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LOS ANGELES CHILDREN’S CHORUS
ELECTS NEW BOARD CHAIR DAVID SCHEIDEMANTLE AND
BOARD MEMBERS JENNIFER TERRY AND RICK ROBERTS

(PASADENA, CA) September 1, 2009 – Attorney David Scheidemantle (Pasadena) has been named Chair of Los Angeles Children’s Chorus (LACC). He succeeds Patti Paniccia (La Cañada), who served as chair for three years. LACC Executive Director Rachel Fine made the announcement. Scheidemantle, who joined the board in 2007, is Co-Managing Partner of the Pasadena-based law firm Connon Wood Scheidemantle LLP and a Juilliard-trained violinist.

“David brings consummate leadership to LACC,” says Fine. “An accomplished musician as well as an attorney, he brings prudent business insight, extensive musical experience, and a profound dedication to the organization. He is a tremendous asset to LACC. We are so pleased to have him lead the Chorus into its next chapter, building upon its considerable foundation.”

Fine also praised Paniccia for her unwavering commitment and focused work at LACC, stating, “Under Patti Paniccia’s visionary guidance and dedicated service, LACC reached new heights of excellence. She has positively influenced every aspect of the organization from its administrative and artistic endeavors to its educational and leadership components. It has been a great pleasure to work with her.”

LACC Artistic Director Anne Tomlinson notes, "We are deeply grateful for Patti's extraordinary dedication and leadership over the past several years. She has been instrumental in providing vital guidance to LACC, its board, and staff during a period of exciting growth. We look forward to working with David and know he will be equally effective in his new role with LACC."

Paniccia says, “I am very proud to have chaired such a fine organization over the last three years and am confident that LACC will continue to thrive under David Scheidemantle's skilled and caring leadership."

In addition, Fine announced the appointment of two new board members: Jennifer Terry (La Cañada), an attorney with the firm Arent Fox LLP, and Rick Roberts (San Marino), a managing partner with the investment firm First Quadrant.

“Jennifer Terry and Rick Roberts are both ardent LACC supporters and advocates,” notes Fine. “We welcome them warmly to the LACC Board and know their insights and experience will enhance the Chorus and its mission.”

Los Angeles Children’s Chorus, founded in 1986, 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 the direction of Artistic Director Anne 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 290 choristers ages 8-18 from 60 communities across Los Angeles in five choirs (Concert, Chamber Singers, Intermediate, Apprentice and Preparatory) and a new class for young singers ages 6-7, First Experiences in Singing.  The intensive training program includes weekly or twice weekly rehearsals.  All children receive individual vocal 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!.”  LACC is also featured on "Amore Infinito" ("Infinite Love"), a Deutsche Grammophon CD of songs based on poems by the late Pope John Paul II and performed by Plácido Domingo, which was released worldwide in March 2009.  LACC performs on one of 12 tracks that also includes Domingo in duet with Andrea Bocelli, Vanessa Williams and Katherine Jenkins.  On June 4, 2009, the choir made its second appearance on “The Tonight Show,” collaborating with the John Mayer Trio.  Open auditions for LACC take place each May.

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About David Scheidemantle
David Scheidemantle, Co-Managing Partner of the law firm Connon Wood Scheidemantle LLP, has been elected a California Super Lawyer for four successive years.  In 2008, he was selected as a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, an elite society of trial lawyers limited to one-half of one percent of American lawyers.  Scheidemantle’s practice focuses on complex business litigation, insurance coverage counseling and litigation on behalf of policyholders, products liability litigation, toxic tort defense, and class action defense.  Before joining the firm, he was an equity partner for 10 years at Proskauer Rose LLP.  He graduated cum laude from Fordham University School of Law, where he served as editor of the Fordham Law Review.  He was a judicial law clerk to Judge Inzer B. Wyatt of the Southern District of New York and Judge William H. Timbers of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.  He received a bachelor's degree from The Juilliard School, where, as a violinist, he was Concertmaster of the Juilliard Symphony.  As an attorney, Scheidemantle has represented numerous non-profit arts and educational organizations, including the Friends of the Levitt Pavilion-Pasadena, the Pasadena Junior Theater, the Suzuki Music Association of California, the Renaissance Arts Academy, and the American Friends of the Israel Philharmonic.  In addition to his leadership role at LACC, he has served on boards of directors of several non-profit organizations, including the Century City Chamber of Commerce and the Friends of the Levitt Pavilion - Pasadena, where he was President and Chair.

About Rick Roberts
Rick Roberts, a partner with the investment firm First Quadrant, is responsible for the firm's international marketing strategy.  In this capacity, Roberts manages a team of professionals that develops business with large institutional investors in the US and, through First Quadrant joint ventures, around the world.  He brings to his position years of experience as an analyst, trader, and currency risk manager.  Prior to joining First Quadrant in 1997, Roberts was affiliated with Provident Capital Management, Akamai International, and money-center and investment banks in similar roles.  He earned a bachelor of science degree in agriculture from the University of Arizona in 1982 and an MBA in finance from the University of Notre Dame in 1986.

About Jennifer C. Terry
Jennifer Terry is a litigation attorney with the firm Arent Fox LLP representing both corporate and individual clients in the areas of general commercial litigation, copyright and trademark infringement, unfair competition, invasion of privacy/publicity, and employment.  She also counsels Latin American entities involved in international commerce and is familiar with the challenges faced by Latino- and Hispanic-owned entities seeking to enter the market in California and the United States.  The firm’s representative on the US - Mexico Chamber of Commerce for the Los Angeles area, Terry is also a member of the board of directors for the J. Reuben Clark Law Society, Los Angeles chapter.  Terry, who holds a J.D. from Hastings College of Law and a BA and BS (with honors) from the University of Utah, served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable J. Thomas Greene in the US District Court for the District of Utah.  She volunteers at her church, Girl Scouts Association of America, Los Angeles Children Chorus, and for the charities supported by La Cañada Junior Women’s Association.  Prior to law school, Terry, who speaks fluent Spanish, lived in Argentina and Ecuador for several years.

For more information about Los Angeles Children’s Chorus, please call 626.793.4231 or visit www.lachildrenschorus.org.

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9/1/09