Calabasas orchestra returns
By Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com

Anthony Kissane

Calabasas Chamber Orchestra members are prepping for their first concert in two years, as the group's founder and conductor has returned from the hiatus he took to fight cancer.

Anthony Kissane, a Calabasas resident and teacher at Calabasas High School stepped down from his duties when he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in April 2005.

After two of his scheduled three years of chemotherapy, Kissane has resumed his post as conductor and will lead the orchestra, which has also been on hiatus, in a free community concert May 20.

"All the people involved, from City Council to parks and recreation to myself, we put our heads together and decided on doing a pops concert, but not a typical one where the orchestra comes out and plays a lot of movie themes," Kissane said. "I contacted a bunch of the best vocalists in Los Angeles to sing not just opera, but a variety of music. I designed this concert so that it would be interesting for all people."

Kissane founded the 42-piece orchestra in 1995.

"The city's been continually asking me when we can start the orchestra back up, when, when, when," Kissane said. "Finally I said, now I can. That was about four months ago. . . . I'm in remission and I felt it was time. I've got about another year to go on chemotherapy, then we'll stop and hope that that does it."

The orchestra will be accompanied by jazz trombonist Bill Watrous and vocalists performing songs from opera, jazz and Broadway. Khori Dastoor, a soprano with the Los Angeles Master Chorale, will sing popular arias by Puccini, Gershwin and Gounod. Tenor Matt James will perform some Broadway selections, and jazz singer Mortonette James will sing standards by Duke Ellington and Cole Porter.

Mayor James Bozajian said he's "delighted" to have Kissane back and looks looking forward to the concert.

"Tony Kissane has always been the driving force behind the Calabasas orchestra," Bozajian said. "He was instrumenta in starting up the orchestra and in its growth and development over the years. His illness left a tremendous void in the orchestra's leadership."

All of the orchestra members are professional musicians. They hail from all over Southern California from Orange County to Pasadena to Oxnard to Los Angeles. The group will rehearse together twice before the big show.

The concert will be at Calabasas Lake at 5 p.m. Parking will be at the Calabasas Tennis and Swim Center, 23400 Park Sorrento. Limited seating is available on a first come, first served basis, and the public is encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets and picnics. For information, call (818) 594-4011.