English Choral Tradition at Heart of LA Children's Chorus Winter Concert This Weekend

Los AngeLes Children's Chorus, acclaimed for its pure, agile, Bel Canto sound that has made it one of the most in-demand children's choirs in the county, spotlights the music of Benjamin Britten and the English choral tradition and also performs a compelling array of music from around the globe at its popular annual Winter Concert tonight, December 7, 7 PM, and Sunday, December 8, 2013, 7:30 PM, at Pasadena Presbyterian Church. The repertoire includes Benjamin Britten's Ceremony of Carols, Friday Afternoons and selections from his extensive collection of folksong settings, as well as a selection of English carols and cathedral anthems from Sir David Willcocks, John Rutter and others.

LACC Artistic Director Anne Tomlinson conducts the chorus' renowned Concert Choir and Chamber Singers. Associate Artistic Director Mandy Brigham leads the Intermediate Choir, Diana Landis leads the Apprentice Choir, and Dr. Steve Kronauer conducts the Young Men's Ensemble. The choirs will perform separately and combined.

Tickets are $26, $38 and $44; children 17 and under are half price. For tickets and information, please call (626) 793-4231 or visit www.lachildrenschorus.org. Pasadena Presbyterian Church is located at 585 East Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91101.

Los AngeLes Children's Chorus - lauded as "one of the world's foremost children's choirs" (Pasadena Star News), and described by critics as "hauntingly beautiful" (Los Angeles Times), "astonishingly polished" (Performances Magazine), "extraordinary in its abilities" (Culture Spot LA), and "one heck of a talented group of kids" (LA Weekly) - is recognized throughout the country for its exceptional artistic quality and technical ability. Founded in 1986 and led by Artistic Director Anne Tomlinson since 1995, LACC's roster includes more than 375 children ages 6 to 18 from more than 50 communities across Los Angeles in six choirs and First Experiences in Singing program. LACC has toured North and South America, Africa, China, Australia and Europe. It appears on the Los Angeles Master Chorale's critically acclaimed Decca recording A Good Understanding, and Plácido Domingo's Deutsche Grammophon recording Amore Infinito ("Infinite Love"). The subject of a trilogy of documentaries by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Freida Lee Mock, LACC is featured in the Academy Award-nominated Sing!, about a year in the life of the choir; Sing Opera!, documenting the production of LACC's commissioned family opera Keepers of the Night; and Sing China!, chronicling its groundbreaking tour to China just prior to the Beijing Olympics. LACC has performed with John Mayer on NBC's "The Tonight Show" and was featured on Public Radio International's nationally syndicated show "From the Top," among other credits.

ANNE TOMLINSON, appointed artistic director of Los AngeLes Children's Chorus (LACC) in 1995, conducts the Concert Choir and the Chamber Singers and is responsible for the educational and artistic development of LACC. She also serves as Children's Chorus Mistress for the Los Angeles Opera, in which capacity she has prepared children for major operatic works including the world premiere of Tobias Picker's opera Fantastic Mr. Fox based upon the story by Roald Dahl, and has worked with Plácido Domingo, Andrew Litton, and Julius Rudel, among other renowned conductors. She has prepared children's choirs for Esa-Pekka Salonen, Gustavo Dudamel, Carlos Rizzi, and Maren Alsop in Los Angeles Philharmonic performances of Bizet's Carmen, Stravinsky's Persephone, John Adams' El Niño, Mahler's Symphony No. 3, Orff's Carmina Burana and a fully staged production of Bernstein's Mass at the Hollywood Bowl, among many others. Los Angeles Master Chorale presentations include Christopher Rouse's Requiem and Orff's Carmina Burana with Grant Gershon and Paul Salamunovich. Ms. Tomlinson is a frequent presenter at symposia, workshops and festivals. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin College Conservatory of Music and Master's degree in conducting from Northwestern University where she studied with Margaret Hillis. She received the Gold Crown Award for Music Education in 2000, given by the Pasadena Arts Council, Power of One Award in 2001, bestowed by Facing History and Ourselves Foundation, and the Educator of the Year Award in 2006, presented by the Harvard-Radcliffe Club of Southern California.

The concerts are set for Saturday, December 7, 2013, 7:00 PM (Concert and Apprentice Choirs, Young Men's Ensemble) and Sunday, December 8, 2013, 7:30 PM (Concert and Intermediate Choirs, Chamber Singers).

PROGRAM:

BRITTEN Ceremony of Carols
Friday Afternoons
+ a selection of English carols and cathedral anthems from Sir David Willcocks and John Rutter and others

Performances will play the Pasadena Presbyterian Church, 585 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91101. Ticket prices: $26, $38, $44; (½ price for students 17 and under). To book, call (626) 793-4231 or visit www.lachildrenschorus.org.

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