Currently entering its third season, the Salastina Music Society is a concert series dedicated to presenting world-class performances of chamber music throughout Southern California. Founders/Artistic Directors Maia Jasper and Kevin Kumar bring a fresh approach to the classical concert experience, resulting in innovative performances with broad audience appeal. To date, several of Salastina’s performances have been broadcast nationally on American Public Media’s Performance Today.

Hallmarks of the series include:

• Visual and aural variety.

No two pieces on the program share the exact same mood, musical style, or combination of players. What’s more, only one piece per program lasts longer than fifteen minutes. Each concert as a whole is shorter than the average classical music concert, and is presented without an intermission.

• A special emphasis on vocal chamber music.

We perform often from the vast and seldom-heard repertory of chamber works that include singers. Additionally, we’ve commissioned two new works for voice and chamber ensemble, which were premiered by stars Rod Gilfry and Elizabeth Futral.

• Illuminating communication from the stage.

We deliver all of our program notes verbally. In our Masterpiece Discovery series, we share well-chosen musical examples (and explain their meaning within the context of the piece as a whole), resulting in a unique experience enjoyed by first-time and veteran concert-goers alike.

• Thoughtfully-chosen new music.

We believe in the music of our time. That said, we make our selections based not only on compositional sophistication, but also on lyrical and melodic qualities.

• A unique atmosphere of formality mixed with fun.

We believe dressing up, soaking in some of the most masterful art ever created, and laughing out loud can all work hand-in-hand to make any special event just that – special! We promote extra-musical ways of enhancing the concert experience, from gourmet post-concert receptions to collaborations with celebrity comics.And in a break with tradition, our audience is encouraged to applaud freely, without worrying about whether or not it is the traditionally appropriate moment. (No ticket buyer should be implicitly required to temper his enthusiasm!) Lastly, we encourage tangible audience participation, from giving the audience the opportunity to vote on the encore selection to hosting intimate musical salons.