Music Director David Benoit And President Ted Tokio Tanaka Announce Asia America Symphony Association's 50th Anniversary And 2011 Concert Season

Los Angeles, CA (Top40 Charts/ Asia America Symphony Association) The Asia America Symphony Association (AASA) led by Music Director & Conductor, David Benoit and President, Ted Tokio Tanakaannounced its 2011 Concert Season, featuring a line-up of world renowned and celebrated artists. Heading up the concert series on Saturday, February 26 is award-winning pianist and composer, Helen Sung. Called 'one of the brightest emerging stars in jazz today', Ms. Sung will be performing for the first time with The David Benoit Quartet. On Saturday, March 19, all the way from Japan, don't miss a spectacular performance of internationally renowned Taiko virtuoso, Hiroyuki Hayashida and his trio, ZI-PANG, plus The David Benoit Trio. A Night on Broadway featuring the Asia America Youth Orchestra and vocalists from the Negri Youth Program will be presented on Friday, April 29.

On Saturday, June 25, the Asia America Symphony Orchestra, Music Director & Conductor, David Benoit will present AASA's 50th Anniversary Celebration Concert, featuring Beethoven's Ode to Joy; a solo performance by virtuoso violinist, Eleanor Dunbar; and the world debut of a surprise composition written in honor of AASA's 50th Anniversary byDavid Benoit. Benoit and Tanaka also announced their 50th Anniversary Events: Annual Golf and Tennis Tournament at the Rolling Hills Country Club on Monday, May 2, and'Evening of Music and Fine Dining' featuring the Iron Chefs of Japan with music at the Riviera Country Club on Tuesday, August 23, and the 50th Anniversary Bravo Awards at downtown Los Angeles' Millennium Biltmore Hotel on Sunday, October 9, with an opportunity drawing for a Lexus 2011 IS250 hardtop convertible donated by Toyota Motor Sales USA.

CONCERT I: Saturday, February 26, 2011 - 8pm / Harlyne J. Norris Pavilion

An Evening with Award-winning Jazz Pianist & Composer, HELEN SUNG
The David Benoit Quartet

Asian-American artist and composer, Helen Sung, challenges stereotypes with a compelling, unique voice formed by her virtuosity in classical, jazz, and popular music. She initially aspired to be a classical pianist, but was bitten by the jazz bug while studying at the University of Texas at Austin. She was soon accepted into the inaugural class of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance, giving her an opportunity to work with the greatest masters of jazz music such as Clark Terry, Wynton Marsalis, Ron Carter, Wayne Shorter, Sir Roland Hanna and the late Ray Brown. She will be performing for the first time with The David Benoit Quartet.

Ticket Prices: $50 Preferred, $35 General Seating; Harlyne J. Norris Pavilion, 501 Indian Peak Road, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274

CONCERT II: Saturday, March 19, 2011 - 8pm / Harlyne J. Norris Pavilion

Internationally renowned Taiko virtuoso, HIROYUKI HAYASHIDA
The David Benoit Trio

A native of Japan, internationally acclaimed Taiko artist, pioneer and master of 'katsugi oke daiko' (a unique shouldering taiko), Hiroyuki Hayashida will mesmerize and awaken your senses with his trio, ZI-PANG. Performing together for the first time with The David Benoit Trio, this concert will invigorate your musical senses and is not to be missed.

Ticket Prices: $50 Preferred, $35 General Seating; Harlyne J. Norris Pavilion, 501 Indian Peak Road, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274

CONCERT III: Friday, April 29, 2011 - 8pm / James Armstrong Theatre

A NIGHT ON BROADWAY
ASIA AMERICA YOUTH ORCHESTRA

Music Director, Conductor and Founder David Benoit leads the multi-talented Asia America Youth Orchestra through a program of Broadway hits! This concert also features a new collaboration with the Norris Center for Education's Negri Youth Program, who will be providing the young and amazing vocalists for the evening. This performance will feature music from great musicals such as West Side Story, Wicked, Beauty and the Beast, Miss Saigon, and many more.

Ticket Prices: $40 Preferred Seating, $25 General Seating; James R. Armstrong Theatre, 3330 N. Civic Center Drive, Torrance, CA 90503.

CONCERT IV: Saturday, June 25, 2011 - 8pm / Norris Theatre for the Performing Arts

ODE TO JOY! - 50th Anniversary Concert
ASIA AMERICA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
David Benoit, Music Director and Conductor
Violin soloist: Eleanor Dunbar

Music Director and Conductor David Benoit and the highly acclaimed Asia America Symphony Orchestra will perform the Ode to Joy from Beethoven's Symphony No 9 with four soloists and a chorus of eighty. You will not want to miss virtuoso violinist Eleanor Dunbar performing Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in D, and the world premiere of a special composition dedicated to the 50th Anniversary of the Asia America Symphony Association by David Benoit.

Ticket Prices: $100 VIP Seating with post-concert reception, $75 Premier Seating, $50 General Seating; Norris Theatre for the Performing Arts, 27570 Norris Center Drive, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274