LA Children's Chorus Presents Winter Concert December 4, 2011

Sundays, December 4 and 11, 2011, 7 PM
at Pasadena Presbyterian Church


Los Angeles Children’s Chorus shares music from around the globe at its popular annual Winter Concert December 4 and 11, 2011, 7 PM, at Pasadena Presbyterian Church. The chorus performs works by Sir David Willcocks, Gustav Host and Andrew Carter, as well as folk songs, sacred and secular compositions from Hungary, Germany and Camaroon; lullabies from Holland and Philippines; lively carols from France, England and Catalonia; and the moving Hebrew prayer setting of L’dor vador.

The program opens with the 16th century carol El Noi de la Mare, popularized in recent times by guitarists Andres Segovia and Christopher Parkening. Other choral gems featured are the festive Cantemus!, composed in 1977 by Bárdos, who was among Zoltan Kodály’s first students; Mädchenlied, a set of songs written by Brahms in 1878 and set to the poetry of Siegfried Kapper’s “Songs of Serbia”; Gustav Holst’s Hymn to the Waters, composed in 1910 and based on Sanskrit texts that Holst himself translated; Maria Walks Amid the Thorn, a 16th century work that tells the story of a creation miracle; and Noël Nouvelet, dating from 17th century France and one of the oldest European carols still in modern usage.

Additional highlights include The Glories of Shakespeare, which features five settings of texts from the plays composed by well-known British organist, choirmaster and composer David Willcocks; the traditional Philippines lullaby Caturog na, Nonoy; and L’dor vador, an ancient Hebrew prayer set by Cantor Meir Finkelstein, a noted film and television composer as well and one of the most popular contemporary Jewish liturgical composers in the country.

LACC Artistic Director Anne Tomlinson conducts the chorus’ renowned Concert Choir and Chamber Singers. Associate Artistic Director Mandy Brigham leads the Intermediate Choir, Larissa Donnelly 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.
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About Los Angeles Children’s Chorus
Los Angeles Children's Chorus – described by the media as “astonishingly polished,” “hauntingly beautiful,” and “one heck of a talented group of kids” – is widely regarded as one of the world's foremost children's choirs. Founded in 1986 and currently led by Artistic Director Anne Tomlinson, LACC performs with such leading organizations as LA Opera, LA Phil, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, LA Master Chorale, LACO, Pasadena Symphony and POPs and Calder Quartet. The chorus' roster includes more than 350 children aged 6-18 from 60 communities across Los Angeles in six choirs and “First Experiences in Singing” classes for young singers. LACC has toured North and South America, China and Europe, and produced the world-premiere of Keepers of the Night, an opera by Peter Ash and Donald Sturrock. The chorus appeared on LA Master Chorale’s recently released 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 “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. For more information on the choir, please visit www.lachildrenschorus.org.

About Artistic Director Anne Tomlinson
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. During her tenure, 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 in 2000 the Gold Crown Award for Music Education, given by the Pasadena Arts Council, the 2001 Power of One Award, given by Facing History and Ourselves Foundation, and the 2006 Educator of the Year Award given by the Harvard-Radcliffe Club of Southern California.

EDITORS, PLEASE NOTE:

CALENDAR LISTING

Los Angeles Children’s Chorus – Annual Winter Concert
Anne Tomlinson, Conductor/Concert Choir/Chamber Singers
Mandy Brigham, Conductor/Intermediate Choir
Larissa Donnelly, Conductor/ Apprentice Choir
Dr. Steve Kronauer, Conductor/Young Men’s Ensemble

DATES:
Sunday, December 4, 2011, 7:00 PM (Concert Choir, Intermediate Choir, Chamber Singers)
and
Sunday, December 11, 2011, 7:00 PM (Concert Choir, Apprentice Choir, Young Men’s Ensemble)
PROGRAM:
El Noi de la Mare Traditional Catalonian Carol/arr. Joan Varner
Cantemus! LAJOS BÁRDOS
Mädchenlied JOHANNES BRAHMS
Choral Hymns from the Rig-Veda GUSTAV HOLST
Maria Walks Amid the Thorn ANDREW CARTER
Noël Nouvelet Traditional French Carol arr. Howard Cable
The Glories of Shakespeare SIR DAVID WILLCOCKS
Caturog na, Nonoy Traditional Philippines Lullaby arr. Louie Ramos
Personent Hodie arr. John Rutter
L’dor vador MEIR FINKELSTEIN arr. Rebecca Thompson
He Came Down Traditional Cameroon arr. Nancy Grundahl

LOCATION:
Pasadena Presbyterian Church
585 E. Colorado Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91101

TICKET PRICES:
$44, $38 and $26; ½ price for students 17 and under

INFORMATION & TICKETS:
(626) 793-4231
www.lachildrenschorus.org