Famed L.A. Children's Chorus Holds First Experiences In Singing Class For Children

The renowned Los Angeles Children's Chorus (LACC) is currently enrolling children ages six and seven in its "First Experiences in Singing" Level I class, which introduces children to the wonders and excitement of singing and music.

Classes are held Wednesdays from January 24 to March 14, 2018, from 4:15 pm to 5 pm, at Pasadena Presbyterian Church. Geared for children with no previous musical training, the eight-week class is intentionally small in size to provide optimum instruction.

"First Experiences in Singing enables children to explore their voices, which are their own unique instruments," says LACC Artistic Director Anne Tomlinson.

First Experiences in Singing includes general music and rhythmic concepts and teaches bel canto singing, the vocal style using the head voice for which LACC is acclaimed, with all activities adhering to LACC's supportive and nurturing tradition of excellence, focusing on the health of the voice. It also incorporates different learning modalities to engage visual, auditory and kinetic learners while presenting the fundamentals of singing at the appropriate developmental stage to prepare children to audition for LACC's upper-level choirs.

Children who complete First Experiences in Singing Level I are eligible to continue in Level II, then Level III classes, which are non-performing groups. Graduates of Level III are eligible to audition for LACC's Preparatory Choir. Los Angeles Children's Chorus is recognized throughout the country for its exceptional artistic quality and technical ability.

Founded in 1986, LACC serves more than 400 children ages 6 to 18 through six choirs - Preparatory, Apprentice, Intermediate, Concert, Chamber Singers and Young Men's Ensemble for boys with changing voices - and offers First Experiences in Singing classes and a First Experiences in Choral Singing Ensemble for 6-8-year-olds. LACC has been described 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).

Recipient of Chorus America's 2014 Margaret Hillis Award for Choral Excellence, the nation's highest choral honor, LACC has toured North and South America, Africa, China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Western and Eastern Europe. LACC choristers can be heard on John Williams' latest recording, John Williams & Steven Spielberg: The Ultimate Collection, released in March 2017. LACC also 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 Mock, LACC is featured in the Academy Award-nominated Sing!, about a year in the life of the Chorus; Sing Opera!, documenting the production of the LACC-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 has also been featured on PBS's "Great Performances," BBC Radio, and Public Radio International's nationally syndicated show "From the Top," among other credits.

The cost of the eight-week First Experiences in Singing class is $300. Pasadena Presbyterian Church is located at 585 E. Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, CA, 91101. For more information or to enroll, please call (626) 793-4231 or visit www.lachildrenschorus.org.

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