-hit innings in the semifinals. Refnes’ combined 29 strikeouts in 12 postseason innings will go down as one of the finest pitching performances in PPBA history. He was one of the standouts at Pali High baseball tryouts and will play for the Dolphins in the spring.

Braun Levi & Cooper Schwartz

Tennis buddies Braun Levi and Cooper Schwartz enter their senior year at Loyola High School with great expectations after joining forces to become one of the top doubles duos in the CIF Southern Section, as evidenced by their run to the quarterfinals of the Ojai Tournament in April. Schwartz lives in the Riviera and transferred from Brentwood to Loyola before his sophomore year. Levi lives a few doors down from St. Matthew’s and attended Corpus Christi School before becoming a Cub. They played with different partners as sophomores but upon uniting last season, they won the Mission League doubles title.

Lauren Song

Now an eighth-grader at Paul Revere Charter Middle School, Lauren Song is one of the best golfers in her age group in Southern California. In May, she played on the school’s coed team that won the Delphic League boys championship at Sinaloa Golf Course in Simi Valley. Song carded a 4-over  31
for fifth overall. As a sixth-grader, she shot 3 over to finish in a three-way tie for third at league finals on the same course. Song’s older sister Anna is a senior at Palisades Charter High School and has won back-to-back City individual championships.

Amelia Sarkisian

After a stellar freshman year at Brentwood School, distance runner Amelia Sarkisian sits poised for a breakout sophomore campaign, having won the Gold Coast League cross country championship last fall while earning the girls Most Valuable Award and qualifying for the CIF state meet. In the spring she won her heat in the 800 meters in 2:32.25 and lapped several of her competitors on her way to first place in the 3,200 meters in 12:06.36 at the league track prelims. Then, in the finals, Sarkisian completed the sweep of the distance races by winning the 800-meter run by over one second in 2:39.34 and winning the 1,600 meters by almost 11 seconds in 5:30.07. Raised in the Alphabet Streets with athletic siblings, she used to play basketball at the Rec Center.

Mitchell Majors

Fourteen-year-old Mitchell Majors won his age group and placed third overall in 2024 the Palisades Will Rogers 10K on the Fourth of July, clocking 36:07. He also ran the Turkey Trot 10K in November, placing 13th overall and second in the male 13-16 age category in 40:31. Majors went to Marquez Charter Elementary School and recently graduated from Revere, where he broke a long-standing school mark in the “Sub Six Mile” by clocking 4:41. He is attending Viewpoint School in Calabasas this fall, where he will run cross country and track. He also competed in his first two half marathons this year: Surf City USA (taking second in the 1-14 male age group in 1:28:34) and Santa Barbara Wine Country (finishing first in the 1-19 division and 11th overall in 1:24:55).

Sloane Le Chang & Charlie Albores

As members of the Santa Monica Girls Fastpitch 12U Gold All-Star team this summer, Palisadians Sloane Le Chang and Charlie Albores helped their squad finish fifth out of 31 teams at the Western Nationals in Salem, Oregon—one of the highest finishes of any team in any age division in league history. Chang resides in the Highlands and is entering eighth grade at Calvary Christian School. She started in center field and was one of the team’s best hitters. She will age up to the 14Us next summer. Albores, who lives near The Village and is beginning seventh grade at Revere, was the starting second baseman and incredibly did not commit an error in 32 fielding chances at Nationals. She will remain in the 12U age group next summer.

Will Horowitz

Village School graduate Will Horowitz scored 17 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead the Suns to a 45-21 victory over the Grizzlies in the finals of Palisades Recreation Center’s Coed Major Division basketball championship in June, then he stepped back onto the court in the large gym to play with his older brother Jake for the Celtics in the Junior Division final. Horowitz has won two Pali Rec Center Major hoops titles and is starting seventh grade at Windward School this fall.

Zoey Morris

As a ninth-grader at Pali High, Zoey Morris pulled off a surprising upset in the City cross country Finals at Pierce College last fall, winning the three-mile Division I race by 13 seconds in a personal-best 17:41. In the spring, she captured the City 3,200 meters in 11:19.93 and was third in the 1,600. She will try to defend her cross country title while leading the Dolphins to the team championship in November.