By Daily Press staff
Angel City Chorale (ACC), a multi-talented, multi-cultural group of 120 men and women will perform two concerts at Wilshire United Methodist Church on Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 5 at 6 p.m.
ACC’s 2004 holiday repertoire includes some favorites, as well as a few surprises from across the ages and around the world. ACC will showcase their signature blend of eclectic musical styles — a mix of pop, rock, folk, gospel, spiritual and classical selections. In keeping with the choir’s mission to reach out on an ongoing basis to the greater Los Angeles community through song, featured works include traditional pieces by Handel and Bennett, Christmas gospels, traditional Ukranian carols, modern pieces by composer/cantor Finkelstein and choir member Barbara Miller, as well as the non-denominational, hope-filled original, “One,” by composer/conductor Sue Fink.
Founded at McCabe’s Guitar Shop in Santa Monica in 1993 by award-winning conductor and artistic director Fink, ACC has grown from just 18 singers into a fully self-supporting community-oriented chorale group of more than 120 men and women. ACC has appeared at the Staples Center, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the Kodak Theatre as the featured choir for the nationwide PBS television special, “The American Tenors,” and for last year’s “A Merry Mancini Christmas” at Walt Disney Concert Hall. ACC also was the featured entertainment at this year’s Jewish Artisan’s Festival, Temple Isaiah held last week.
Wilshire United Methodist is located at 4350 Wilshire Blvd., between Highland Avenue and Wilton. Tickets are $17 in advance and $20 at the door for adults; $15/$18 for seniors and $12/$15 for children under 12 years old. Group rates also are available. For ticket information, contact Kathy at (310) 785-9591 or visit www.angelcitychorale.com.
ACC has provided outreach services to the greater Los Angeles community via its Tour of Hope for many years. Each holiday season, choir members board buses and visit community sites that specialize in helping members of the community get their lives back on track. Past sites include juvenile detention centers, homes for the blind, senior citizen homes, and various hospital burn units. The ACC prides itself on bringing hope in the form of music and song to the widest Los Angeles audience possible, organizers say. In May, the chorale launched its first annual Spring Tour of Hope, in line with its mission to reach out through music not just at holiday time, but consistently throughout the year as well.
“Our music embraces people of many faiths, ages and interests,” Fink said. “We bring an authenticity and integrity to many different styles … we’re a choir committed to community, just as Temple Isaiah is. It’s a wonderful match and we are thrilled to be part of the Festival of Jewish Artisans.” Public parking: Input sought for new open space
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 27, 2004. Read the original PDF.