Downey Symphony blends hip-hop, classical in upcoming concert
Flora Cheng
DOWNEY – The upcoming April 18 concert of the Downey Symphony Orchestra will include several “firsts” for this 68-year-old institution.
April’s concert will open with the winner of the Baton Auction, Eric Pierce, conducting an orchestration of the Bruce Hornsby sample that is part of hip-hop classic “Changes” by the late rapper Tupac Shakur.
Moreover, April’s program includes the premiere of “Moth,” a four-movement piece by Warren High School alum (2007) and indie film composer Flora Cheng.
“Moth” will be followed by well-known favorite “Pictures at an Exhibition” by Mussorgsky and “Piano Concerto No. 1” by Liszt, featuring Andrew Edwards as soloist.
These programing choices by Music Director Sharon Lavery, a cross-genre selection and a new piece by a young hometown composer, underscore Lavery’s belief in the continued relevance of orchestral music and its wide range of artistic possibilities beyond the classical symphonies and concertos.
It has been Lavery’s goal throughout her tenure in Downey to broaden the appeal of orchestral music.
“We want to attract new audiences,” she affirms. “This is a professional orchestra with many members playing throughout southern California in a variety of genres. Some have performed with orchestras recruited to play the scores for famous films. These are talented musicians who are eager to play new music along with the classics.”
The selection of Cheng’s work, “Moth,” for this program has delighted many orchestra supporters. It seemed only fitting, given the excellent music programs in both local high schools.
Councilmember Hector Sosa, who attended a performance by Cheng at UCLA with his wife in 2024, reports, “She’s someone Downey can be proud of and you can tell she is passionate about music. My wife and I were impressed.”
Lavery concurred with Pierce’s choice of music as the Baton Winner after hearing an arrangement.
The music has meaning for Pierce and others of his generation. In an email Pierce explained, “I chose ‘Changes’ because it’s one of those songs that has stayed with me since I was young. Tupac had a way of giving voice to people and experiences that don’t always get heard. The song deals with poverty and racial discrimination, but it’s also an anthem of hope and resilience. Bringing that message into a symphonic setting felt meaningful to me. It’s a reminder that music, no matter the genre, can still challenge us, connect us and make us reflect on where we are and where we’re going.”
Lavery, who has been leading the orchestra for 19 years, is also a professor of conducting at USC. Through her close connections with emerging musicians she is able to offer young talent the opportunity to be featured as soloists and for young composers to present exciting new works.
It was Lavery who presented the world premiere of the Downey Overture in 2011 by Spanish composer Oscar Navarro. The overture is now a favorite of many orchestras and is played in venues around the world.
Last year’s April concert reflected Lavery’s efforts to diversify programming with modern popular pieces. It opened with Baton Auction winner Pat Gil conducting the orchestra through a medley from “Game of Thrones.”
Flora Cheng
Cheng’s association with Lavery did not come through a connection to USC. Cheng attended Cerritos College for two years, studying piano performance, before transferring and graduating from UC Santa Barbara with a degree in music composition. After finishing school, Cheng set out to follow her dream.
“I am fascinated by the creation of music, rather than performing other people’s work,” she reflects. She was committed to making a living as a composer and artist.
Teaching music helped pay the bills along the way while Cheng wrote movie scores for small indie films and promoted her own work.
In 2019 she transformed Downey’s gritty Epic Lounge into a chamber music venue where she premiered her piece “Icarus,” with three string performers and herself on keyboard.
When her song “Feathers to Flight” from the movie “Sara: La Fuerza del Mar” was nominated for a Macondo Award in Columbia, she performed her arrangement live during the awards show in 2024. Her performance can be viewed on YouTube.
In 2024 Cheng sent Lavery an invitation to the premiere at UCLA of the first two movements of “Moth.” Lavery couldn’t attend at the time, but said she was impressed when she read Cheng’s score and listed to a sample recording.
“It was good,” Lavery recounted, “and I called to ask her if she would be interested in having it performed by the Downey Orchestra. It would be great to feature a composer from Downey.”
Cheng agreed but then asked if Lavery would consider an addition of two final movements to make the work complete. Lavery said yes. Total length is around 11 minutes.
“So the performance this April will be the world premiere of ‘Moth’ in its entirety, as a complete work,” explains Lavery.
The audience will meet Cheng as a performer as well as composer since she will be at the piano for the piece.
“I can’t wait to perform with the Downey Symphony Orchestra,” she exudes.
Cheng grew up learning music in Taiwan before she came to the United States at age 14. She joined the marching band at Warren, playing clarinet, and says, “It was the best decision I ever made. Everyone was so kind and supportive.”
Her interest in composition grew from her participation in the annual PTA Reflections contest which invites students to submit art in all genres, including music and literature as well as visual arts. Winners move up in competition through state and eventually national levels.
Encouraged by the band director at that time, she wrote a piece for percussion ensemble, which included xylophone, mallets, and a vibraphone. Her piece advanced through several rounds.
Cheng describes her style and “modern classical” and says her process includes creating “musical ideas.” Elaborating, she says, “I thought this is so fascinating, how composers can make seven letters [the western music scale] sound so different.”
Cheng’s training at UCSB included traditional methods of writing music and orchestration. Film composition now requires additional skills, and it is important for composers to learn digital technology to be successful.
Cheng explains: “You are watching an unproduced film with time codes on the bottom, and you have to watch and generate the music so it is in sync.” According to Cheng, classes in digital technology are now becoming a requirement for courses in film composition.
Projects currently in the pipeline for Cheng include two in Canada and a feature film she describes as “samurai style.” Cheng has also served as conductor for music video arrangements by Nostalgic Nebula.
When she is not composing or conducting, Cheng teaches music and composition. She has conducted master classes in Barcelona, and she is currently President of the Lakewood-Cerritos Branch of the Music Teachers Association in California.
“We keep music alive for young kids,” she explains, “and we offer more training for teachers. I wish music classes would be more popular in the schools.”
Some would say Cheng is one of those people who is fortunate to know what it is she wants to do in life and goes after it. Cheng recounts that her mother was always a little hesitant about Cheng’s commitment to music.
“In our culture [Taiwanese] learning music is a must,” Cheng elaborates, “like learning language arts, math, etc. But you don’t STUDY music. I could sense a little disappointment from my mother. I think she came from the point of a worried parent: what can you do with it? But she has accepted it.”
Andrew Edwards
Lavery says she immediately thought of Andrew Edwards as a soloist for Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1.
“He’s been at USC for a few years now and he is among the top-most talented pianists at Thornton. I’ve been wanting to work with him for a long time now.”
Lavery said Edwards learned the difficult concerto “specifically for out concert, and I am really excited to have our Downey audience witness his artistry.”
Edwards has an active performance schedule, performing with many orchestras throughout the southland, and recently at the Disney Concert Hall.
“I guarantee the audience will be mesmerized,” says Lavery.
Two years ago, the board of the Downey Symphonic Society made significant changes to the orchestra’s performance schedule. There are now only two performances at the theater, one in the fall and one in spring. They are both free and concerts begin at 7:00 pm.
Board President Anthony Crespo feels there has been a positive response to these changes, explaining that it is easier for seniors and parents with children to attend earlier concerts. Free concerts also make the orchestra eligible for particular grants.
The orchestra will continue its free summer concert in the park, and the yearly 3rd grade and 5th grade concerts at the Downey Theatre.
Despite its long history and level of professionalism, the Downey Orchestra still faces the same challenges threatening orchestras across the country: that of declining audiences as tastes change.
In addition to Lavery’s innovative programming, efforts to meet the challenge include financial support from the city and local community groups. The city waives the rent for theater concerts and now funds the concert in the park. Local service groups and the Downey Unified School District fund the 3rd and 5th grade concerts.
Sosa relates that he and Councilmember Dorothy Pemberton have pledged, as Downey residents and not official councilmembers, to promote more support for the orchestra among the service groups and the public at large.
Art Exhibit
The uniquely themed art exhibits that accompany each concert are sponsored by the Downey Arts Coalition. Doors open at 5:30 pm so patrons can view the original work by local artists on display at the mezzanine level.
The theme for this event is “The Gentle Warrior: A Loving Tribute to Dr. Jane Goodall.” All artists are invited to submit pieces inspired by nature, animals, the environment, etc. The deadline for submission is Sunday, April 11. DAC invites self-contained artwork of all media and sizes.
Interested parties should contact Andrew Hernandez at andrewH@downeyarts.org. A donation fee of $5 per art piece is invited.