Founded by the Master Chorale Associates in 1989, the Festival brings together more than 25 schools and 900 students for a day of singing under the baton of Music Director Grant Gershon.

The Festival includes a yearlong mentoring process between the choir directors and the Master Chorale’s Music Director. Participating ensembles prepare the Festival selections on their own throughout the year. In the spring, students attend an area rehearsal where they rehearse the selections with fellow students as well as participate in an optional masterclass facilitated by four singers from the LAMC Chamber Singers.

On the Festival Day, all participating ensembles arrive at the Walt Disney Concert Hall where they rehearse the selections as a massed chorus of voices. In the morning, the students are also treated with a special performance by the Los Angeles Master Chorale Chamber Singers.

 

LAMC Chamber Singers Concert and Organ Demo, May 4, 2012, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm

The LAMC Chamber Singers take center stage at Walt Disney Concert Hall under the direction of LAMC assistant conductor, Lesley Leighton in a free concert for the participating students of the High School Choir Festival. This concert will also feature a demonstration of the mighty Disney Hall pipe organ!
General admission seating will begin at approximately 10:40am

Lesley Leighton, Conductor

 

Concert Repertoire

• Come away, sweet love     Thomas Greaves
• Tu Voz     Shawn Kirchner
• Ching-A-Ring-Chaw     Arr. Aaron Copeland

 

Festival Concert, May 4, 2012, 1:00 – 2:00 pm

Join us as 900 talented Southern California high school singers fill Walt Disney Concert Hall with a resounding swell of choral music under the direction of LAMC Music Director Grant Gershon. This one-hour concert will also feature the 80-voiced Festival Honor Choir performing with the LAMC Chamber Singers on stage.
General admission seating will begin at 12:30pm

 

Festival Chorus (Combined High School Choirs)

Grant Gershon, Conductor

• Va Pensiero, Giuseppi Verdi
• I Will Be Earth, Gwyneth Walker
• Ride the Chariot, Spiritual, arr. André Thomas
• Choose Something Like A Star, Randall Thompson
• Yo le Canto Todo el Dia, David L. Brunner

 

Festival Honor Choir

TBD

 

Festival Chorus – Finale

• The Heavens Are Telling Joseph Haydn

 

2012 High School Choir Festival Participants

• Agoura High School
• Arroyo High School
• Bellflower High School
• Birmingham Community Charter High School
• California High School
• Ramon C. Cortines High School of Visual and Performing Arts
• Covina High School
• Culver City High School
• El Monte High School
• Glendale High School
• Grant High School
• Maranatha High School
• Mark Keppel High School
• Mountain View High School
• Norwalk High School
• Palos Verdes Peninsula High School
• Rancho Cucamonga High School
• Renaissance High School for the Arts
• Rosemead High School
• San Gabriel High School
• Sierra Vista High School
• South High School
• William Howard Taft High School
• West Torrance High School
• Wilson Classical High School