News | Spotlight on Voices Within

December 1, 2003

Each semester the Master Chorale has been cultivating a new crop of budding young composers from Los Angeles area elementary schools. Voices Within is an eight-week artists-in-residency program for fifth grade students in Los Angeles County that introduces them to the world of choral music through the creation and performance of their own songs: works that reflect their own sensibilities, experiences, and lives. Program director and teaching artist Marnie Mosiman, composer David O, and playwright/lyricist Doug Cooney work with four classrooms each semester helping students find their songs from within.

Students participate in movement and improvisation games to open their minds and to inspire their creative juices. Then, with the help of the artistic team, students begin the process of putting their thoughts to paper. As common themes are discovered, students are grouped based on their topics, and create texts that they will set to music. Next, they explore the natural rhythms, high and low points of their newly created poetry, and explore the process of setting these words to melodies. Onceamlody is set, the groups revise and edit their songs in preparation for their compositional premieres. During this entire process schools are paired to provide students with opportunities to share their ideas and songs with fellow students from partner schools.

On December 10 and 11, participating students from the four schools will present a concert and world premiere of their new student-written songs. They are joined on stage by members of the Los Angeles Master Chorale Chamber Singers in an assembly for the whole school.

In the fall of 2003, participating schools include Glassell Park Elementary, Breed Street Elementary, Pio Pico School and Mt. Washington Elementary.