THE LUCKMAN AT 30

Since 1994, The Luckman Fine Arts Complex at Cal State LA has been the University’s home for the professional arts and a meeting point where communities come together to celebrate the universal language of creativity. As the area’s preeminent cultural center, The Luckman is committed to cultivating an appreciation for the arts by providing a platform for artistic expression and the discovery of different cultures. Named for noted philanthropists Harriet and Charles Luckman, The Luckman is committed to cultivating an appreciation for the arts by providing a platform for artistic expression and the discovery of different cultures. Thanks to the generosity of Harriet and Charles Luckman, over the past 30 years the fine arts complex that bears their name has presented the music, dance, theatre, film and visual art of nearly 1,000 artists representing more than 60 countries.

Throughout the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons we are celebrating The Luckman’s 30th anniversary. This milestone will be commemorated at a Gala Reception and Concert in honor of JAMES M. ROSSER, President Emeritus of Cal State LA, and the driving force behind the creation of The Luckman. During his 34 years as President, Dr. Rosser’s countless accomplishments included advocacy for education, the arts and cultural diversity, which have coalesced magnificently in The Luckman. Proceeds from this event will benefit The Luckman’s outreach and education programming for access to the arts. Through our programming, The Luckman produces unique engagement opportunities with artists from around the world, connecting our students, faculty, staff and neighbors with the arts in meaningful ways.

Michael Feinstein brings to life Big Band Celebrations and the Tony Bennett legacy. Supported by The Carnegie Hall Ensemble and The Luckman Jazz Orchestra, Feinstein pays a heartfelt tribute to the legendary Tony Bennett, bringing his iconic songs to life in a symphony of sound. The show also brings to bear the history of Carnegie Hall and The Luckman. Icons from across the 20th and 21st centuries have graced the stage of Carnegie Hall, from Benny Goodman to Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong to Ella Fitzgerald, and from Frank Sinatra to, of course, Tony Bennett. The music-making of Feinstein and the Carnegie Hall Big Band continue this tradition, as this program brings the Hall’s history to life onstage. They will be joined by The Luckman Jazz Orchestra, hailed by the Los Angeles Times as “one of the finest musical organizations around,” for this harmonic tribute to a music legend. Established in 2000, The Luckman Jazz Orchestra’s mission is to preserve and expand the art form of orchestral jazz.