In an era when symphony tickets can cost hundreds of dollars, Los Angeles Philharmonic veteran Paul Stein is proving that world-class classical music belongs in community spaces.
His upcoming trio performance at Crowell Public Library promises an intimate musical conversation between instruments in a setting where anyone can pull up a chair.
The July 23 concert, “Musical Power, Inspiration, and Reflection,” transforms the San Marino library into a 45-minute journey through centuries of musical expression.
From 6:30 to 7:15 p.m., Stein and his ensemble will perform works by Beethoven, Mozart, and 20th-century British composer Ernest Moeran—each selection demonstrating how classical music continues to explore universal questions about human emotion and artistic expression.
“When we play Beethoven or Mozart today, we’re not preserving a museum piece—we’re reinterpreting a living art form that continues to speak to us,” Stein said in a 2022 Classical Encounters Foundation interview.
This philosophy drives the evening’s programming.
Moeran (1894-1950), who fused English folk traditions with classical forms, serves as a bridge between the Classical period masters and contemporary sensibilities.
The trio format allows listeners to hear how instruments converse and respond to each other in real time.
For Stein, who has performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic for three decades, community performances represent classical music’s future.
Beyond his orchestral duties, he regularly appears in Southern California chamber series and contributes to music education through Chamber Music Express.
These library concerts democratize an art form often perceived as elite, bringing professional musicianship to neighborhoods where families might never venture downtown for a symphony.
The free concert requires no tickets but registration is required.
“Musical Power, Inspiration, and Reflection” will run on Wednesday, July 23 at 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Crowell Public Library, 1890 Huntington Drive, San Marino. For more call (626) 300-0777 or visit https://sanmarinoca.gov/
