News

The Los Angeles Philanthropic Committee for the Arts has pledged a total of $50,000 to the UCLA Department of Theater to support a two-year series of master classes, announced professor Michael Hackett, chair of the department. A first installment of $25,000 funds the Los Angeles Philanthropic Committee for the Arts UCLA Theater Master Class Series for the 2010-2011 academic year.

Founded in 1979, the >Los Angeles Philanthropic Committee for the Arts (LAPCA) donates $225,000 annually to provide financial support for arts organizations in Southern California, according to the group’s president, Audre Slater. A primary focus is support for young people as performers, or of artists and organizations whose orientation is toward teaching young people to better understand and enjoy the arts.

Activities the Committee supports include the American Youth Symphony, the Los Angeles Children's Chorus, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, The Colburn School and the Los Angeles Opera.

LAPCA's artistic board, chaired by opera singer Rodney Gilfry, includes violinist Midori, pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet and flutist Eugenia Zuckerman.

The UCLA Department of Theater offers intensive professional training in all the creative arts and crafts of theater, from acting and directing to playwriting and design. The Department also believes strongly in providing elements of a classic liberal education, combining literary and historical study with rigorous practical training.