The San Gabriel Valley Choral Company begins its twenty-first season with a historic concert: "The Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Project: A Musical Legacy in Concert." The concert will be held at St. Luke's Episcopal Church of Monrovia (122 California Ave.) at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 15, 2015 - the 140th anniversary of Coleridge-Taylor's birth. In his time, African British composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912) was affectionately referred to as the African "Mahler." Because of his incredible success in a field dominated by white males at a time when racism in America was peaking, Coleridge-Taylor's influence on African American artists and intellectuals was powerful and far-reaching. The artistic director of SGVCC, Dr. Zanaida Robles, created the Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Project to perpetuate the study and performance of the music of this celebrated composer and others of African descent. Other composers programmed on this concert include William Grant Still, Margaret Bonds, Jester Hairston, Zanaida Robles, Robert Owens, Joshua Uzoigwe, and Sydney Guillaume.
Founded in 1995, SGVCC is a mostly volunteer ensemble based in Monrovia. In 2012, conductor and soloist Dr. Zanaida Robles took over as SGVCC's artistic director. Having recently earned her Doctorate in Musical Arts in Choral Music at the University of Southern California, her prior credits include serving as director of classical choirs for the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts as well as preparing elite choirs for performances with such greats as Josh Groban and Kristin Chenoweth.
This is a free concert with a suggested donation of $20. Tickets are not necessary. Donations to SGVCC, a non-profit organization, are also gladly accepted online ( http://www.sgvccsingers.org ) and by check sent to San Gabriel Valley Choral Company; P.O. Box 2225; Monrovia, CA 91017.
- Brad Haugaard
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