NBC Christmas Candlelight Concert

LLUC Media

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Christmas

As seen on NBC, God with Us is a Christmas Candlelight Concert from the Loma Linda University Church. In collaboration with the Interfaith Broadcast Commission.

About

Adriana Perera

Adriana Perera serves as the Director of Worship and Musical Arts at Loma Linda University Church. She is a composer, pianist, music minister, author, educator, and international speaker. Adriana holds a Doctorate in Theology with a concentration in Worship, as well as master's degrees in Composition, Music Theory, and Piano.

At the heart of her ministry is a passion to inspire Christ-centered worship within local congregations and to foster the creation of high-quality music resources that share the message of Jesus with people everywhere.

Rick Olsen

Rick Olsen grew up in Pasco, Washington. He started studying piano at age five. Rick sang in many church and school choirs, and started playing the oboe at age ten. When in high school, Rick took both voice and oboe lessons. He received a full ride scholarship to Waner Pacific University where he was in multiple instrumental and vocal ensembles. Rick has had the privilege to study with such greats as Jacob Avshalomov, conductor, Portland Youth Philharmonic, Ray Still, Principal oboe of the Chicago Symphony, Tom Stacy, English horn for the New York Philharmonic, and the legendary Leonard Bernstein. Rick currently plays principal oboe in the Temecula Valley Symphony Orchestra, Coachella Valley Symphony Orchestra, as well in the Loma Linda University Church Sanctuary Orchestra. Rick teaches middle school band in the Hemet Unified School District. Rick has a rich bass voice and loves singing the bass arias of Handel’s Messiah.

Liam Thomas

Liam Thomas is a 13 year old violinist from Southern California. He began formal violin lessons at two-and-a-half years old with Ms Cecilia Coo, who markedly influenced his understanding of music, love of performing and the beauty of sharing music with people. Subsequently, Liam was admitted to the Colburn School in Los Angeles where he initially studied with Ms Aimee Kreston. Currently, he is continuing his studies at Colburn with Ms Joan Kwuon and also being mentored by Miclen LaiPang.

Liam has performed as a soloist with the Southern California Philharmonic Orchestra (as the 1st Prize concerto competition winner), the Los Angeles Youth Philharmonic and the Loma Linda University Church Sanctuary Orchestra. As a dedicated and passionate solo musician, he has received top prizes in many competitions (American Virtuoso International Music Competition, Bellagrande Competition, Vienna Grand Prize Virtuoso competition, Cal-ASTA Los Angeles, San Francisco International Young Artist competition) and had the privilege of performing in masterclasses for renowned violinists, such as Sergiu Schwartz, Igor Petrushevski, Martin Beaver, Ayke Agus, Danielle Belen and Martin Chalifour.

As a chamber musician, Liam is the violinist of award winning Trio D’Amici established at the Colburn School and coached by Moni Simeonov. The trio has performed in masterclasses for Julio Elizalde in TonicCon, Jonathan Brown, and Jean-Yves Thibaudet.
Liam aspires to become a concert violinist and composer. He hopes that his music can bring beauty and a message of unity to the world.