Enjoy classical music by masters
LIVE PERFORMANCE
LW residents Peter Bates and Yuri Lotakov will perform Sunday, July 28, at 2 p.m. at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Long Beach at 607 E. 3rd Street. The program features the music of American composers Carson Cooman, Richard Purvis and Joe Utterback. The concert will be concluded by George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.”
Bates joined the staff of Covenant Presbyterian Church in June 1997 and has served as minister of music and resident organist for that organization for over 27 years. He earned his master’s degree in organ performance from Sacramento State University. He was also the organist for the 1979 season of the LA Aztecs Soccer Team for games held at the Pasadena Rose Bowl.
Bates has performed as organ accompanist for various choral organizations, including the Long Beach Camerata Singers and at the Long Beach Mozart and Long Beach Bach Festivals. Bates has been honored by the Long Beach alumni of Sigma Alpha Iota musical fraternity for women as a “Friend of the Arts” for his contributions to the musical life of Long Beach.
Lotakov was born in Odessa, Ukraine. He got his Ph.D. degree in music from Kiev State Conservatory and won acclaims concertizing extensively in the USSR, Europe, South Africa and the United States. He performed with major Russian, Ukrainian and European orchestras, participated in chamber music ensembles and appeared on radio and television.
Upon applying for permission to leave the Soviet Union in 1977, Lotakov was removed from his teaching positions. All his performing engagements were canceled. After enduring two diffi cult years, he was able to immigrate to the U.S. and settle in Los Angeles, where he resumed teaching and performing.
He made a prominent mark on Southern California music life by participating in the famous UCLA “Monster Concert” led by Henri Temianka, with American Youth symphony led by Mehli Mehta and with various orchestras and chamber ensembles.
Lotakov performed several solo programs and played a concert with Richard Freedman (trumpet). He recently joined the LW Orchestra and loves to perform for the community.
—Luba Lotakov
