When Mark Carlson created the small chamber music ensemble Pacific Serenades, he never dreamed he’d still be performing with the group 22 years later. But somewhere along the line, Pacific Serenades found a niche in the Southern California classical music community. Read more...

“Miracle” Directed by Gavin O’Connor Walt Disney Pictures I know almost nothing about sports, but I love sports movies. “Miracle” is a big, old-fashioned, red-blooded sports movie that wears its heart on its sleeve, the kind that makes grown men cry. Read more...

Even though drums were banned in colonial Peru, African slaves living there refused to abandon the rhythms that were so integral to their culture. They grabbed anything they could beat or shake, transforming ordinary items like storage crates and chairs into tools that would preserve their musical tradition. Read more...

Isamu Noguchi Japanese American National Museum Feb. 7 through May 30 To celebrate what would be Noguchi’s 100th birthday, an exhibition of modern Japanese ceramics organized by the Smithsonian is the perfect gift for the artist and museum-goers. Read more...

If you saw Axel Schmitt, a UCLA student currently working on his Doctor of Musical Arts degree, on campus, you’d never guess he is a renowned pianist who has played in front of crowds all over Europe and the United States. Read more...

Film School The Cooperage Feb. 6, 8 p.m. With a moody and dynamic palette of sounds, Film School is sure to win over the hearts of arty pretentious types everywhere. Read more...

Names like Kim Gi-duk, B. Shigley and Hyo-Lee may mean practically nothing to an average American. However, they are all famous celebrities in the Asian entertainment industry, and they are all featured in the current issue of Asia Pacific Arts ““ a UCLA-based magazine devoted to both Asian-American and Asian arts and entertainment. Read more...