Music at the Aztec

The San Gabriel Valley Choral Company invites the choral community of Southern California to join in singing a preview of its upcoming season. With selections by Mozart, Ramirez, Gibbs, Lauridsen, Orban and more, this will be a supernatural afternoon of music from all over the globe, presented in the stunning ambiance of the historic Aztec Hotel in Monrovia, where the SGVCC will perform in October the first concert of its 2013-2014 season. Included is an afternoon workshop on Saturday, August 10, where Artistic Director Zanaida Robles will lead the singers on an exciting tour of several selections of the season’s repertoire, and an optional Sunday morning (August 11) performance of a spiritual at a Monrovia church service. There will also be an optional group dinner Saturday evening. Online registration of $35 is being accepted at www.sgvccworkshop.eventbrite.com. For more information, please contact choralcompany@gmail.com or 626-579-2433.

The Saturday, August 10 workshop will be held from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. and will include the following repertoire: Mozart’s Requiem; “Kyrie” from Misa Criolla by Ramirez; “Blow Blow Thou Winter Wind” by Rutter; the spirituals “Every Time I Feel the Spirit” by Dawson and “Great God Almighty” by Gibbs; and Gilbert & Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance. The optional Sunday morning session will be from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Monrovia. Registration includes score rental, refreshments, and two free tickets to any 2013-2014 season concert. The registration deadline is July 31. Whether you’re looking for a choir to sing in or you are just seeking an afternoon of making great music, the SGVCC welcomes you to its workshop.

Artistic Director Zanaida Robles is on the faculty of Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA) while pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in choral music at the University of Southern California (USC). As a DMA Teaching Assistant at USC, she directs the USC Thornton University Chorus. Ms. Robles also directs Discovery Camerata and served for three years as director of the MusicUNTOLD Chorale. She has prepared choirs for performances with such artists as Josh Groban, Kristin Chenoweth, Audra McDonald, and Wayne Brady.

Founded in 1995 by Dr. Thomas M. Miyake of California State University, Los Angeles, the SGVCC is a non-profit choir based in Monrovia, CA. The group’s repertoire has included music from the Renaissance period to recent works of the 21st century. Along with more traditional selections, music performed has featured avant-garde, jazz, gospel, Broadway musical revues, and staged productions. More information about the chorale and the concert season can be found at www.choralcompany.org.

Source: press release

- Brad Haugaard