Choral Fest Includes 540 High Schoolers

More than 540 high school students from 14 different schools will join voices with Westmont singers at the annual Fall Choral Festival Friday, Oct. 29, at 4:45 p.m. in First United Methodist Church, 305 E. Anapamu St., and at 7 p.m. in First Presbyterian Church, 21 E. Constance Ave. Both performances are free and open to the public.

The festival features individual and combined performances by 17 choirs, including the Westmont Men’s and Women’s Chorales, and cameo appearance by the 14 visiting high schools and the Westmont Chamber Singers.

“This is the most amount of performers we’ve had since we began inviting high schools to join us five years ago,” says Michael Shasberger, Westmont Adams professor of music and worship.

At a workshop before the performance, the high school singers will hone their repertoires with Westmont choral directors as well as professionals from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara City College, The Kamehameha Schools (Honolulu), and the USC Thornton School of Music.

“We hope they’ll be mentored by the faculty and inspired by the other choirs,” Shasberger says. “Seeing young people at the next step in their musical journey can be a powerful motivator.”

The high school choirs include: Aliso Niguel Madrigals, Crystal Cathedral Schools, Fresno Christian Schools, Frontier High School, Golden West Chamber Singers, Maranatha Academy, Oaks Christian High School, Providence Hall, Royal High School, Salinas High School, San Marcos Madrigals, Santa Fe Christian School, Santa Maria High School and Highland High School.