Los Angeles Children's Chorus

Los Angeles Children's Chorus (LACC) was founded in 1986 when the prominent William Hall Chorale asked LACC’s Founding Director if she could prepare a young ensemble to sing the children’s choir portions of Mahler’s Third Symphony and Britten’s “War Requiem”, seminal choral works. LACC was founded on the principal that in order for young people to achieve artistry demanded by musical compositions of import, an educational process for children devoted to excellence was crucial. LACC has since become the premier source of child singers for the LA Opera, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Master Chorale, and Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, and is a frequent collaborator with the Pasadena Symphony and POPS, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and The Calder Quartet, among others. The Los Angeles Times states, “When it comes to purity of tone, hauntingly beautiful timbre and the ability to transport listeners to a kind of aural nirvana, the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus occupies a special place in L.A.’s musical life.”

In its 25-year history, LACC has provided first-rate choral music training to more than 1,500 children and teenagers. Each year, LACC serves approximately 350 young singers from 60 communities throughout greater Los Angeles, thus reflecting in its membership the cultural and economic diversity of the region. Choristers aged 8-18 are assigned to one of six choral ensembles based on his/her musical skill level or vocal range. A three-level program of First Experiences in Singing classes introduces 6-7 year old boys and girls to the foundational elements of music making. LACC’s comprehensive core program addresses all learning styles and levels of experience through a six-level Music Literacy curriculum and rehearsal schedule. Choristers learn to master a challenging, multi-lingual repertoire of fine choral music in the bel canto style in weekly rehearsals; learn to read musical notation, understand key musical concepts, and develop their music literacy in musicianship classes; acquire a solid education in music theory; and receive individual vocal coaching.

In addition to its choral music training program, LACC presents an annual self-produced season of free and low-cost community concerts; performs in choral exchanges with visiting choirs from around the world; engages in artistic collaborations with world-class artists and companies; tours nationally and internationally; and offers professional development opportunities for music educators, in-school programs for elementary school children, and other vital community engagement programs.

LACC keeps children engaged in a transformative, standards-based program during their critical developmental years, guiding their development into highly capable musicians while also teaching such critical life skills as discipline, collaboration, cultural understanding, and striving for personal excellence. LACC is one of few remaining choral music education programs to which children have access in the Los Angeles area.

LACC has appeared on LA Master Chorale’s Decca recording “A Good Understanding,” and Plácido Domingo’s Deutsche Grammophon recording “Amore Infinito" ("Infinite Love") and in 2011 gave the U.S. premiere of Esa-Pekka Salonen’s “Dona Nobis Pacem.” The subject of a trilogy of documentaries by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Freida Lee Mock, LACC is featured in the Academy Award-nominated “Sing!”, about a year in the life of the choir; “Sing Opera!”, documenting the LACC-commissioned world premiere production of “Keepers of the Night”; and “Sing China!”, chronicling its groundbreaking tour to China just prior to the Beijing Olympics. LACC has performed with John Mayer on NBC's “The Tonight Show,” was featured on Public Radio International's nationally syndicated show “From the Top”, and is featured on major motion picture soundtracks, among other credits.

MISSION STATEMENT: Los Angeles Children’s Chorus provides choral music education of the highest quality to young people who represent richly diverse racial, economic, and cultural backgrounds. The program ignites a love of singing and nurtures the full expression of each individual’s potential for artistic and personal excellence through the collaborative experience of choral music performance. Through the beauty of inspired and joyful singing, Los Angeles Children’s Chorus brings the transformative power of music to communities throughout Southern California, the nation, and the world.