LA Master Chorale's 2015 High School Choir Festival Set for Walt Disney Concert Hall Today

The Los Angeles Master Chorale (LAMC) continues its vital role of championing and training the next generation of musical talent at its acclaimed High School Choir Festival showcasing some 1,000 choir students from 29 Southland high schools in massed choir in a free concert today, May 1, 2015, 1 pm, at Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles.

Sharing the podium are LAMC Artistic Director Grant Gershon and special guest conductor Rollo Dilworth, esteemed professor of Choral Music Education at Temple University in Philadelphia. The program features Dilworth's compelling arrangement of the spiritual Rockin' Jerusalem; two selections from Vivaldi's Gloria -- Quoniam tu solus sanctus and Cum Sancto spiritu; Abbie Betinis's Journey Home; The Lone Wild Bird, arranged by Frank DeWald; the South African freedom song Siyahamba; and Soulspeak by Z. Randall Stroop.

In addition, the prestigious 100-voice Festival Honor Choir, comprised of outstanding young singers nominated by their teachers, presents Janger by Budi Susanto Yohanes; The Ground by Ola Gjeilo; and Muié Rendêra by C.A. Pinto Fonseca.

Now in its 26th year, the High School Choir Festival is one of the longest and most successful continuously operating music outreach programs in Southern California. The in-depth, yearlong, in-school program presented by the Chorale includes intensive teacher training; classroom rehearsals and master classes for students and choral directors led by members of the LA Master Chorale. At the festival, students also enjoy a performance by the professional Los Angeles Master Chorale Chamber Singers under the direction of Associate Conductor Lesley Leighton.

"There is nothing like hearing these amazingly talented students perform live in a 1,000-voice massed choir," says Gershon. "The High School Choir Festival is truly one of the highlights of LA Master Chorale's season. It also provides a rare opportunity for the public to attend a free concert in the iconic Disney Hall, one of the greatest music venues anywhere."

Participating choirs include Agoura High School Mixed Choir (Agoura), Chad Bloom, director; Arleta High School Concert Choir (Arleta), Greg Broadous, director; Arroyo High School Chamber Singers (El Monte), Jennifer Stanley, director; Bellflower High School Vocal Ensemble (Bellflower), Carolyn Kelley, director; Birmingham Community Charter High School Chamber Singers (Lake Balboa), Michael Suffolk, director; California High School Chamber Singers (Whittier), Dan Hawkins, director; Cortines High School Concert Choir (Los Angeles 90012), Desiree Fowler, director; Culver City High School (Culver City), Dr. Tony Spano, director; Duarte High School Cantabile Singers (Duarte), Claire Hsu, director; East LA Performing Arts Upscale Choir, (Los Angeles 90063), Melissa Rios, director; El Monte High School A Cappella Choir (El Monte), Joel Whisler, director; Fullerton Union School Vocal Ensemble (Fullerton), Scott Hedgecock, director; Glendale High School A Cappella Choir (Glendale), Grace Sheldon-Williams, director; and Glendora High School Royal Stewarts (Glendora), Dr. Brian Trevor, director.

Also featured are Granada Hills Charter School Highlander Choir (Granada Hills), Sarah White, director; Hamilton High School Chamber Singers (Los Angeles 90034), Kelci Hahn, director; Lakewood High School Madrigal Singers (Lakewood), Ralph Siemsen, director; Mira Costa High School Multicultural Choir (Manhattan Beach), Michael Hayden, director; Montebello High School Golden Keys (Montebello), Jessie Flasschoen, director; Norwalk High School Singers (Norwalk), Nancy Lanpher, director; Orange County School of the Arts Chamber Singers (Santa Ana), Adriana Manfredi, director; Rancho Cucamonga High School Chamber Singers (Rancho Cucamonga), Kelley Squires, director; Rosemead High School Chamber Singers (Rosemead), Ruth Gray, director; San Gabriel Academy Chorale (San Gabriel), Lilybeth Evardome-Hunt, director; San Gabriel High School Matador Choir (San Gabriel), Cecilia Revilla, director; Taft High School Vocal Ensemble (Woodland Hills), Tom Pease, director; Van Nuys High School Vocal Ensemble (Van Nuys), Brianne Arevajo, director; Venice High School Allegros (Los Angeles), Wendy Samoff, director; Wilson High School Chamber Singers (Long Beach), Curtis Heard, director.

The High School Choir Festival is made possible, in part, by grants from the Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts and Edison International.

The Los Angeles Master Chorale's High School Choir Festival is FREE and seating is first come, first served. The Walt Disney Concert Hall is located at 111 South Grand Avenue at First Street in Los Angeles. For information, call (213) 972-7282 or visit www.lamc.org/HSCF.

DETAILS:

Los Angeles Master Chorale's 26th Annual High School Choir Festival
Grant Gershon, conductor
Rollo Dilworth, guest conductor
1,000 Students from 29 Southland High School
Festival Honor Choir
Los Angeles Master Chorale Chamber Singers

Friday, May 1, 2015, 1 pm (Festival Chorus and Festival Honor Choir)

PROGRAM:
Performed by 1,000-Voice Festival Chorus
VIVALDI Quoniam tu solus sanctus (from Gloria)
VIVALDI Cum Sancto spiritu (from Gloria
ABBIE BETINIS Journey Home
Arr. Frank DeWald The Lone Wild Bird
South African freedom song Siyahamba
Z. RANDALL STROOP Soulspeak
Arr. Rollo Dilworth Rockin' Jerusalem

Performed by 80-Voice Festival Honor Choir
BUDI SUSANTO YOHANES Janger
OLA GJEILO The Ground
C.A. PINTO FONSECA Muié Rendêra

The performance is set for Walt Disney Concert Hall, located at 111 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Free. For more information, call (213) 972-7282 or visit www.lamc.org/HSCF.

PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS:
Agoura High School (Agoura)
Arleta High School (Arleta)
Arroyo High School (El Monte)
Bellflower High School (Bellflower)
Birmingham Community Charter High School (Lake Balboa)
California High School (Whittier)
Culver City High School (Culver City)
Duarte High School (Duarte)
East LA Performing Arts Magnet (Los Angeles 90063)
El Monte High School (El Monte)
Fullerton Union High School (Fullerton)
Glendale High School (Glendale)
Glendora High School (Glendora)
Granada Hills Charter High School (Granada Hills)
Hamilton High School, Academy of Music (Los Angeles 90034)
Lakewood High School (Lakewood)
Mira Costa High School (Manhattan Beach)
Montebello High School (Montebello)
Norwalk High School (Norwalk)
Orange County School of the Arts (Santa Ana)
Ramón C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts (Los Angeles 90012)
Rancho Cucamonga High School (Rancho Cucamonga)
Rosemead High School (Rosemead)
San Gabriel Academy (San Gabriel)
San Gabriel High School (San Gabriel)
Taft High School (Woodland Hills)
Van Nuys High School (Van Nuys)
Venice High School (Los Angeles)
Wilson High School (Long Beach)

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