Los Angeles Master Chorale Celebrates H.S. Choir Festival April 24, 2009

LOS ANGELES MASTER CHORALE CELEBRATES
HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR FESTIVAL'S 20th ANNIVERSARY WITH
WORLD PREMIERE OF “PRAYER” BY NOTED COMPOSER RICKY IAN GORDON

Culmination Concert Featuring 1,000 Students from
26 Southland High Schools Is Open to Public Free-of-Charge

Friday, April 24, 2009 at Walt Disney Concert Hall
11 A.M. - Individual School Showcases
1 P.M. - Combined 1,000 Voice Choir Performs

The Los Angeles Master Chorale opens the doors of the Walt Disney Concert Hall to the public free-of-charge in celebration of the 20th Annual Los Angeles Master Chorale High School Choir Festival on Friday, April 24, 2009, 11 A.M. and 1 P.M. Choirs from 26 high schools in Los Angeles and Orange counties have been selected to participate in this year's vocal extravaganza, conducted by Music Director Grant Gershon, and featuring the world premiere of “Prayer,” commissioned by the Chorale for this milestone anniversary from acclaimed composer Ricky Ian Gordon, who will attend the festival. In addition, world-renowned artist Andre Miripolsky has generously donated a poster design to commemorate the festival's 20th Anniversary.

The free two-part performance begins at 11 A.M. with individual showcases by several high school choirs selected through a rigorous audition process. At 1 P.M. Gershon will conduct the combined 1,000-voice massed choir in a program that also includes works by Puccini, Rosephanye Powell, Handel and Guastavino. The performance is the culmination of a yearlong in-school music education program presented by the Chorale that provides vital mentorship for young singers throughout the region. It is one of the largest high school choir festivals in the nation.

“It is an honor to have these amazingly talented young singers premiere Ricky's piece,” said Gershon, who also rehearses with students in advance of the performance. “It's a very moving and gorgeous work that will inspire the singers and audience alike.” Louise Thomas will provide piano accompaniment.

Gershon previously conducted the world premiere of Gordon's critically acclaimed opera “The Grapes of Wrath” premiered by the Minnesota Opera in 2007, which was described as “nothing short of incandescent” (Variety). Gordon, who has composed for the concert hall, opera stage and theatre and served as composer-in-residence at The Lyric Opera of Chicago, is considered one of “Broadway's most respected composers.”

The other works performed by the massed choir include “Gloria” from Puccini's Messa di Gloria arranged by Burkhardt; The Word Was God by Rosephanye Powell; “Hallelujah, Amen” from Judas Macabbeus, by G. F. Handel; and Quién Fuera Como El Jazmín by Carlos Guastavino.

Participating schools include Agoura High School (Agoura), John Mosley, director; Arroyo High School (El Monte), Jennifer Stanley, director; Baldwin Park High School (Baldwin Park), Vicki Salmon, director; Bellflower High School (Bellflower), Carolyn Kelley, director; Birmingham High School (Van Nuys), Michael Suffolk, director; California High School (Whittier), Dan Hawkins, director; Chadwick School (Palos Verdes Peninsula), Bob Marino, director; Charter Oak High School (Covina), Rebecca Schmalzbach, director; Covina High School (Covina), Susan Silver, director; Fullerton Union High School (Fullerton), Scott Hedgecock, director; Glendale High School (Glendale), Grace Sheldon-Williams, director; Glendora High School (Glendora), Brian Trevor, director; Granada Hills Charter High School (Granada Hills), Craig Gruenberg, director; Grant High School (Valley Glen), Marsha Lynne Taylor, director; John Marshall Sr. High School (Los Angeles), Sophia Lee, director; Lakewood High School (Lakewood), Ralph Siemsen, director; and Louisville High School (Woodland Hills), Maura Piazza, director.

Also participating are: Mira Costa High School (Manhattan Beach), Michael Hayden, director; Montebello High School (Montebello), Nancy Schwartz, director; Norwalk High School, (Norwalk), Nancy Lanpher, director; Providence High School (Burbank), Deborah Learned, director; San Gabriel High School (San Gabriel), Cecilia Revilla, director; South High School (Torrance), Liz Turner, director; Sylmar High School (Sylmar), Greg Broadous, director; Taft High School (Woodland Hills), Tom Pease, director; and West Torrance High School (Torrance), Kathleen Jensen, director.

The Los Angeles Master Chorale High School Choir Festival is one of the largest high school choir gatherings in the nation. The yearlong in-school program presented by the Chorale has five components. Several months prior to the festival, all participating Choral Directors meet with Gershon to work on the repertoire, selected by Gershon. Directors then work in-class with their choirs on the music. During the spring, members from the LA Master Chorale Chamber Singers, the Chorale's outreach ensemble, visit participating choirs and lead the student singers and directors in a masterclass of the festival music. A month before the festival, each school attends one of two joint rehearsals conducted by Gershon, who works with the singers on their musicianship, musical interpretation and tone balance. The joint rehearsals also provide an opportunity for the students to sing as part of a much larger choir in preparation for the festival, which is the final component of the outreach program. On the day of the festival, all of the schools join together for the first time and Gershon conducts a final dress rehearsal and concert.

Event sponsors include the City of Los Angeles, Department of Cultural Affairs; the Los Angeles County Arts Commission; the Georges and Germaine Fusenot Foundation; Metropolitan Associates; the Kenneth T. and Eileen L. Norris Foundation; the Lon V. Smith Foundation; the John and Beverly Stauffer Foundation; The Harold McAlister Charitable Foundation; the Charitable Foundation, Agent Community Outreach of Prudential California Realty; and the Weingart Foundation. The Los Angeles Master Chorale High School Choir Festival was founded in 1989 by the Los Angeles Master Chorale Associates, under the leadership of Phyllis Rothrock.

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 concert information, please call (800) 787-5262 or visit www.lamc.org.

Official Website: http://www.lamc.org