Los Angeles Children's Chorus Presents Conversation with Opera Star Ben Heppner, 12/10

World renowned tenor Ben Heppner - described by the Telegraph (UK) as "the world's dramatic tenor of choice, distinguished not only by his stamina and power but also his clarion beauty of tone" - headlines a special free community conversation open to the general public and presented by Los AngeLes Children's Chorus in conjunction with its new Young Men's Ensemble (YME) on Friday, December 10, at 7:30 P.M., at Buckley School in Sherman Oaks. Young Men's Ensemble Director Dr. Steven Kronauer moderates the conversation, during which Heppner, currently featured in the title role of LA Opera's production of Lohengrin, will discuss his career in general, as well as his singing techniques, his voice change during adolescence, and how he trained during that period of his life. He will also answer questions from the audience.

"Ben Heppner is one of the leading opera stars of our time," says Kronauer. "This is an amazing opportunity for anyone interested in singing and opera to gain insight into his unique artistry."

Heppner is widely regarded for his acclaimed voice as well as his warm and engaging manner. The Telegraph (UK) states: "He's such a friendly, self-deprecating regular sort of a guy that it's hard to think of him as famous for impersonating a series of dark and doom-laden heroes with whom he has, by his own admission, very little in common."

The event is free (reservations are not required). The Buckley School is located at 3900 Stansbury Avenue, Sherman Oaks, CA 91413. For information, please call (626) 793-4231 or visit www.lachildrenschorus.org.

BEN HEPPNER is recognized as the finest dramatic tenor before the public today, excelling in the most challenging roles, from Wagner's Tristan and Lohengrin to Verdi's Otello and Berlioz' Aeneas. He is acclaimed in music capitals around the world for his beautiful voice, intelligent musicianship and sparkling dramatic sense. His performances on the opera stage, in concert with the world's leading orchestras, in the most prestigious recital venues, and in recordings have set new standards in his demanding repertoire. He has performed in such venues as Carnegie Hall, the Berlin Philharmonie and the Metropolitan Opera, where, among other accomplishments, he appeared with James Levine for a performance of Tristan und Isolde, which was simulcast in movie theatres throughout North America and the United Kingdom. The Canadian native studied music at the University of British Columbia and first gained national attention in 1979 as the winner of the Canadian Broadcasting Company Talent Festival. In December 1998, CBC television's Something Special featured Ben Heppner in an hour-long portrait of the artist. He is a 1988 winner of the Metropolitan Opera auditions and is both a Grammy Award winner and a Juno Award recipient. In 2002, Heppner was named an Officer of the Order of Canada. He also performed at the closing ceremonies for the 2010 Winter Olympics held in Vancouver, Canada. In addition to appearing with LA Opera this season, Heppner reprises his role as Lohengrin with the Bavarian State Opera in January 2011, presents a series of solo recitals throughout Canada, Switzerland and the United States this spring, and appears in Samson et Dalila at the Théatre du Capitole in Toulouse, France, and Peter Grimes at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in London.

Moderator STEVE KRONAUER, director of LACC's Young Men's Ensemble and a noted tenor, began his professional career as the youngest member ever to sing in the chorus of the Bavarian State Opera in Munich, Germany. During his ten-year engagement, he studied with such leading singers as Verdi tenor Dennis O'Neill and Wagnerian baritone Donald MacIntyre. As a soloist with the Bavarian State Opera, he performed for television broadcasts, CD recordings, and live radio performances, appearing in secondary tenor roles with Renee Fleming, Kurt Moll, and many others. He also sang oratorio under such noted conductors as Karl Anton Richenbacher and Peter Schneide, appeared as a soloist with the Cologne Philharmonic and the Munich Philharmonic in Germany. Since returning to the U.S., Dr. Kronauer has soloed with Angeles Chorale and National Children's Chorus, among others. He completed a doctorate degree at UCLA in choral and operatic conducting. At University of Michigan, he completed two Masters Degrees in Vocal Performance and Choral Conducting, and served as the Assistant Conductor for the University's Men's Glee Club. A gifted teacher, Dr Kronauer taught on the voice faculty of the Interlochen Arts Camp and at the University of California, Irvine. He served for three years on the voice faculty, and as music director of the opera program at California State University, Los Angeles. Subsequently, he served for two years as Acting Chair of the voice department and director of opera activities of the University of California, Santa Barbara. Currently, Dr. Kronauer has a busy private voice studio and is on the faculty of California State University, Long Beach, at the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music, teaching voice and German diction.

LACC's YOUNG MEN'S ENSEMBLE, the first choir in the San Gabriel Valley and one of only a few in the country to serve young male vocalists with changing voices, is designed for boys who wish to pursue singing and the choral arts throughout middle and high school. Led by Dr. Steven Kronauer, it offers quality vocal and choral training in a supportive environment along with essential tools needed to bridge the gap between treble and young men's choral singing. One of the fundamental considerations for working with the choir, Kronauer notes, is being flexible with the repertoire, which he selects to accommodate fluctuations in the singers' voices to ensure the voices are never "pushed" or strained. Established in September 2009, Young Men's Ensemble holds weekly rehearsals, and features a specially tailored musicianship course and individualized vocal coaching sessions that adhere to LACC's exceptionally high standards and rigor. Among the highlights of its first season, YME gave several notable performances, including a concert with the esteemed University of Michigan Men's Glee Club, attended a retreat at USC Thornton School of Music and participated in a special seminar with acclaimed counter-tenor David Daniels. Young Men's Ensemble of Los AngeLes Children's Chorus is supported, in part, by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, and The Green Foundation. Auditions are held annually.

LOS ANGELes ChildREN'S CHORUS, under Artistic Director Anne Tomlinson, is recognized throughout the country for its exceptional artistic quality and technical ability. Founded in 1986, the choir performs frequently with leading music ensembles including the LA Phil, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Los Angeles Master Chorale, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Calder Quartet and Pasadena Symphony and POPs. LACC also assists Los Angeles Opera by training and providing children for opera productions that require children's chorus or child soloists. The Chorus' roster includes more than 350 children aged 6-18 from 60 communities across Los Angeles in six choirs and a program of "First Experiences in Singing" classes for young singers. LACC's intensive training program includes weekly or twice weekly rehearsals, individual vocal coaching and comprehensive musicianship classes. LACC has toured Brazil, China, Great Britain, Italy, Australia, Germany, Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland and Scandinavia, as well as many parts of the United States and Canada. Among its numerous accomplishments, LACC produced a commissioned world-premiere opera, Keepers of the Night, by composer Peter Ash and librettist Donald Sturrock in 2007 and appears on "Amore Infinito" ("Infinite Love"), a Deutsche Grammophon CD of songs based on poems by the late Pope John Paul II and performed by Plácido Domingo, which was released worldwide in March 2009. LACC is also featured in the Academy Award-nominated documentary, "Sing!" and sequel documentary "Sing Opera!" by award-winning Santa Monica filmmakers Freida Lee Mock and Jessica Sanders. "Sing!" documents a year in the life of the choir and is shown frequently on PBS stations nationwide. "Sing China!," a third documentary that premiered in fall 2009, chronicles the choir's groundbreaking tour to China. LACC has appeared twice on NBC's "The Tonight Show," including, in June 2009, with Grammy Award-winning pop artist John Mayer, and was featured on Public Radio International's acclaimed nationally syndicated radio show "From the Top," hosted by noted pianist Christopher O'Riley. On a local outreach level, LACC continues its long-standing commitment to the community by performing frequently in retirement homes, community centers and public schools, and for various civic organizations throughout the year.

 

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