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Los Angeles Master Chorale

The Grammy-nominated Los Angeles Master Chorale is described by the Los Angeles Times as “the most exciting chorus in the country.” The 2008|09 season, its 45th, marks its sixth as the resident chorus of the landmark Walt Disney Concert Hall. Recognized as one of the city’s cultural treasures and one of the world’s premier choruses, the Chorale, a founding resident company of the Music Center, has played a leading role in the ongoing resurgence of interest in choral music. The New York Times calls the choir “inspired,” The New York Observer declares it “a superb vocal ensemble,” and the Los Angeles Times proclaims it a “matchelssly polished choir.” It has been cited as a national leader for its innovative and dynamic programming and its commitment to commissioning new works.

Under the inspired leadership and unique artistic sensibilities of Music Director Grant Gershon, who was appointed to the post in July 2001, the choir has expanded its audience base considerably and continues to earn superlative accolades. The Los Angeles Times describes the Chorale’s performances under Gershon’s baton as “masterly,” “ethereal” and “alluring.” Billboard says the Chorale’s “singing and direction are first-rate,” while Gramophone calls the chorus “sonically exhilarating.” LA Downtown News notes, “Choral groups don't often get much hype, but the Los Angeles Master Chorale is an exception . . . (it) has soared under Grant Gershon's direction.”

Gershon succeeded Music Director Emeritus Paul Salamunovich, who guided the Master Chorale from 1991 through the 2000|01 season and was named Music Director Emeritus in June 2001. Prior to Salamunovich’s appointment, Scottish conductor John Currie led the Chorale from 1985 to 1990, and, before that, the late Roger Wagner, the Chorale’s founder, headed the choir for two decades, from 1964 to 1984.

The Chorale’s 2008|09 season includes 13 programs and special events at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Highlights include the third installment of “LA Is the World,” reflecting the region’s Cambodian influences with the world premiere of SPIRAL XII: Space Between Heaven and Earth by Chinary Ung in collaboration with dancer/choreographer Sophiline Cheam Shapiro, as well as the world premieres of Andrea Clearfield’s Dream Variations and a new work by Steven Sametz plus two West Coast premieres – Nico Muhly’s Expecting the Main Things from You, and Roberto Sierra’s Missa Latina, with soprano Heidi Grant Murphy and baritone Nathaniel Webster.

In addition the Chorale’s multi-year “Homage to Haydn” project concludes with Harmonie Mass and Heilig Mass, and Mendelssohn’s Elijah features bass-baritone Eric Owens. The Chorale also sings Messiaen’s Trois petites liturgies, and Music Director Grant Gershon conducts Harrison’s La Koro Sutro, as well as works by Rachmaninoff, Rutter, Liszt, Pärt, Brahms, Bartók, Poulenc, Copland and others.

Extending its reach to young people in the community, the Los Angeles Master Chorale also offers a number of quality education programs. In April 2009, Gershon conducts the 20th Annual Los Angeles Master Chorale High School Choir Festival, one of the largest high school choir festivals in the nation, at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, for which the Chorale has commissioned Ricky Ian Gordon to compose a work in celebration of this milestone.

“Voices Within,” another of the Chorale’s highly successful outreach programs, which recently earned the covented Chorus America Education Outreach Award, is an in-depth, ten-week, in-school residency program for fifth and six grade students that helps children who have little or no musical background to “find their voices.” With the assistance of a teaching artist, lyricist, and composer who work with teams of students in the classroom, children write music and lyrics to create original songs.

The Los Angeles Master Chorale, described as “a major cultural asset to Los Angeles” by the Los Angeles Times, was founded in 1964. One of the Music Center’s two original resident performing arts companies, it gave its first performance at the Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in January 1965, where it subsequently performed for 38 seasons until moving to the landmark Walt Disney Concert Hall in 2003. It is the first organization in the nation to offer a complete season of great choral masterworks, and, over the years, has hosted such distinguished guest conductors as Robert Shaw, Helmuth Rilling, Margaret Hillis Robert Page and Richard Westenberg.

In addition to presenting its own concert series at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Chorale performs regularly with the Los Angeles Philharmonic both at the Music Center and at the Hollywood Bowl with such stellar conductors as Esa-Pekka Salonen, Zubin Mehta, Andre Previn, Pierre Boulez, Michael Tilson-Thomas and Roger Norrington, among many others. It is also featured on several recordings with the orchestra.

The Chorale, which has commissioned 21 and premiered 51 new works, has recorded three CDs under Gershon’s baton, including the internationally acclaimed You Are (Variations) by Steve Reich, commissioned by the Chorale and released in September 2005 on Nonesuch Records, and an RCM recording featuring Esa-Pekka Salonen’s first choral work, Two Songs from the Kalender Röd, and Philip Glass’ Itaipú. The third recording conducted by Gershon, featuring Steve Reich’s Daniel Variations, written in memory of murdered Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, was released by Nonesuch Records in spring 2008. Previously, the Chorale released three CDs under the baton of Music Director Emeritus Paul Salamunovich, including the Grammy-nominated Lauridsen-Lux Aeterna, Christmas, and a recording of Dominick Argento’s Te Deum and Maurice Duruflé’s Messe “Cum Jubilo.” In addition, the LA Master Chorale is featured under Salamunovich’s leadership on the soundtracks of numerous major motion pictures, including, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, My Best Friend’s Wedding, The Sum of All Fears, Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Waterworld. Gershon conducted the Chorale on the soundtrack of Lady In The Water, released in 2006.

Since moving to Disney Hall, the Chorale has enjoyed a substantial increase in audience size, as well as a growing base of individual and institutional donors. Its 2008|09 operating budget is $4.9 million. The Chorale’s endowment is currently valued at $3.8 million. The Los Angeles Master Chorale has more than 1,000 subscribers, serves over 40,000 audience members of all ages, and provides education outreach to approximately 13,000 children each year

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Los Angeles Master Chorale

Giving a voice to the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Grammy-nominated Los Angeles Master Chorale is described by the Los Angeles Times as “the most exciting chorus in the country.” Led by Music Director Grant Gershon, who also serves as associate conductor/chorus master of the LA Opera, the Chorale is currently celebrating its 45th season as a resident company of the Music Center of Los Angeles Count and its sixth as the resident chorus at Disney Hall. In addition to presenting its own concert series each year, the Chorale performs regularly with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at both Disney Hall and the Hollywood Bowl and has also appeared at the Ojai Festival and the Great Performers series at Lincoln Center as well as at leading venues throughout the Southland. The Chorale, which was founded in 1964, has presented more than 450 concerts, including choral music from the earliest writings to the most recent contemporary compositions. Noted for presenting numerous world, U.S. and West Coast premieres, the chorus has commissioned 24 and premiered 51 new works and was awarded the ASCAP/Chorus America Award for Adventurous Programming. The LA Master Chorale has recorded three CDs under Gershon’s baton, including Daniel Variations by Steve Reich, released in spring 2008 on Nonesuch Records, You Are (Variations) by Steve Reich, released in September 2005 on Nonesuch Records, and an RCM recording featuring Esa-Pekka Salonen’s first choral work, Two Songs to Poems of Ann Jäderlund, and Philip Glass’ Itaipu. It previously released three CDs under Music Director Emeritus Paul Salamunovich on RCM, including the Grammy-nominated Lauridsen-Lux Aeterna. The Chorale is also featured on the soundtracks of such major motion pictures as Lady in the Water, License to Wed, and Waterworld. The Los Angeles Master Chorale has more than 1,000 subscribers, serves over 40,000 audience members of all ages, and provides education outreach to approximately 13,000 children each year. In 2008, one of the Chorale’s highly successful outreach program, “Voices Within,” earned the coveted Chorus America Education Outreach Award.