The Los Angeles Collaboration was formed by pianist Duane Funderburk and violinist Alex Russell in 2000. They give approximately 50 performances annually, both in duo recitals and as soloists with orchestra. Their music spans a wide spectrum of styles, including classical, sacred, Broadway, and other American music repertoire. Most distinctive about their perfor-mances is the presentation of their original arrangements and orchestrations. International appearances include performances with the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra in Yerevan, Armenia and with chamber orchestras in Canada, Korea, Lithuania, Sweden, and Ukraine. Additionally, the duo has performed in Shanghai and Beijing, China and in London, England and recently accepted invitations to give performances in Singapore and in Sydney, Australia. Appearances in the United States in 2008 include presentations and concerts at the Interna-tional Arts Movement Conference and Museum of Biblical Art in New York City.

The Los Angeles Collaboration is a member of Chamber Music America.

uane Funderburk began his musical studies in the Pacific Northwest studying with Marcile Mack at Seattle Pacific University and Randolph Hokanson at the University of Washington. While in Seattle he performed with cellist Carter Enyeart and violist Alan Iglitzen, both members of the Philadelphia String Quartet. Summer studies included the Aspen Music Festival and the Tanglewood Institute where he studied with Bela Nagy, Samuel Lipman, Ruth Laredo and Edith Oppens.

Dr. Funderburk holds a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance from Seattle Pacific University, a Master of Music degree in piano performance from Boston University, and a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from the University of Southern California in collaborative piano. While in Boston he won first place in the Aaron Richmond Piano Competition, performed live on Boston Public Radio, as well as giving recitals at the Gardner Museum, Worcester Art Museum and Goethe Institute. International orchestral performances include appearances with the Berlin Chamber Orchestra, the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Panevezys Chamber Orchestra in Lithuania. He has performed as soloist in Cairo and Alexandria Egypt, and has performed in Seoul, Korea with the touring Odessa Philharmonic Orchestra from Ukraine. As duo recitalist with violinist Alex Russell, he performed at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and The Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, China, as well as appearances in Sweden, Australia, Singapore, Korea, Ukraine, Armenia, Canada, as well as numerous venues in the United States. Some of Dr. Funderburk's works for violin and piano based on hymn melodies will be published in 2010 by MorningStar Music. As an arranger and conductor, he has produced numerous albums for instrumental and vocal artists, including Jane Thorngren of the New York City Opera and baritone Simon Estes of the Metropolitan Opera Company.

lex Russell began studying the violin in San Diego, California, at the age of two. He first performed on national television at the age of 11, and at 15 won his first orchestral position with the Tulare County Symphony. During his career he has been a member of orchestras throughout California and Ohio and has worked with such conductors as James Levine, John Williams, Michael Tilson Thomas, Sir Neville Marriner, James Conlon, Carl St. Clair, Sergiu Comissiona, and Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos. As a soloist, Alex has performed concertos with orchestras around the country and has performed on numerous occasions on local, national, and international radio and television broadcasts. As a chamber musician, Alex is an active member of both the violin/piano duo The Los Angeles Collaboration and the Cascades Piano Trio and has performed with members of the Nash Ensemble and the Vermeer and Philadelphia String Quartets. Alex is very committed to teaching: he is both Director of Chamber Music and Assistant Professor of Violin at Azusa Pacific University in Southern California, and has given masterclasses around the world at music schools and conservatories, including Komitas State Conservatory in Yerevan, Armenia, and P. Maiboroda Music School in Zaporozhye, Ukraine. Alex has received fellowships to study at numerous music festivals, including the Tanglewood Music Festival and the Aspen Music Festival. He holds a Master's in Violin Performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied with famed pedagogue Paul Kantor and is currently pursuing a DMA in Violin Performance with Alice Shoenfeld at the University of Southern California. Alex performs on an 1865 Auguste Sebastien Philippe Bernardel violin.

Violin: Vladimir Rufino, Andre Kolodiuk, Armine Nerkararyan, Carley Anderson

Viola: Fabiola Rufino

Cello: Elizabeth Su, Alicia Steinhaus

Bass: Josué Corona

The LA Collaboration will be performing works of well known sonatas, hymns and arrangements for this benefit concert.