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About Los Robles Master Chorale
Los Robles Master Chorale is an 85-voice choral ensemble serving Ventura and western Los Angeles counties. In its 32-year history, the group has given west coast premieres of works by John Tavener, Franz Biebl, Matthew Brown, Wilbur Skeels, Bruce Vandervalk, Jane Chapman, Melanie McCoy, Steve Eisle, and recently performed Morten Lauridsen's Nocturnes with the composer at the piano. The pre-eminent chorus in Ventura County, Los Robles Master Chorale has hosted such distinguished guest conductors as Roger Wagner, Sir David Willcocks, Paul Salamunovich, Vance George and Lloyd Pfautsch. Along with presenting its own six-concert season, the chorale has performed many times with the leading orchestra of the region, New West Symphony, at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza.
Under the leadership of Artistic Director Lesley Leighton, who was appointed to the post in June of 2008, the choir has expanded not only its vision and personnel, but also its audience base and board membership. Leighton succeeded founding director James Stemen, who guided the chorale for three decades, from 1978 through 2008. Adept at singing both large choral works or smaller compositions, Los Robles Master Chorale works continuously to expand its horizons in regard to the repertoire it performs and the contributions it can make to the rich choral traditions of the southern California region.
The chorale's 2009|10 season includes six concerts and will feature works by American composers. In addition, at a special concert, "Reflections," presented jointly with Los Robles Children's Choir, LRCC Artistic Director Donna Young and Leighton will work together to offer a program of music written for SATB chorus and treble voices. A newly established 22-voice ensemble, the Consort Singers, will present two of its own concerts in its inaugural season - featuring an historical survey of sacred and secular music from the Renaissance period through the 21st Century-and will eventually become the group that will serve the community through educational outreach.
Extending its leadership and presence in the community, the LRMC performs regularly at the University Village retirement community and will be hosting its first High School Choral Festival in March 2010. Guest choral clinician and world-renowned choral conductor Paul Salamunovich will join Leighton in the adjudication of the choirs at the festival. Plans are also underway to develop and eventually launch an educational outreach program for children in Ventura County schools from elementary through high school.
The chorale has traveled on six international tours to Helsinki, Paris, Salzburg, London, Rome, Florence, and Prague, performing in Notre Dame Cathedral, St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Salzburg Cathedral, Basilica San Marco, the Duomo di Santa Maria del Fiore, Basilica Santa Maria Maggiiore, and Dvorak Hall.
Since moving to its new home at the Church of the Epiphany in Oak Park, the chorale has enjoyed not only a beautiful singing space, but has seen the size of its audience and its base of donors grow. Los Robles Master Chorale now serves over 5,000 audience members of all ages, and provides community outreach to approximately 250 seniors each year. In May of 2009, the chorale acquired its first six-figure asset, the choral library of the Washington Master Chorale in Washington, D.C., which contains over 1200 choral octavos and more than 25 orchestral parts and scores of major choral works. Los Robles Master Chorale's 2009|10 operating budget is $78,000, with plans to begin an endowment campaign in the near future which will further ensure the chorale's longevity as one of Ventura County's leading cultural assets.
Mission Statement
Los Robles Master Chorale serves the community with quality performances of choral music that seek to entertain and enlighten audiences. Singers also interact with the community through educational outreach activities that endeavor to stimulate an interest in the arts among young people. As the Chorale works to preserve southern California's strong tradition in the choral art, it hopes to create new traditions by exploring new music and fresh modes of expression.
Artistic Director Lesley Leighton
Master Chorale Roster
Board of Directors
Administration
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