Love Inside Out

"No Bounds" (Music by Chris Walden) “Don’t Rain on My Parade” (Funny Girl, Music by Jule Styne, Lyrics by Bob Merrill) “Beautiful” (Music and Lyrics by Linda Perry) “Luck Be a Lady” (Guys & Dolls, Music and Lyrics by Frank Loesser) “All By Myself” (Music and Lyrics by Eric Carmen) “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again” (The Phantom of the Opera, Music by Andrew Lloyd Weber, Lyrics by Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe) “You Got a Friend in Me” (Toy Story, Music and Lyrics by Randy Newman) “The Man I Love” (Music by George Gershwin, Lyrics by Ira Gershwin) “Fever” (Music and Lyrics by Eddie Cooley & John Davenport) “As Long as He Needs Me” (Oliver!, Music and Lyrics by Lionel Bart) INTERMISSION “There Is No Greater Love” (Music by Isham Jones, Lyrics by Marty Symes) “Wind Beneath My Wings” (Music & Lyrics by Jeff Silbar and Larry Henley) “Forget About the Boy” (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Music by Jeanine Tesori, Lyrics by Dick Scanlan) “Home Blues” (Music by George Gershwin, Lyrics by Michael Feinstein) “This House” (Music & Lyrics by David Ross) “Sing” (Music & Lyrics by Amanda Palmer) All ticket purchasers will receive an email Sunday morning with a link to watch back this concert for an additional 48 hours so you can enjoy the performance, and backstage artist interviews, with friends and family in the comfort of your home. Enjoy!

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Musicians & Performers

Veronica Swift | Vocals Chris Walden | Conductor/Arranger Woodwinds Jeff Driskill Jacob Scesney Kirsten Edkins Jay Mason Ken Fisher Trumpets Rob Schaer Kye Palmer Ray Monteiro Michael Stever Trombones Andy Martin Erik Hughes Ramsey Hampton Tiffany Johns Horn Laura Brenes Guitar Dean Parks Piano Josh Nelson Bass Edwin Livingston Drums Gregg Field Percussion Pete Korpela Violin Charlie Bisharat Stephanie Matthews Armen Anassian Jenny Takamatsu Daphne Chen Natalie Leggett Tammy Hatwan Neel Hammond Jen Choi Fischer Ellen Jung Grace Oh Bethany Mennemeyer Viola Erik Rynearson Andrew McIntosh Leah Katz Emily Williams Cello Tim Loo Caleb Jones Hillary Smith David Mergen Harp Gayle Levant

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Securing The Soraya’s Future

Support the Thor Steingraber Fund for Artistic Innovation to help us continue to bring new works, world premieres, and bold collaborations to life

In the fall of 2015, my family and I attended a performance at the Valley Performing Arts Center at CSUN. My son, David, had received his undergraduate degree from CSUN many years prior, and we were pleased to see how the campus had grown. The recollections that stand out most in my memory from that evening were the extraordinary venue, its artistic excellence, and my first time meeting Thor Steingraber. For those reasons, my family decided in 2017 to invest in The Soraya’s future and long-term sustainability. In the 10 years since, we have come to know Thor and his vision. Through his leadership, we have witnessed values we so admire come to life on this stage — in the artists, their work, and the experiences they create for Los Angeles’ many communities and for CSUN students. Thor’s dedication and imagination serve so many, and it is my wish that his legacy be preserved. In honor and recognition of Thor’s accomplishments, I am pleased to announce a new fund supporting the art and artists who will continue this work: the Thor Steingraber Fund for Artistic Innovation. From the performance that first introduced my family to this majestic venue a decade ago, to the many moments of beauty and inspiration that have graced its stage since, we have Thor to thank. I hope you will join me and my family in supporting this effort — to ensure that these performances, and the spirit they embody, thrive long into the future.

— Soraya Sarah Nazarian

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Opolo Wines is a proud sponsor of The Soraya.

A TASTE OF PASO ROBLES WINE COUNTRY

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Program Note

Veronica Swift is one of those artists - still early in her career, and yet she approaches her work like a veteran of many decades more than hers. In part, this is her upbringing in a musical family, and in part it is the seriousness with which she dedicates herself to her music. When I suggested this concert to Pacific Jazz Orchestra’s Chris Walden, he was quick to say yes. Veronica’s reputation is well known, and the opportunity to debut so many new charts for her and the orchestra was enticing. We are so proud to present Veronica in her first performance with a large ensemble like PJO, showcasing her extraordinary versatility. We program a lot of musical celebrations for various holidays, but this is our first Valentine’s Day offering. Veronica’s approach to her song selection is meant to offer a wide embrace to everyone for the occasion. Prepare yourself for a few surprises along the journey.

Gratefully,

Thor Steingraber

Executive and Artistic Director,

Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts

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Pacific Jazz Orchestra

The Pacific Jazz Orchestra (PJO) is Los Angeles’ premier 40-piece ensemble for jazz and beyond, redefining the orchestral jazz experience. With an annual concert season featuring five distinct projects and an impressive lineup of guest artists, the orchestra transcends genres to present a vibrant array of musical styles. Performances take place across select L.A.-area venues, showcasing the city’s rich cultural and musical diversity. As the only orchestra of its kind in the United States, the PJO epitomizes the spirit of jazz — one of America’s original art forms — brought to life by the unmatched talent of L.A.’s finest musicians. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the orchestra boasts an advisory board that includes legends such as David Foster, Monica Mancini, Rickey Minor, Harvey Mason Jr., and Ledisi. ________

Chris Walden

Chris Walden (Artistic Director and Conductor) is a seven-time GRAMMY-nominated composer and arranger, who has worked with Herb Alpert, Michael Bublé, Aretha Franklin, Josh Groban, Diana Krall, John Legend, Paul McCartney, Rihanna, Seal, Barbra Streisand, and many more. Walden serves as lead arranger at the Oscars and has conducted the LA Phil, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Metropole Orkest, Boston Pops, Philadelphia Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony, WDR Big Band Cologne, and many more.

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Veronica Swift

VERONICA SWIFT (vocals) Veronica Swift’s new eponymously titled album, her third for Mack Avenue Records, is a masterful coming-out story. On her previous albums, Confessions (2019) and This Bitter Earth (2021), she ascended to the upper echelon of early 21st century jazz singers because of her virtuosic brilliance, interpretive ingenuity, bracing songwriting, and keen arrangements. Simply put, Swift is not only one of the most dazzling singers to emerge in her generation, she’s one of the most versatile. While her first two albums solidified her position in modern jazz, Veronica Swift shows that she’s more than a jazz singer, exploring French and Italian opera, European classical music, bossa nova, blues, industrial rock, funk, and vaudeville. She pulls the feat off without the results sounding callow or pastiche. Swift’s expansive artistic voice remains firmly intact regardless of genre. Swift describes this personal artistic statement on her new album as “transgenre.” “I grew up immersed in the culture of jazz music, blessed to have had some of the greats as mentors, and I felt a deep familial duty to uphold that” she says, reflecting on her parents – jazz singer and educator, Stephanie Nakasian, and bebop pianist, Hod O’Brien. “But as rooted in jazz as I’ve been, there’s a uniquely visceral power in rock and soul music that’s always fueled my creative passion, and rather than mask or confine that part of my identity, the people I admire most show themselves unabashedly and that’s the kind of tradition I want to be a part of. Swift first gained major international attention in 2015 when she won second place in the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz International Vocals Competition. Four years later, Mack Avenue Records released her acclaimed album Confessions when she was only 25 years old. She demonstrated her flair for conceptual song cycles on her follow-up album, This Bitter Earth, which not only gave glimpses of her rock influences but thematically touched upon some of the harder truths of being a woman, particularly when it comes to domestic abuse. Swift says that for her new album she’d been exploring her “transgenre” concept for about two-and-half years. During the Covid-19 pandemic, she strategized the unveiling of this more artistically naked version of herself to the public while being mindful of how conservative the mainstream jazz industry can be. She forged and refined most of the material for Veronica Swift on the road. Much to her delight, audiences enthusiastically welcomed the new direction. “My live concerts have been the experiment by which I am seeing the readiness of the audience to embrace the full scope of who I am, and it’s encouraging to know I can continue to push myself creatively and invite people into the fold along the way.”

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PACIFIC JAZZ ORCHESTRA PRODUCTION STAFF

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An Interview with Veronica Swift

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The Soraya

The Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts (The Soraya/Producer) is an award-winning, state-of-the-art 1,700-seat theater that opened in 2011 as the Valley Performing Arts Center. Through a transformative gift by Younes and Soraya Nazarian, the venue was renamed The Soraya in 2017. The Soraya is located on the campus of California State University, Northridge, the intellectual and cultural heart of the San Fernando Valley.

Executive and Artistic Director Thor Steingraber, in his 12th year leading the organization, sums up what makes The Soraya a central piece of Los Angeles arts and culture. “At The Soraya, we hold a high standard of excellence for every performance from a vast array of artistic disciplines, and we hold steadfast to our commitment to the value and impact of the performing arts in community-building, for the Valley’s 1.8 million residents and beyond.”

The Soraya’s 2025–26 Season is a journey through the expansive sounds of orchestras, the freestyle vibes of jazz, the innovations of dance luminaries, and a vast array of global voices. The Soraya continues its vigorous commitment to excelling, innovating, and amplifying access for Valley residents, students, and arts lovers across Southern California.

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