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LOS ANGELES CHILRDREN’S CHORUS REPRISES
PAUL GIBSON’S WHIMSICAL SUITE: ALICE THROUGH A LOOKING-GLASS
AT SPRING CONCERT
Sunday, May 10, 2009, 7 P.M., and Saturday, May 16, 2009, 4 P.M.,
at Pasadena Presbyterian Church
Concert Concludes Renowned Choir’s 23rd Season
(PASADENA, CA) January 9, 2009 – Los Angeles Children’s Chorus (LACC) caps its 23rd Season by reprising composer Paul Gibson’s charmingly whimsical Suite: Alice Through a Looking-Glass for its annual Spring Concert on Sunday, May 10, 2009, 7 P.M., and Saturday, May 16, 2009, 4 P.M., at Pasadena Presbyterian Church in Pasadena, CA. Based on the classic poetry of Lewis Carroll, the delightful but sophisticated piece, Gibson’s first for children’s choir, was initially commissioned by LACC for its 15th Anniversary and featured in its subsequent tour of Great Britain. A variety of additional works on the program will be announced.
Written in three movements and 15 minutes in length, Suite: Alice Through a Looking-Glass mirrors Carroll’s quirky verses with playful musical devices. For example, in the first movement, “The Walrus and the Carpenter,” Gibson says, “the youngest choir members are assigned the roles of the ‘young oysters,” who are eventually devoured by the walrus and the carpenter, ‘sympathetically,’ of course.” The tender poem “Beneath a Sunny Sky,” serves as the middle movement, creating a poignant and bittersweet reflection of the relationship that develops between teachers and students, particularly, notes Gibson, “the poignant feeling of adult leaders who see their young charges come and go, seemingly without end.” Gibson injects the final movement, “Jabberwocky,” with humor, joy and triumph, captivating children and adults alike.
“The creation of this piece was a wonderful challenge to grow as a composer,” Gibson adds. “It was my first time writing for children’s chorus, and a rare opportunity to compose a more extended work. It was also the chance to exercise a relatively unused muscle, one that creates music of a whimsical, light-hearted character and which required collaboration between my inner child and my well-schooled composer.”
LACC Artistic Director Anne Tomlinson conducts the Concert Choir and Chamber Singers. Associate Artistic Director Mandy Brigham leads the Intermediate Choir and Assistant Artistic Director Amy Brehm leads the Apprentice Choir. The choirs will perform separately and combined.
Tickets for the Spring Concert are $24, $36 and $42; students are half price. Pasadena Presbyterian Church is located at 585 E. Colorado Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 91101. For tickets and information, please call 626-793-4231 or visit www.lachildrenschorus.org.
Los Angeles Children’s Chorus was founded in 1986 and is noted throughout the country for its exceptional artistic quality and technical ability. It frequently performs with such leading musical ensembles as the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, the Los Angeles Master Chorale, and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. Under Ms. Tomlinson, LACC also assists Los Angeles Opera by providing and training children for opera productions that require children’s chorus or soloists. LACC currently serves more than 270 choristers from 60 communities across Los Angeles in five choirs (Concert, Chamber Singers, Intermediate, Apprentice and Preparatory) and one new class for young singers, First Experiences in Music. The intensive training program includes weekly or twice weekly rehearsals. All children receive individual voice coaching and take comprehensive musicianship classes. LACC has toured Brazil, China, Great Britain, Italy, Australia, Germany, Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Poland as well as many parts of the United States and Canada. It is featured in the Academy Award-nominated documentary film, “SING!,” which chronicles a year in the life of the choir and is shown periodically on PBS stations nationwide, and the recently-released documentary “SING OPERA!.” Open auditions take place each May.
Los Angeles Children's Chorus gratefully acknowledges the visionary support it receives from lead donors Helen and Peter Bing, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, The Ahmanson Foundation, B.C. McCabe Foundation, The Bank of New York Mellon, The Green Foundation, Marge Carson, Inc., Marc and Eva Stern Foundation, Union Bank, Nestlé USA, Alma Design, and other generous friends.
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Editors, please note:
CALENDAR LISTING FOR SPRING CONCERT
Los Angeles Children’s Chorus – Annual Spring Concert
Anne Tomlinson, Conductor, Concert Choir and Chamber Singers
Mandy Brigham, Conductor, Intermediate Choir
Amy Brehm, Conductor, Apprentice Choir
DATES/TIMES:
Sunday, May 10, 2009, 7 PM
And
Saturday, May 16, 2009, 4PM
PROGRAM:
PAUL GIBSON Suite: Alice Through a Looking-Glass
Other works to be announced
LOCATION:
Bel Air Presbyterian Church
16221 Mulholland Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90049
TICKET PRICES:
$24, $36 and $42; ½ price for students
INFORMATION & TICKETS:
(626) 793-4231
www.lachildrenschorus.org
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program and artists subject to change
02/20/09