- 1970-01-01
LOS ANGELES MASTER CHORALE’S 32nd ANNUAL HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR FESTIVAL
Celebrating its 32nd year, the Los Angeles Master Chorale’s annual High School Choir Festival (HSCF) will culminate in a virtual Festival Day video that will premiere on Friday, April 23, 2021, at 10am PST. Featuring hundreds of high school students from 26 schools, the video will feature three virtual choir performances: “Happy” by Pharrell Williams, “Resilience” by Abbie Betinis, and “Es Tu Tiempo” by Francisco Núñez, all led by Grant Gershon, Kiki & David Gindler Artistic Director. The Festival Day video will also feature pre-recorded and highlights from past festivals, and can be viewed here.
The High School Choir Festival, one of the longest running arts education programs in Southern California, is designed to deepen students’ exposure to and understanding of the choral art form through a year-long experience leading up to the celebratory Festival Day, traditionally held at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Throughout the pandemic period, the festival experience has been especially meaningful for students, offering a continuous opportunity to connect and build community during an extended period of social isolation.
“There is great power and joy in the communal act of singing, even in a virtual world,” said Grant Gershon. “Adapting the High School Choir Festival for remote learning has provided a much needed sense of belonging for high school students throughout the Los Angeles region while providing access to continued education in the arts, which has been proven to have a transformative impact, including contributing to one’s overall well being.”
Due to COVID-19, the High School Choir Festival has been redesigned to utilize online webinars, master classes and interactive Zoom sessions for maximum engagement during remote learning.
The Los Angeles Master Chorale’s 2021 High School Choir Festival is made possible by generous support from the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, Cheryl Petersen and Roger Lustberg, Rosemary Schroeder, Ann Peppers Foundation, Anonymous, Walter and Holly Thomson Foundation, Judi and Bryant Danner, The Kenneth T. and Eileen L. Norris Foundation, William H. Hannon Foundation, John and Beverly Stauffer Foundation, Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts, Sidney Stern Memorial Trust, and Friars Charitable Foundation.
Participating Schools and Choir Directors:
Arroyo High School, Jennifer Stanley
Azusa High School, Mary Kuo Turner
Baldwin Park High School, Nathaniel Bailey
Bellflower High School, Jae Shu
Birmingham Community Charter, Michael J. Suffolk
California High School, Dan Hawkins
Crescenta Valley High School, Shannon Mack
El Camino Real Charter High School, Corinne Brennan
El Monte High School, Joel Whisler
Glendora High School, Brian Trevor
Granada Hills Charter School, Desiree Balfour
Hamilton High School, Michelle Espinosa
Herbert Hoover High School, Amy Estep
Lakewood High School, Ralph Siemsen
Marshall Fundamental Secondary School, Jonathan Gould
Mira Costa High School, Mark McCormick
Montebello High School, Jessica Pettygrove
Palos Verdes Peninsula High School, Dan Doctor
Paramount High School, Lynne Cuneo
Ramón C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts, Drew Lewis
Rosemead High School, Ruth Gray
Rubidoux High School, Jeffrey Lin
Taft Charter High School, Natalia Ramos
Torres East LA Performing Arts Magnet, Melissa J. Rios
Van Nuys High School, Brianne Arevalo
Venice High School, Wendy Sarnoff
