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Considering Matthew Shepard
06/01/2019 7:00 PM - 7377 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA 90046
Considering Matthew Shepard
06/02/2019 2:00 PM - 7377 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA 90046
Love of My Soul
02/09/2019 7:00 PM - 5800 Fulton Avenue, Valley Glen, CA 91401
Oh bird of my soul, fly away now, for I possess a hundred fortified towers. –Rumi
Remember to love yourself, because if you can’t love yourself, how in the hell are you gonna love somebody else? Can I get an amen in here? –RuPaul
All you need is love. –John Lennon and Paul McCartney
Celebrate the limitlessness of love and the soul with the Metropolitan Master Chorale.
The Metropolitan Master Chorale performs Love of My Soul in the Music Building Recital Hall at Los Angeles Valley College (LAVC).
The address is 5800 Fulton Avenue, Valley Glen, CA 91401.
Free parking is available onsite in the lot at the corner of Oxnard and Fulton and in the parking structure on Ethel Avenue.
Click here for a map of the LAVC campus. The parking structure is located at H-12.
The Metropolitan Master Chorale is supported by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, and the City of West Hollywood, Economic Development Department/Arts Division and the Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission.
Soloists
Born and raised in Portland Oregon, Josh Bedlion is doing what it takes to leave a mark as an artist. Having cofounded “15 Miles West,” the official male a cappella group for Western Oregon University, and receiving his Master of Music degree, Josh left his hometown and made a bold move to Los Angeles. Since his arrival here, he has been a studio singer, music director, voice teacher, and percussionist.
Josh has performed with many choral groups including The Continental Singers and multiple tours with his university’s chamber choir through Europe, Asia, and Carnegie Hall in NYC. In LA, Josh, has had illuminating experiences and musical opportunities singing for both TV and film. His technical skills, blending, ability to sing in many musical styles, friendliness, and professionalism have made him a sought-after session-singer. He has sung back-up for Seth MacFarlane, Allen Toussaint, Sonny Turner, and many more. In addition to the MMC, where he has been a member for six years, Josh also sings with the LA Choral Lab.
www.joshbedlion.com
Josh is featured as Young Ben in “You’re Gonna Love Tomorrow.”
James Blake studied musical theatre and set design at Missouri Valley College. He is a singer and a producer. He recently completed an EP for a country artist, writing and singing all of the background vocals and playing acoustic guitar. Learning to play the pedal steel guitar has been his latest endeavor, along with joining a blues band. James has sung with the Metropolitan Master Chorale for eight years. He finds that it is a challenge and a great privilege to perform with so many talented community and professional singers. He would encourage any singers who want to grow in their craft to become a part of the MMC.
James is featured as Matthew Shepard in “Ordinary Boy.”
Kevin Chinn attended Austin College in his hometown of Sherman, Texas, where he concentrated in music/vocal performance and theatre. After becoming a professional performing artist in Dallas, he was whisked away to New York to join the Broadway cast in the original production of A Chorus Line at the Shubert Theatre. Other national and international touring company shows include A Chorus Line, West Side Story, Miss Saigon, and Ragtime. Kevin wound up his professional theatre career with the closing of Broadway’s Ragtime on the actual eve of 2000. Twenty-one years can pass in the blink of an eye! Enter: West Coast! Los Angeles has produced a short stint in the food industry, a longer period in retail at Barney’s New York in Beverly Hills, and then studies and certification in massage therapy at California Healing Arts College. Currently, he sings tenor in the Metropolitan Master Chorale (seven years) and works as a CMT in the spas of Equinox West Hollywood and L.A.’s Jonathan Club.
Kevin is featured as Young Buddy in “You’re Gonna Love Tomorrow.”
Diana Kavilis dreamed of being a ballerina until she saw A Chorus Line at the Shubert Theatre in LA, which caused her to take a dramatic turn to a Broadway career. After moving to NYC to pursue her dream, she joined the first national tour of Cats where she played the roles of Demeter and Grizabella. Then her dream came true. Diana was cast as Val and understudied for Cassie in A Chorus Line on Broadway, the show that changed her life as a teen. The play was re-reviewed by the New York Times, which called Diana “a standout in the role of Val.” She was part of the closing cast of the original production. (This show is also where she met fellow MMC member, Kevin Chinn). Diana toured with A Chorus Line, Jerome Robbins’ Broadway, Evita, Miss Saigon (with her first baby in tow and again with Kevin Chinn), and Martin Guerre. In addition, she has performed in four musicals at the Hollywood Bowl.
Diana was cast in the American premiere of Sunset Boulevard starring Glenn Close at LA’s Shubert Theatre. She worked with Andrew Lloyd Webber on this production and may be heard singing on the original cast soundtrack. For the past ten years, she has performed for the Disney Company, and she is currently part of the first live production of the animated feature, Frozen.
Diana joined the MMC seven years ago, yearning for choral music to be back in her life. Glenn Carlos has filled that void with his wonderful direction, his passion, and the variety of music he selects. Diana has been married to her husband, Kenny, for 34 years.
Diana is featured as the Narrator in “Ordinary Boy.”
Amy Lawrence is a light lyric soprano with “a voice that peals out tireless top notes” (The Boston Globe). Discovering her musical talents at a very young age, Amy found herself singing on the Dorothy Chandler and Hollywood Bowl stages, including a child role with LA Opera when she was 12. By age 18, Amy was a finalist for the Presidential Scholar in the Arts and a semi-finalist for the Music Center Spotlight Awards. She went on to earn her BM from The Boston Conservatory of Music and a Graduate Certificate in vocal arts from the USC Thornton School of Music.
Amy continues to perform opera, musical theater and choral music in the greater Los Angeles area. Amy has sung with Pacific Opera Project, Opera A La Carte, Pacific Chorale, San Gabriel Music Theater, the Tuscia Opera Festival, and Aspen Music Festival. She recently returned from her performance debut in China, touring with the Hollywood Film Orchestra as their soprano guest artist. Her most recent operatic role was singing Leonora Braham in Hail Poetry! with Opera A La Carte. Other notable roles include Despina in Cosi Fan Tutte, Luiga in Viva la Mamma!, Suor Dolcina in Suor Angelica, Queen Tye in Akhnaten, Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Amor in L’incoronazione di Poppea, and Frasquita in Carmen. As well as an accomplished singer, Amy is also a professional ballroom dancer and a fulltime ballroom instructor. In addition, she plays the flute professionally.
www.sopranoamylawrence.com
www.amylawrencedance.com
Amy is featured in “We Tell Each Other Stories.”
Lisa Margaroli is originally from New York and holds a B.S. in Music from Hofstra University. Lisa has performed choral works at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Walt Disney Hall and on tour throughout the Pacific northwest. Lisa is an active session and live singer and has performed background vocals for Lou Gramm (Foreigner), Weird Al, Juliette Lewis, Seal, Jeff Beck, Joe Perry (Aerosmith), Johnny Depp, Nancy Wilson (Heart), Corey Taylor, and more.
National tour: In the Mood, a 1940s big band revue. Favorite past roles include: Sheila –A Chorus Line; Ritter – She Loves Me; Electra – Gypsy; Edith – The Pirates of Penzance; Adelaide – Guys and Dolls; Magenta – Rocky Horror; and roles in Tommy, Hair, etc.
Lisa is the lead singer in several bands including The Usual Suspects and It's So Easy – A Tribute to Linda Ronstadt. Her bands have opened for Blood, Sweat & Tears, Three Dog Night, The Winery Dogs, America, Badfinger, Jack Russell's Great White, and Dick Dale. Lisa also sings with the Los Robles Master Chorale, California Philharmonic Chorale, and the gospel choir RAISE.
www.lisamargaroli.com
Lisa is featured as Judy Shepard in “Ordinary Boy.”
Hailing from Upstate NY, Holly McCormack’s performances and studies have taken her to the midwest, east coast and Europe. Holly has performed with Chicago Opera Theater, the Chicago Cultural Center, American Opera Group, Saratoga Opera, The Lake George Music Festival, Riedel Dance Theater, Park Playhouse and the Cohoes Music Hall, to name a few. Holly performed three consecutive seasons as a contracted soprano in the Chicago Symphony Chorus. In New York City, Holly immersed herself in the study of musical theater and film acting with Tom Todoroff and Broadway-level musical theater training with Andrew M. Byrne. She has studied French chanson at the Académie Internationale d’Eté de Nice, France with Dalton Baldwin. Holly holds a B.M. in Voice Performance from the State University of New York at Purchase and a M.M. in Voice Performance from the Chicago College of Performing Arts.
Holly is featured as Young Sally in “You’re Gonna Love Tomorrow.”
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Jenny Mosbaugh grew up in a music-loving family; her grandmother performed vocals with her father on guitar. Jenny's love of music led her to an early start in performance and theater as a young child. She studied voice and piano privately and has toured the UK with the Santa Monica Playhouse theater group. Jenny attended the Alexander Hamilton High School Academy of Music, singing with the Chamber Singers and Women's Ensemble choirs. She studied music theory at Boston University.
Currently, Jenny is studying with voice coach Weba Garretson and is enjoying her first season singing alto with the MMC. Jenny is continuing the family tradition by accompanying her three-year-old son to children's music classes.
Jenny is featured in “All You Need Is Love.”
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Rebecca Ramirez grew up surrounded by music. From classical to classic rock and oldies to Mariachi, she listened, learned, and enjoyed many different genres. She was raised by a professional musician and naturally began to pick up melodies, harmonies, and rhythms which led her to start both piano and violin lessons at a young age. Rebecca played the violin in her school orchestras which allowed her musicianship to grow and mature.
Rebecca took her first voice class with MMC Artistic Director, Glenn Carlos, at Los Angeles Valley College. She decided to make the shift from instrumental to vocal music. Rebecca graduated from LAVC and transferred to California State University, Northridge, where she completed her Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance. She teaches music to children, teens and young adults. Rebecca is in her first season with the Metropolitan Master Chorale.
Rebecca is featured as Young Phyllis in “You’re Gonna Love Tomorrow.”
Rob Weddle hails from the Appalachian foothills of western Maryland, where he grew up listening to country-western, bluegrass, Methodist hymns, R&B, and classic and modern rock radio hits. After moving to Florida, Rob formed the band, Holidaysburg. The group toured regularly in the southeastern US and released an album. Rob appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show to participate in her first (and only) Karaoke Challenge. He was one of the final three, receiving glowing praise from Gladys Knight, Billy Ray Cyrus, Diane Warren, and songwriting duo Ashford & Simpson. Shortly after Oprah, Rob traded the humid Florida swamplands for the bright lights of Los Angeles. He is the bandleader and singer for The Flat Earth Society, a folk/bluegrass tribute to Southern California punk rock stalwarts, Bad Religion. He continues to write and arrange original music and performs a solo acoustic act in the Los Angeles area. Rob is in his second season with Metropolitan Master Chorale.
Rob is featured in “All You Need Is Love.”
Remember to love yourself, because if you can’t love yourself, how in the hell are you gonna love somebody else? Can I get an amen in here? –RuPaul
All you need is love. –John Lennon and Paul McCartney
Celebrate the limitlessness of love and the soul with the Metropolitan Master Chorale.
The Metropolitan Master Chorale performs Love of My Soul in the Music Building Recital Hall at Los Angeles Valley College (LAVC).
The address is 5800 Fulton Avenue, Valley Glen, CA 91401.
Free parking is available onsite in the lot at the corner of Oxnard and Fulton and in the parking structure on Ethel Avenue.
Click here for a map of the LAVC campus. The parking structure is located at H-12.
The Metropolitan Master Chorale is supported by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, and the City of West Hollywood, Economic Development Department/Arts Division and the Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission.
Soloists
Born and raised in Portland Oregon, Josh Bedlion is doing what it takes to leave a mark as an artist. Having cofounded “15 Miles West,” the official male a cappella group for Western Oregon University, and receiving his Master of Music degree, Josh left his hometown and made a bold move to Los Angeles. Since his arrival here, he has been a studio singer, music director, voice teacher, and percussionist.
Josh has performed with many choral groups including The Continental Singers and multiple tours with his university’s chamber choir through Europe, Asia, and Carnegie Hall in NYC. In LA, Josh, has had illuminating experiences and musical opportunities singing for both TV and film. His technical skills, blending, ability to sing in many musical styles, friendliness, and professionalism have made him a sought-after session-singer. He has sung back-up for Seth MacFarlane, Allen Toussaint, Sonny Turner, and many more. In addition to the MMC, where he has been a member for six years, Josh also sings with the LA Choral Lab.
www.joshbedlion.com
Josh is featured as Young Ben in “You’re Gonna Love Tomorrow.”
James Blake studied musical theatre and set design at Missouri Valley College. He is a singer and a producer. He recently completed an EP for a country artist, writing and singing all of the background vocals and playing acoustic guitar. Learning to play the pedal steel guitar has been his latest endeavor, along with joining a blues band. James has sung with the Metropolitan Master Chorale for eight years. He finds that it is a challenge and a great privilege to perform with so many talented community and professional singers. He would encourage any singers who want to grow in their craft to become a part of the MMC.
James is featured as Matthew Shepard in “Ordinary Boy.”
Kevin Chinn attended Austin College in his hometown of Sherman, Texas, where he concentrated in music/vocal performance and theatre. After becoming a professional performing artist in Dallas, he was whisked away to New York to join the Broadway cast in the original production of A Chorus Line at the Shubert Theatre. Other national and international touring company shows include A Chorus Line, West Side Story, Miss Saigon, and Ragtime. Kevin wound up his professional theatre career with the closing of Broadway’s Ragtime on the actual eve of 2000. Twenty-one years can pass in the blink of an eye! Enter: West Coast! Los Angeles has produced a short stint in the food industry, a longer period in retail at Barney’s New York in Beverly Hills, and then studies and certification in massage therapy at California Healing Arts College. Currently, he sings tenor in the Metropolitan Master Chorale (seven years) and works as a CMT in the spas of Equinox West Hollywood and L.A.’s Jonathan Club.
Kevin is featured as Young Buddy in “You’re Gonna Love Tomorrow.”
Diana Kavilis dreamed of being a ballerina until she saw A Chorus Line at the Shubert Theatre in LA, which caused her to take a dramatic turn to a Broadway career. After moving to NYC to pursue her dream, she joined the first national tour of Cats where she played the roles of Demeter and Grizabella. Then her dream came true. Diana was cast as Val and understudied for Cassie in A Chorus Line on Broadway, the show that changed her life as a teen. The play was re-reviewed by the New York Times, which called Diana “a standout in the role of Val.” She was part of the closing cast of the original production. (This show is also where she met fellow MMC member, Kevin Chinn). Diana toured with A Chorus Line, Jerome Robbins’ Broadway, Evita, Miss Saigon (with her first baby in tow and again with Kevin Chinn), and Martin Guerre. In addition, she has performed in four musicals at the Hollywood Bowl.
Diana was cast in the American premiere of Sunset Boulevard starring Glenn Close at LA’s Shubert Theatre. She worked with Andrew Lloyd Webber on this production and may be heard singing on the original cast soundtrack. For the past ten years, she has performed for the Disney Company, and she is currently part of the first live production of the animated feature, Frozen.
Diana joined the MMC seven years ago, yearning for choral music to be back in her life. Glenn Carlos has filled that void with his wonderful direction, his passion, and the variety of music he selects. Diana has been married to her husband, Kenny, for 34 years.
Diana is featured as the Narrator in “Ordinary Boy.”
Amy Lawrence is a light lyric soprano with “a voice that peals out tireless top notes” (The Boston Globe). Discovering her musical talents at a very young age, Amy found herself singing on the Dorothy Chandler and Hollywood Bowl stages, including a child role with LA Opera when she was 12. By age 18, Amy was a finalist for the Presidential Scholar in the Arts and a semi-finalist for the Music Center Spotlight Awards. She went on to earn her BM from The Boston Conservatory of Music and a Graduate Certificate in vocal arts from the USC Thornton School of Music.
Amy continues to perform opera, musical theater and choral music in the greater Los Angeles area. Amy has sung with Pacific Opera Project, Opera A La Carte, Pacific Chorale, San Gabriel Music Theater, the Tuscia Opera Festival, and Aspen Music Festival. She recently returned from her performance debut in China, touring with the Hollywood Film Orchestra as their soprano guest artist. Her most recent operatic role was singing Leonora Braham in Hail Poetry! with Opera A La Carte. Other notable roles include Despina in Cosi Fan Tutte, Luiga in Viva la Mamma!, Suor Dolcina in Suor Angelica, Queen Tye in Akhnaten, Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Amor in L’incoronazione di Poppea, and Frasquita in Carmen. As well as an accomplished singer, Amy is also a professional ballroom dancer and a fulltime ballroom instructor. In addition, she plays the flute professionally.
www.sopranoamylawrence.com
www.amylawrencedance.com
Amy is featured in “We Tell Each Other Stories.”
Lisa Margaroli is originally from New York and holds a B.S. in Music from Hofstra University. Lisa has performed choral works at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Walt Disney Hall and on tour throughout the Pacific northwest. Lisa is an active session and live singer and has performed background vocals for Lou Gramm (Foreigner), Weird Al, Juliette Lewis, Seal, Jeff Beck, Joe Perry (Aerosmith), Johnny Depp, Nancy Wilson (Heart), Corey Taylor, and more.
National tour: In the Mood, a 1940s big band revue. Favorite past roles include: Sheila –A Chorus Line; Ritter – She Loves Me; Electra – Gypsy; Edith – The Pirates of Penzance; Adelaide – Guys and Dolls; Magenta – Rocky Horror; and roles in Tommy, Hair, etc.
Lisa is the lead singer in several bands including The Usual Suspects and It's So Easy – A Tribute to Linda Ronstadt. Her bands have opened for Blood, Sweat & Tears, Three Dog Night, The Winery Dogs, America, Badfinger, Jack Russell's Great White, and Dick Dale. Lisa also sings with the Los Robles Master Chorale, California Philharmonic Chorale, and the gospel choir RAISE.
www.lisamargaroli.com
Lisa is featured as Judy Shepard in “Ordinary Boy.”
Hailing from Upstate NY, Holly McCormack’s performances and studies have taken her to the midwest, east coast and Europe. Holly has performed with Chicago Opera Theater, the Chicago Cultural Center, American Opera Group, Saratoga Opera, The Lake George Music Festival, Riedel Dance Theater, Park Playhouse and the Cohoes Music Hall, to name a few. Holly performed three consecutive seasons as a contracted soprano in the Chicago Symphony Chorus. In New York City, Holly immersed herself in the study of musical theater and film acting with Tom Todoroff and Broadway-level musical theater training with Andrew M. Byrne. She has studied French chanson at the Académie Internationale d’Eté de Nice, France with Dalton Baldwin. Holly holds a B.M. in Voice Performance from the State University of New York at Purchase and a M.M. in Voice Performance from the Chicago College of Performing Arts.
Holly is featured as Young Sally in “You’re Gonna Love Tomorrow.”
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Jenny Mosbaugh grew up in a music-loving family; her grandmother performed vocals with her father on guitar. Jenny's love of music led her to an early start in performance and theater as a young child. She studied voice and piano privately and has toured the UK with the Santa Monica Playhouse theater group. Jenny attended the Alexander Hamilton High School Academy of Music, singing with the Chamber Singers and Women's Ensemble choirs. She studied music theory at Boston University.
Currently, Jenny is studying with voice coach Weba Garretson and is enjoying her first season singing alto with the MMC. Jenny is continuing the family tradition by accompanying her three-year-old son to children's music classes.
Jenny is featured in “All You Need Is Love.”
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Rebecca Ramirez grew up surrounded by music. From classical to classic rock and oldies to Mariachi, she listened, learned, and enjoyed many different genres. She was raised by a professional musician and naturally began to pick up melodies, harmonies, and rhythms which led her to start both piano and violin lessons at a young age. Rebecca played the violin in her school orchestras which allowed her musicianship to grow and mature.
Rebecca took her first voice class with MMC Artistic Director, Glenn Carlos, at Los Angeles Valley College. She decided to make the shift from instrumental to vocal music. Rebecca graduated from LAVC and transferred to California State University, Northridge, where she completed her Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance. She teaches music to children, teens and young adults. Rebecca is in her first season with the Metropolitan Master Chorale.
Rebecca is featured as Young Phyllis in “You’re Gonna Love Tomorrow.”
Rob Weddle hails from the Appalachian foothills of western Maryland, where he grew up listening to country-western, bluegrass, Methodist hymns, R&B, and classic and modern rock radio hits. After moving to Florida, Rob formed the band, Holidaysburg. The group toured regularly in the southeastern US and released an album. Rob appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show to participate in her first (and only) Karaoke Challenge. He was one of the final three, receiving glowing praise from Gladys Knight, Billy Ray Cyrus, Diane Warren, and songwriting duo Ashford & Simpson. Shortly after Oprah, Rob traded the humid Florida swamplands for the bright lights of Los Angeles. He is the bandleader and singer for The Flat Earth Society, a folk/bluegrass tribute to Southern California punk rock stalwarts, Bad Religion. He continues to write and arrange original music and performs a solo acoustic act in the Los Angeles area. Rob is in his second season with Metropolitan Master Chorale.
Rob is featured in “All You Need Is Love.”
Sacred, Too
11/03/2018 7:00 PM - 5800 Fulton Avenue, Valley Glen, CA 91401
Anything can serve as a source of the divine when an individual faces the need to belong.
The Metropolitan Master Chorale shares a stunning repertoire that examines our unique relationships to the sacred.
Please join us for a memorable evening of love, grace and healing.
Featured Soloists
Eric Bradley is thrilled to be back singing with MMC for his sixth year. Originally from Connecticut, he enjoys a career as a session singer in Los Angeles. He’s lent his voice to more than a hundred films like Star Wars (The Force Awakens, Rogue One, The Last Jedi), Toy Story, La La Land, Pitch Perfect, Jersey Boys, The Grinch, Avatar and Captain Marvel. He can regularly be heard on shows like The Simpsons and Family Guy and has sung with Justin Timberlake, Neil Young, Barbra Streisand, Lady Gaga, Mary J. Blige, Adele, John Legend, Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, and Andrea Bocelli. Other credits include performing on The Academy Awards, The Grammys, and The Emmys. One of the true joys of his life is singing with Dick Van Dyke in an a cappella quartet called the Vantastix. They’ve made appearances on several talk shows, benefits, and live events since 2000.
Rob Weddle hails from the Appalachian foothills of western Maryland, where he grew up listening to country-western, bluegrass, Methodist hymns, R&B, and classic and modern rock radio hits. After moving to Florida, Rob formed the band, Holidaysburg. The group toured regularly in the southeastern US and released an album. Rob appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show to participate in her first (and only) Karaoke Challenge. He was one of the final three, receiving glowing praise from Gladys Knight, Billy Ray Cyrus, Diane Warren, and songwriting duo Ashford & Simpson. Shortly after Oprah, Rob traded the humid Florida swamplands for the bright lights of Los Angeles. He is the bandleader and singer for The Flat Earth Society, a folk/bluegrass tribute to Southern California punk rock stalwarts, Bad Religion. He continues to write and arrange original music and performs a solo acoustic act in the Los Angeles area. Rob is in his second season with Metropolitan Master Chorale.
For the Sacred, Too concert, Rob will be performing in Dirshu Adonai.
Click here to listen to a beautiful recording of this gorgeous song by the University of Denver Lamont Chorale.
The translation is as follows:
Seek the Lord and His strength; seek his presence continually.
--Psalm 105:4
Lisa Margaroli is originally from New York and holds a B.S. in Music from Hofstra University. Lisa has performed choral works at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Walt Disney Hall and on tour throughout the Pacific northwest. Lisa is an active session and live singer and has performed background vocals for Lou Gramm (Foreigner), Weird Al, Juliette Lewis, Seal, Jeff Beck, Joe Perry (Aerosmith), Johnny Depp, Nancy Wilson (Heart), Corey Taylor, and more.
National tour: In the Mood, a 1940s big band revue. Favorite past roles include: Sheila – A Chorus Line; Ritter – She Loves Me; Electra – Gypsy; Edith –The Pirates of Penzance; Adelaide – Guys and Dolls; Magenta – Rocky Horror; and roles in Tommy, Hair, etc.
Lisa is the lead singer in several bands including The Usual Suspects and It's So Easy – A Tribute to Linda Ronstadt. Her bands have opened for Blood, Sweat & Tears, Three Dog Night, The Winery Dogs, America, Badfinger, Jack Russell's Great White, and Dick Dale. Lisa also sings with the Los Robles Master Chorale, California Philharmonic Chorale, and the gospel choir RAISE.
www.lisamargaroli.com
Lisa is featured in Dirshu Adonai.
Kevin Chinn attended Austin College in his hometown of Sherman, Texas, where he concentrated in music/vocal performance and theatre. After becoming a professional performing artist in Dallas, he moved to New York to join the Broadway cast of A Chorus Line at the Shubert Theatre. Other national and international touring company shows include A Chorus Line, West Side Story, Miss Saigon, and Ragtime. Kevin wound up his professional theatre career with the closing of Broadway’s Ragtime on the actual eve of 2000. Twenty-one years can pass in the blink of an eye! Enter: West Coast! Los Angeles has produced a short stint in the food industry, a longer period in retail at Barney’s New York in Beverly Hills, and then studies and licensing in massage therapy at California Healing Arts College. Currently, he sings tenor in Metropolitan Master Chorale (six years) and works as a CMT in the spas of Equinox West Hollywood and L.A.’s Jonathan Club.
Kevin is featured in Dirshu Adonai.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Rebecca Ramirez grew up surrounded by music. From classical to classic rock and oldies to Mariachi, she listened, learned, and enjoyed many different genres. She was raised by a professional musician and naturally began to pick up melodies, harmonies, and rhythms which led her to start both piano and violin lessons at a young age. Rebecca played the violin in her school orchestras which allowed her musicianship to grow and mature.
Rebecca took her first voice class with MMC Artistic Director, Glenn Carlos, at Los Angeles Valley College. She decided to make the shift from instrumental to vocal music. Rebecca graduated from LAVC and transferred to California State University, Northridge, where she completed her Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance. She teaches music to children, teens and young adults. Rebecca is in her first season with the Metropolitan Master Chorale.
For the Sacred, Too concert, Rebecca will be performing in Regina coeli.
Click here to listen to a recording by the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus.
Here is a literal translation:
Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia:
The Son whom you merited to bear, alleluia.
Has risen, as He said, alleluia.
Pray for us to God, alleluia.
Marvin Neumann holds B.A. and M.A. degrees from UCLA and Occidental College in music education and composition. As a music educator, Marvin taught middle-school through college in southern California and overseas. As a professional singer, he toured with the Roger Wagner Chorale, sang for more than 30 years with the Los Angeles Master Chorale, the Los Angeles Bach Festival and the San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival. Marvin has sung movie soundtracks. In addition, he performed with the New York City Opera for eight years for its winter performance tours to Los Angeles.
Marvin conducts vocal and instrumental groups. He conducted the Crown City Symphony of Pasadena for 12 years and lead workshops for orchestras at California State University, Northridge, Redlands University and Occidental College. While living in Thailand, he conducted the Bangkok Symphony and the Combined Chorale. Marvin conducted church choirs for more than 25 years and prepared the Premier Chorale of Pierce College for their performance at Carnegie Hall.
Marvin has composed works for orchestra, concert band, chamber and choral groups. One of his chamber works was broadcast on KUSC. His choral music is published by Cantus Quercus Press.
Marvin is featured in Regina coeli.
James Blake studied musical theatre and set design at Missouri Valley College. He is a singer, multi-instrumentalist, and producer. He recently completed an EP for a country artist, writing and singing all of the background vocals and playing acoustic guitar. Learning to play the pedal steel guitar has been his latest endeavor. James has sung with the Metropolitan Master Chorale for eight years. He finds that it is a challenge and a great privilege to perform with so many talented community and professional singers. He would encourage any singers who want to grow in their craft to become a part of the MMC.
For the Sacred, Too concert, James is featured in Cattle, Horses, Sky and Grass.
Click here to watch a video of this song performed by Conspirare and directed by the composer, Craig Hella Johnson.
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Kathi Funston is a professional singer and writer/producer who splits her time between performing and writing. Canadian-born and Texas-raised, Kathi has a huge love for comedy and jazz. She created a comedy web series together with her now-husband when they first met, before web series were cool. Their show was featured in USA Today and the Toronto Star.
An accomplished vocalist, Kathi been singing for more than 30 years and has received many accolades during her career. She has a music degree from the University of North Texas, where she performed as lead soprano and soloist with the Jazz Singers (named "Best College Jazz Choir" by Down Beat Magazine) for four years, releasing three albums and touring the U.S. with the group.
As a session singer and voiceover artist, Kathi has lent her voice to musical theater productions, film and television scores, and commercial voiceover and jingles. She currently enjoys singing in two choirs and performing with and directing her vocal jazz quartet, Turnstyle. Kathi lives in LA with her wonderful husband, 6-year-old daughter, and two pet bunnies.
www.kathifunston.com
Kathi is featured in Dirshu Adonai and Regina coeli.
Hailing from La Mirada, lyric baritone Bennett Billard has been singing since the age of 12. Starting as part of the Buena Park Youth Theatre, he would go on to begin 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. Most frequently he opens for Apollinaire, a six-piece acoustic combo that specializes in playing Brecht and Weil compositions with a tango twist. This is Bennett’s second year with the MMC. Prior to that, he was part of the Chorale Bel Canto in Whittier.
For the Sacred, Too concert, Bennett is featured in Fire of the Ancient Heart.
Melissa Faye Klein joined the Metropolitan Master Chorale in 2015. Recently seen and heard around town singing jazz standards, Melissa is also the Music Director for the Village Arts Theatre where she is directing the Young Performers’ Edition of The Wizard of Oz for three separate casts of children. She is a SAG-AFTRA vocalist, session singer, voice-over artist and vocal teacher. Classically trained, Melissa began her career singing in opera and musical theatre. Melissa has sung internationally, performed on stage in New York and toured the United States with different musical theatre productions. She can be heard as one of the Voices of Gettysburg at the Gettysburg Museum in Pennsylvania. Melissa is also half of the cabaret duo known as The Happenstances.
Instagram: @melissafayeklein
For the Sacred, Too concert, Melissa will be featured in Gloria in Excelsis Deo.
Click here to listen to a recording of Gloria in Excelsis Deo performed by the San Joaquin Chorale with the composer, Kevin A. Memley, at the piano.
Lynne DuFresne is originally from Kansas City, Missouri and has a B.A. In Theatre and Art from St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas. As an actor and a singer, Lynne has worked in regional theatres, summer stock and dinner theatres throughout the Midwest and in Los Angeles. She was a founding member of The Next Theatre and The Odyssey Theatre, both in Chicago. She has worked as a principal performer in a number of national commercials.
Lynne also trained and performed as a storyteller. She researched, developed and wrote two one-woman shows: The Six Wives of Henry the VIII Tell Their Own Stories and Stories and Songs of Vanishing Peoples. She performed these shows in schools, libraries and colleges around the Midwest.
Her chorale experience includes The New Orleans Symphony Chorale, The Kansas City Master Chorale, Actors A Cappella—both in Chicago and Los Angeles—and the California Philharmonic Chorale. This is Lynne's third season with the Metropolitan Master Chorale.
Lynne is featured in Gloria in Excelsis Deo.
DeBorah Sharpe-Taylor is a vocalist, vocal instructor at Musicians Institute in Hollywood, and a stage, screen and voice-over actor. She has toured with Harry Belafonte, Barry White, The Supremes as a third member, and sang in the choir backing Stevie Wonder in the Hand-in-Hand telethon to aid hurricane victims. DeBorah was also one of the singers with Christina Aguilara in the 2017 American Music Awards Whitney Houston Tribute.
DeBorah’s most recent TV credits include This Is Us and The Neighbors. You may have seen her in numerous commercials and heard her as a voice actor in commercials and animations. She is a proud Western Region Councilor for the Actors’ Equity Association. In addition, she is the Founding Director of United Voices of Peace.
For the Sacred, Too concert, DeBorah is featured in Tshotsholoza.
For a preview, click here to see a video of Tshotsholoza directed by Jeffery L. Ames, who arranged this traditional South African song.
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Jose Alejandro Santos, who prefers to go by Alex, was born in Chicago, Illinois, but grew up in California. Alex is a music major at Los Angeles Valley College where he is also a member of the Chamber Singers and College Choir. At Bakersfield High School, Alex sang with the Chamber Singers, the Advanced Chorale and the Men’s Choir. He also had the opportunity to be a part of the Central Section Regional Honor Choir in 2017. As a result of his dedication to the music department, Alex received the Bakersfield High School Cultural Award for Music. After graduating, he was invited back to BHS to join the choir to perform at Carnegie Hall. He is looking forward to meeting new people and beginning a career in music in Los Angeles. Alex is excited to be starting his first season with the Metropolitan Master Chorale.
Alex is featured in Gloria in Excelsis Deo.
The Metropolitan Master Chorale shares a stunning repertoire that examines our unique relationships to the sacred.
Please join us for a memorable evening of love, grace and healing.
Featured Soloists
Eric Bradley is thrilled to be back singing with MMC for his sixth year. Originally from Connecticut, he enjoys a career as a session singer in Los Angeles. He’s lent his voice to more than a hundred films like Star Wars (The Force Awakens, Rogue One, The Last Jedi), Toy Story, La La Land, Pitch Perfect, Jersey Boys, The Grinch, Avatar and Captain Marvel. He can regularly be heard on shows like The Simpsons and Family Guy and has sung with Justin Timberlake, Neil Young, Barbra Streisand, Lady Gaga, Mary J. Blige, Adele, John Legend, Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, and Andrea Bocelli. Other credits include performing on The Academy Awards, The Grammys, and The Emmys. One of the true joys of his life is singing with Dick Van Dyke in an a cappella quartet called the Vantastix. They’ve made appearances on several talk shows, benefits, and live events since 2000.
Rob Weddle hails from the Appalachian foothills of western Maryland, where he grew up listening to country-western, bluegrass, Methodist hymns, R&B, and classic and modern rock radio hits. After moving to Florida, Rob formed the band, Holidaysburg. The group toured regularly in the southeastern US and released an album. Rob appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show to participate in her first (and only) Karaoke Challenge. He was one of the final three, receiving glowing praise from Gladys Knight, Billy Ray Cyrus, Diane Warren, and songwriting duo Ashford & Simpson. Shortly after Oprah, Rob traded the humid Florida swamplands for the bright lights of Los Angeles. He is the bandleader and singer for The Flat Earth Society, a folk/bluegrass tribute to Southern California punk rock stalwarts, Bad Religion. He continues to write and arrange original music and performs a solo acoustic act in the Los Angeles area. Rob is in his second season with Metropolitan Master Chorale.
For the Sacred, Too concert, Rob will be performing in Dirshu Adonai.
Click here to listen to a beautiful recording of this gorgeous song by the University of Denver Lamont Chorale.
The translation is as follows:
Seek the Lord and His strength; seek his presence continually.
--Psalm 105:4
Lisa Margaroli is originally from New York and holds a B.S. in Music from Hofstra University. Lisa has performed choral works at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Walt Disney Hall and on tour throughout the Pacific northwest. Lisa is an active session and live singer and has performed background vocals for Lou Gramm (Foreigner), Weird Al, Juliette Lewis, Seal, Jeff Beck, Joe Perry (Aerosmith), Johnny Depp, Nancy Wilson (Heart), Corey Taylor, and more.
National tour: In the Mood, a 1940s big band revue. Favorite past roles include: Sheila – A Chorus Line; Ritter – She Loves Me; Electra – Gypsy; Edith –The Pirates of Penzance; Adelaide – Guys and Dolls; Magenta – Rocky Horror; and roles in Tommy, Hair, etc.
Lisa is the lead singer in several bands including The Usual Suspects and It's So Easy – A Tribute to Linda Ronstadt. Her bands have opened for Blood, Sweat & Tears, Three Dog Night, The Winery Dogs, America, Badfinger, Jack Russell's Great White, and Dick Dale. Lisa also sings with the Los Robles Master Chorale, California Philharmonic Chorale, and the gospel choir RAISE.
www.lisamargaroli.com
Lisa is featured in Dirshu Adonai.
Kevin Chinn attended Austin College in his hometown of Sherman, Texas, where he concentrated in music/vocal performance and theatre. After becoming a professional performing artist in Dallas, he moved to New York to join the Broadway cast of A Chorus Line at the Shubert Theatre. Other national and international touring company shows include A Chorus Line, West Side Story, Miss Saigon, and Ragtime. Kevin wound up his professional theatre career with the closing of Broadway’s Ragtime on the actual eve of 2000. Twenty-one years can pass in the blink of an eye! Enter: West Coast! Los Angeles has produced a short stint in the food industry, a longer period in retail at Barney’s New York in Beverly Hills, and then studies and licensing in massage therapy at California Healing Arts College. Currently, he sings tenor in Metropolitan Master Chorale (six years) and works as a CMT in the spas of Equinox West Hollywood and L.A.’s Jonathan Club.
Kevin is featured in Dirshu Adonai.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Rebecca Ramirez grew up surrounded by music. From classical to classic rock and oldies to Mariachi, she listened, learned, and enjoyed many different genres. She was raised by a professional musician and naturally began to pick up melodies, harmonies, and rhythms which led her to start both piano and violin lessons at a young age. Rebecca played the violin in her school orchestras which allowed her musicianship to grow and mature.
Rebecca took her first voice class with MMC Artistic Director, Glenn Carlos, at Los Angeles Valley College. She decided to make the shift from instrumental to vocal music. Rebecca graduated from LAVC and transferred to California State University, Northridge, where she completed her Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance. She teaches music to children, teens and young adults. Rebecca is in her first season with the Metropolitan Master Chorale.
For the Sacred, Too concert, Rebecca will be performing in Regina coeli.
Click here to listen to a recording by the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus.
Here is a literal translation:
Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia:
The Son whom you merited to bear, alleluia.
Has risen, as He said, alleluia.
Pray for us to God, alleluia.
Marvin Neumann holds B.A. and M.A. degrees from UCLA and Occidental College in music education and composition. As a music educator, Marvin taught middle-school through college in southern California and overseas. As a professional singer, he toured with the Roger Wagner Chorale, sang for more than 30 years with the Los Angeles Master Chorale, the Los Angeles Bach Festival and the San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival. Marvin has sung movie soundtracks. In addition, he performed with the New York City Opera for eight years for its winter performance tours to Los Angeles.
Marvin conducts vocal and instrumental groups. He conducted the Crown City Symphony of Pasadena for 12 years and lead workshops for orchestras at California State University, Northridge, Redlands University and Occidental College. While living in Thailand, he conducted the Bangkok Symphony and the Combined Chorale. Marvin conducted church choirs for more than 25 years and prepared the Premier Chorale of Pierce College for their performance at Carnegie Hall.
Marvin has composed works for orchestra, concert band, chamber and choral groups. One of his chamber works was broadcast on KUSC. His choral music is published by Cantus Quercus Press.
Marvin is featured in Regina coeli.
James Blake studied musical theatre and set design at Missouri Valley College. He is a singer, multi-instrumentalist, and producer. He recently completed an EP for a country artist, writing and singing all of the background vocals and playing acoustic guitar. Learning to play the pedal steel guitar has been his latest endeavor. James has sung with the Metropolitan Master Chorale for eight years. He finds that it is a challenge and a great privilege to perform with so many talented community and professional singers. He would encourage any singers who want to grow in their craft to become a part of the MMC.
For the Sacred, Too concert, James is featured in Cattle, Horses, Sky and Grass.
Click here to watch a video of this song performed by Conspirare and directed by the composer, Craig Hella Johnson.
Kathi Funston is a professional singer and writer/producer who splits her time between performing and writing. Canadian-born and Texas-raised, Kathi has a huge love for comedy and jazz. She created a comedy web series together with her now-husband when they first met, before web series were cool. Their show was featured in USA Today and the Toronto Star.
An accomplished vocalist, Kathi been singing for more than 30 years and has received many accolades during her career. She has a music degree from the University of North Texas, where she performed as lead soprano and soloist with the Jazz Singers (named "Best College Jazz Choir" by Down Beat Magazine) for four years, releasing three albums and touring the U.S. with the group.
As a session singer and voiceover artist, Kathi has lent her voice to musical theater productions, film and television scores, and commercial voiceover and jingles. She currently enjoys singing in two choirs and performing with and directing her vocal jazz quartet, Turnstyle. Kathi lives in LA with her wonderful husband, 6-year-old daughter, and two pet bunnies.
www.kathifunston.com
Kathi is featured in Dirshu Adonai and Regina coeli.
Hailing from La Mirada, lyric baritone Bennett Billard has been singing since the age of 12. Starting as part of the Buena Park Youth Theatre, he would go on to begin 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. Most frequently he opens for Apollinaire, a six-piece acoustic combo that specializes in playing Brecht and Weil compositions with a tango twist. This is Bennett’s second year with the MMC. Prior to that, he was part of the Chorale Bel Canto in Whittier.
For the Sacred, Too concert, Bennett is featured in Fire of the Ancient Heart.
Melissa Faye Klein joined the Metropolitan Master Chorale in 2015. Recently seen and heard around town singing jazz standards, Melissa is also the Music Director for the Village Arts Theatre where she is directing the Young Performers’ Edition of The Wizard of Oz for three separate casts of children. She is a SAG-AFTRA vocalist, session singer, voice-over artist and vocal teacher. Classically trained, Melissa began her career singing in opera and musical theatre. Melissa has sung internationally, performed on stage in New York and toured the United States with different musical theatre productions. She can be heard as one of the Voices of Gettysburg at the Gettysburg Museum in Pennsylvania. Melissa is also half of the cabaret duo known as The Happenstances.
Instagram: @melissafayeklein
For the Sacred, Too concert, Melissa will be featured in Gloria in Excelsis Deo.
Click here to listen to a recording of Gloria in Excelsis Deo performed by the San Joaquin Chorale with the composer, Kevin A. Memley, at the piano.
Lynne DuFresne is originally from Kansas City, Missouri and has a B.A. In Theatre and Art from St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas. As an actor and a singer, Lynne has worked in regional theatres, summer stock and dinner theatres throughout the Midwest and in Los Angeles. She was a founding member of The Next Theatre and The Odyssey Theatre, both in Chicago. She has worked as a principal performer in a number of national commercials.
Lynne also trained and performed as a storyteller. She researched, developed and wrote two one-woman shows: The Six Wives of Henry the VIII Tell Their Own Stories and Stories and Songs of Vanishing Peoples. She performed these shows in schools, libraries and colleges around the Midwest.
Her chorale experience includes The New Orleans Symphony Chorale, The Kansas City Master Chorale, Actors A Cappella—both in Chicago and Los Angeles—and the California Philharmonic Chorale. This is Lynne's third season with the Metropolitan Master Chorale.
Lynne is featured in Gloria in Excelsis Deo.
DeBorah Sharpe-Taylor is a vocalist, vocal instructor at Musicians Institute in Hollywood, and a stage, screen and voice-over actor. She has toured with Harry Belafonte, Barry White, The Supremes as a third member, and sang in the choir backing Stevie Wonder in the Hand-in-Hand telethon to aid hurricane victims. DeBorah was also one of the singers with Christina Aguilara in the 2017 American Music Awards Whitney Houston Tribute.
DeBorah’s most recent TV credits include This Is Us and The Neighbors. You may have seen her in numerous commercials and heard her as a voice actor in commercials and animations. She is a proud Western Region Councilor for the Actors’ Equity Association. In addition, she is the Founding Director of United Voices of Peace.
For the Sacred, Too concert, DeBorah is featured in Tshotsholoza.
For a preview, click here to see a video of Tshotsholoza directed by Jeffery L. Ames, who arranged this traditional South African song.
Jose Alejandro Santos, who prefers to go by Alex, was born in Chicago, Illinois, but grew up in California. Alex is a music major at Los Angeles Valley College where he is also a member of the Chamber Singers and College Choir. At Bakersfield High School, Alex sang with the Chamber Singers, the Advanced Chorale and the Men’s Choir. He also had the opportunity to be a part of the Central Section Regional Honor Choir in 2017. As a result of his dedication to the music department, Alex received the Bakersfield High School Cultural Award for Music. After graduating, he was invited back to BHS to join the choir to perform at Carnegie Hall. He is looking forward to meeting new people and beginning a career in music in Los Angeles. Alex is excited to be starting his first season with the Metropolitan Master Chorale.
Alex is featured in Gloria in Excelsis Deo.
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