This will be the first time the Music Guild has mounted a concert in Beverly Hills. In past years the group's L.A. venue was the Wilshire Ebell Theatre.

Founded in 1944 by radio personality Alfred Leonard, The Music Guild's board of directors originally consisted mainly of Russian and German immigrants. Shortly after that, such well-known personalities as Arthur Knight, Max Laemmle and Mac Benoff joined the board.

In 1952 the impresario and artist's manager Dorothy Huttenback became the executive director. During her illustrious career, Huttenback represented artists such as Rubenstein, Horowitz and Tamanova. She also launched and guided the careers of Marilyn Horne and Mary Costa. Until 1985, when she was 88 years old, Huttenback single handedly ran The Music Guild without ever seeking government grants.

The Guild gave many chamber music ensembles their first opportunity to perform in Los Angeles: Julliard Sring Quartet, Budapest String Quartet, Guarnieri String Quartet, Paganini String Quartet and the Beaux Arts Trio.

Huttenback died in 1987 and her successor, attorney Eugene Golden, took on the challenge of directing the Guild's fortunes. In 1991 he unveiled a plan to bring the concerts to distant college campuses where students and music-lovers could enjoy them.

The Guild now presents six concerts a year at BHHS, Northridge and Long Beach, plus three Sunday afternoon concerts a year at the University Synagogue, a total of 21 concerts. The Guild also presents chamber music classes at colleges and inner-city elementary schools.

For many years the Guild has invited as its guests the students of the American Youth Symphony, the USC Symphony Orchestra, the UCLA Youth Orchestra, the Crossroads Orchestra, the Colburn Performing Arts School and the Braille Institute.

As the L.A. Times has noted, "Along with the Philharmonic, the Music Guild, our long-time purveyor of first-rank chamber music ensembles, may be the closest this community gets to having a musical core. Attending a Music Guild event ...one often feels in the center of things. Interesting music is made there; important musicians perform there. And the loyal and dedicated Guild audience recognizes the distinction."

Other groups scheduled to perform in the 2002-2003 season include the Parkanyi String Quartet (Nov.), New Hollywood String Quartet (Dec.), Brahms Piano Trio (Feb. 2003), Mendelssohn String Quartet (March) and St. Petersburg String Quartet (April).

For information or tickets contact The Music Guild at 1900 Avenue of the Stars, 26th fl, LA, CA 90067-4301. Call (310) 552-3030 or e-mail TheMusicGuild@aol.com