Fall Choral Festival to Feature 590 Singers

A record 590 singers from Westmont, Santa Barbara Quire of Voyces and 11 area high schools will perform more than 30 songs at the seventh annual Westmont Fall Choral Festival Friday, Oct. 28, 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 though seating is limited.

The event concludes with all choirs performing a mass choral piece, “And Then Shall Your Light Break Forth,” by Felix Mendelssohn. The song will be conducted by Michael Shasberger, Westmont’s 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 CSU Channel Islands, Santa Barbara City College and The Kamehameha Schools (Honolulu).

The high school choirs include: Aliso Niguel Madrigals and Bella Cantore, Corona Mixed Ensemble, Sunnyside Cantus Vocum, Providence Hall Chorale, San Luis Obispo Bass Choir and Concert Women, San Marcos Madrigals and A Capella Choir, Pinewood Singers and Women’s Chorus, Marina Concert Choir, Palos Verdes Peninsula Women’s Ensemble, Maranatha Mixed Ensemble, Oaks Christian Advanced Women’s Chorus, and Castilleja Choir.