The Pasadena Senior Center begins its 2024 Summer Masters Series, featuring six multimedia presentations by acclaimed musicologist Alan Chapman, on July 2, concluding on July 30. The series will offer participants insights into various musical topics through engaging online sessions.
Chapman, a longtime host of Classical California KUSC, has been presenting the summer program for Masters Series since its inception in 1994, 30 years ago. His involvement dates back to when the program was called Senior Curriculum and co-hosted by Occidental College, where Chapman was teaching music.
“Alan Chapman has been our most popular presenter from the very beginning,” said Annie Laskey, Director of Events at the Pasadena Senior Center.
The series will cover topics including “The Concerto,” “Very Varied Variations,” “Very Varied Variations (Part Two),” “Nicknames,” and “Focus on Folk.” The program runs every Tuesday at 2 p.m. via Zoom and aims to engage, enrich, and inspire participants. It also aligns with the Center’s mission by offering college-level lectures on a range of subjects.
“Masters Series Lifelong Learning presents two-hour college-level lectures on topics that range across arts, science, politics, religion, food, culture, and beyond,” Laskey explained.
Community response has been positive, with over 50 people already registered, Laskey said. The Center expects more to join as the series progresses. Recordings will be available to registered participants for a limited time.
As for the fee structure, Pasadena Senior Center members pay $75 and non-members $90 for the entire series.
The Pasadena Senior Center offers various other programs throughout the year, including Cultural Thursdays, a one-hour program on most Thursdays offering a grab bag of arts & culture programming. Let’s Talk sessions on health and wellness topics are held on Thursday mornings. Special events celebrating holidays and Heritage Months are also part of their offerings.
Laskey said the Center’s transition to virtual events during the pandemic has proven successful.
“Zoom has proved a good system for lectures and certain programs because of ease of access, and that recordings of the sessions are typically available for later viewing, so we have continued to offer popular programs online via Zoom,” she noted, adding they have been gradually returning to in-person activities since July 2021. “The Center is back to pre-pandemic levels of activity; in fact, we are now busier than ever.”
Looking ahead, the Pasadena Senior Center plans to expand its educational and cultural programs, subject to available space and generous funding, Laskey said, The Center plans to work with community organizations and utilize the time and talents of members and supporters for future programming.
To learn more about the 2024 Summer Masters Series, visit https://www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org/lectures-classes/masters-series-lifelong-learning.
