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Give Where You Live
07/25/2020 7:00 PM - Facebook Live
Mark your calendars for Saturday, July 25 at 7:00 PM!
The Metropolitan Master Chorale presents its first online public event.
Special guest Kevin McKidd will host the event.
Live on Facebook! Click here for the link.
Donate Today
Venmo
Check out the new MMC video on the Music tab or click here.
Meet the Give Where You Live Performers
Kevin McKidd
Special Guest Host
Kevin McKidd was born and raised in Scotland, and now resides in Los Angeles where he is an actor, a director, and a musician. He plays music with his band, The Speyside Sessions, by night while playing Owen Hunt on Grey’s Anatomy by day. Other than Owen, some favorite roles from 25 years of acting work include Lucius Vorenus in Rome, Frankie Mac in 16 Years of Alcohol, Dan Vasser in Journeyman, Tommy in Trainspotting, and Poseidon in Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief.
Bennett Billard
Hailing from La Mirada, lyric baritone Bennett Billard has been singing since the age of 12. Starting as part of the Buena Park Youth Theater, he would go on to begin his opera studies during his sophomore year at Fullerton Union High School's Academy of the Arts. After earning his bachelor’s degree from CSU Long Beach and his master’s degree from the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Bennett has been back singing in Los Angeles and Orange County since 2015. Prior to singing with the MMC, Bennett was part of Whittier's Chorale Bel Canto.
Glenn Carlos
Glenn Carlos is a published choral composer and arranger who also does consultant work for the Grammy Awards Foundation and the Grammy Museum educational outreach. He has been a featured soloist with and has prepared choirs for David Foster, Dianne Warren, Michael Feinstein, Dave Brubeck, Barry Manilow, and Shelly Berg, among other musical luminaries. He is the founder and Artistic Director of the celebrated Metropolitan Master Chorale and is frequently invited to appear as a choral clinician throughout Southern California. Mr. Carlos has held teaching and conducting posts at USC, Cal State Long Beach, and is an Associate Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Los Angeles Valley College. He is a member of the American Choral Directors Association.
Kathi Funston
Kathi Funston is entering her fourth season with the Metropolitan Master Chorale. She works as a professional writer and session singer in Los Angeles. Kathi is a trained jazz vocalist and scat singer and a proud graduate of the University of North Texas. She directs and sings lead with her a cappella jazz quartet Turnstyle. Kathi is happily quarantined with her husband, 8-year-old daughter, and pet bunny Calvin. Follow her group on Instagram @turnstylevocals.
Frank Garvey
Pianist, Dr. Frank Garvey, is an active performer in the fields of solo and collaborative music, instrumental and art-song accompaniment, choral accompaniment, and musical theater. He has performed in his home country of Ireland, as well as Great Britain, France, Hungary and California. Frank has taught and coached in Ireland and in California, including in Los Angeles Valley College, the University of San Diego, Santa Monica College, Pierce College, Biola University, and UCLA, where he received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance. He has premiered the works of contemporary composers in Ireland, Hungary and the United States, and has arranged and composed for both piano and vocal ensembles. He is the pianist for the Metropolitan Master Chorale, with whom he performs music that ranges from jazz, to classical, pop, Romantic, Baroque, folk, early, and the
ethnically diverse. Frank has also been music director in churches in the US and Ireland. He currently maintains a private teaching studio, teaches at the Southwest Conservatory of Music near his home in Orange County, is a coach-accompanist for the Los Angeles Community College District, and is on the teaching faculty of Los Angeles Valley College.
Richard Kahn
Professor Richard Kahn joined the music faculty at Los Angeles Valley College in the fall of 2000. He teaches or has taught a variety of music classes including Commercial Harmony, Music Arranging and Improvisation, Music Technology, Music Notation, Music As a Business, Songwriters Workshop, Jazz Appreciation, Electronic Music, Music Fundamentals, and directs the Small Jazz Ensembles. Prior to his tenure at LAVC, Mr. Kahn served on the faculty of the California State University at Los Angeles from 1992 to 2000. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Piano Performance and a Master of Arts degree in Jazz Studies and Arranging.
Alison Lewis
Alison Lewis was described by Cabaret Scenes as, "a singer with a hauntingly beautiful voice who transformed the ordinary into the extraordinary with brilliant arrangements and vocal experimentation." No stranger to stages large and small, Alison has performed as a soloist at venues ranging from Disney Concert Hall to Lincoln Center. She has performed/toured with world music a cappella groups, major cover bands, R&B acts, as well as gospel and classical ensembles at high profile events throughout the United States and internationally. She has been honored to share the stage with such incredible talents as Michael Franti, Peter Yarrow, and Patti Austin. Alison has additionally performed the national anthem for the LA Lakers, the 49ers and the Golden State Warriors. An active community organizer, Alison volunteers her pipes at numerous hospitals and treatment facilities as well as has led major social service efforts across the United States and abroad. She currently teaches music/voice to children with special needs, operates a private teaching studio, and facilitates music workshops with residents across Los Angeles County through the Skid Row based organization, Urban Voices Project. Follow Alison on Facebook at facebook.com/AlisonLewisMusic.
Patrick Ortman
Patrick is married to Kathi Funston, and he's a creative director and executive producer at PluckStudio in Los Angeles. Patrick is also a former recording artist who still writes and performs original music in his spare time.
Gerald White
As one of LA's first call session vocalists for 20 years, Gerald White can be heard in more than 200 film and television projects from Frozen to GLEE, X-men and Avatar. His studio experience is matched by live singing appearances with industry greats such as Hans Zimmer, Adele, Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake and for events like The Academy Awards and Game of Thrones Live. He has provided vocals on albums for many artists from Whitney Houston to Paul McCartney. Gerald holds an MA and BA in jazz and commercial music, chairs the Singer Committee at SAG-AFTRA and is certified at the Institute for Vocal Advancement where he runs a private vocal studio in Santa Monica, CA. His expertise as a session singer, artist and voice teacher is what undergirds his ear as a producer. Gerald’s deep passion lies in bolstering his students to sing with freedom as they too realize their dreams.
The Metropolitan Master Chorale is supported in part by the City of West Hollywood, the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs and the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture.
The Metropolitan Master Chorale presents its first online public event.
Special guest Kevin McKidd will host the event.
Live on Facebook! Click here for the link.
Give Where You Live is free and tickets are not required.
Want to donate anyway?
Go to the Support tab here on our website.
metrosings.org/support
Prefer to give through Venmo?
Find us at @Metro-Sings (the last four phone digits 0087)
Or click on the buttons below.
Thank you for your support!
Donate Today
Venmo
Check out the new MMC video on the Music tab or click here.
Meet the Give Where You Live Performers
Kevin McKidd
Special Guest Host
Kevin McKidd was born and raised in Scotland, and now resides in Los Angeles where he is an actor, a director, and a musician. He plays music with his band, The Speyside Sessions, by night while playing Owen Hunt on Grey’s Anatomy by day. Other than Owen, some favorite roles from 25 years of acting work include Lucius Vorenus in Rome, Frankie Mac in 16 Years of Alcohol, Dan Vasser in Journeyman, Tommy in Trainspotting, and Poseidon in Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief.
Bennett Billard
Hailing from La Mirada, lyric baritone Bennett Billard has been singing since the age of 12. Starting as part of the Buena Park Youth Theater, he would go on to begin his opera studies during his sophomore year at Fullerton Union High School's Academy of the Arts. After earning his bachelor’s degree from CSU Long Beach and his master’s degree from the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Bennett has been back singing in Los Angeles and Orange County since 2015. Prior to singing with the MMC, Bennett was part of Whittier's Chorale Bel Canto.
Glenn Carlos
Glenn Carlos is a published choral composer and arranger who also does consultant work for the Grammy Awards Foundation and the Grammy Museum educational outreach. He has been a featured soloist with and has prepared choirs for David Foster, Dianne Warren, Michael Feinstein, Dave Brubeck, Barry Manilow, and Shelly Berg, among other musical luminaries. He is the founder and Artistic Director of the celebrated Metropolitan Master Chorale and is frequently invited to appear as a choral clinician throughout Southern California. Mr. Carlos has held teaching and conducting posts at USC, Cal State Long Beach, and is an Associate Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Los Angeles Valley College. He is a member of the American Choral Directors Association.
Kathi Funston
Kathi Funston is entering her fourth season with the Metropolitan Master Chorale. She works as a professional writer and session singer in Los Angeles. Kathi is a trained jazz vocalist and scat singer and a proud graduate of the University of North Texas. She directs and sings lead with her a cappella jazz quartet Turnstyle. Kathi is happily quarantined with her husband, 8-year-old daughter, and pet bunny Calvin. Follow her group on Instagram @turnstylevocals.
Frank Garvey
Pianist, Dr. Frank Garvey, is an active performer in the fields of solo and collaborative music, instrumental and art-song accompaniment, choral accompaniment, and musical theater. He has performed in his home country of Ireland, as well as Great Britain, France, Hungary and California. Frank has taught and coached in Ireland and in California, including in Los Angeles Valley College, the University of San Diego, Santa Monica College, Pierce College, Biola University, and UCLA, where he received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance. He has premiered the works of contemporary composers in Ireland, Hungary and the United States, and has arranged and composed for both piano and vocal ensembles. He is the pianist for the Metropolitan Master Chorale, with whom he performs music that ranges from jazz, to classical, pop, Romantic, Baroque, folk, early, and the
ethnically diverse. Frank has also been music director in churches in the US and Ireland. He currently maintains a private teaching studio, teaches at the Southwest Conservatory of Music near his home in Orange County, is a coach-accompanist for the Los Angeles Community College District, and is on the teaching faculty of Los Angeles Valley College.
Richard Kahn
Professor Richard Kahn joined the music faculty at Los Angeles Valley College in the fall of 2000. He teaches or has taught a variety of music classes including Commercial Harmony, Music Arranging and Improvisation, Music Technology, Music Notation, Music As a Business, Songwriters Workshop, Jazz Appreciation, Electronic Music, Music Fundamentals, and directs the Small Jazz Ensembles. Prior to his tenure at LAVC, Mr. Kahn served on the faculty of the California State University at Los Angeles from 1992 to 2000. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Piano Performance and a Master of Arts degree in Jazz Studies and Arranging.
Alison Lewis
Alison Lewis was described by Cabaret Scenes as, "a singer with a hauntingly beautiful voice who transformed the ordinary into the extraordinary with brilliant arrangements and vocal experimentation." No stranger to stages large and small, Alison has performed as a soloist at venues ranging from Disney Concert Hall to Lincoln Center. She has performed/toured with world music a cappella groups, major cover bands, R&B acts, as well as gospel and classical ensembles at high profile events throughout the United States and internationally. She has been honored to share the stage with such incredible talents as Michael Franti, Peter Yarrow, and Patti Austin. Alison has additionally performed the national anthem for the LA Lakers, the 49ers and the Golden State Warriors. An active community organizer, Alison volunteers her pipes at numerous hospitals and treatment facilities as well as has led major social service efforts across the United States and abroad. She currently teaches music/voice to children with special needs, operates a private teaching studio, and facilitates music workshops with residents across Los Angeles County through the Skid Row based organization, Urban Voices Project. Follow Alison on Facebook at facebook.com/AlisonLewisMusic.
Patrick Ortman
Patrick is married to Kathi Funston, and he's a creative director and executive producer at PluckStudio in Los Angeles. Patrick is also a former recording artist who still writes and performs original music in his spare time.
Gerald White
As one of LA's first call session vocalists for 20 years, Gerald White can be heard in more than 200 film and television projects from Frozen to GLEE, X-men and Avatar. His studio experience is matched by live singing appearances with industry greats such as Hans Zimmer, Adele, Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake and for events like The Academy Awards and Game of Thrones Live. He has provided vocals on albums for many artists from Whitney Houston to Paul McCartney. Gerald holds an MA and BA in jazz and commercial music, chairs the Singer Committee at SAG-AFTRA and is certified at the Institute for Vocal Advancement where he runs a private vocal studio in Santa Monica, CA. His expertise as a session singer, artist and voice teacher is what undergirds his ear as a producer. Gerald’s deep passion lies in bolstering his students to sing with freedom as they too realize their dreams.
The Metropolitan Master Chorale is supported in part by the City of West Hollywood, the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs and the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture.
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