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Music in Color
03/11/2023 7:00 PM - Los Angeles Valley College Recital Hall
Join the Metropolitan Master Chorale for Music in Color on March 11, 2023!
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Los Angeles Valley College Recital Hall, 5800 Fulton Avenue, Valley Glen, CA 91401Parking is available near the Recital Hall in Lot B and in the parking structure. Click here for a map.
The the Metropolitan Master Chorale is supported in part by the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture and the City of Los Angeles Department of Arts and Cultural Affairs.
Soloists for Music in Color
Adriana Bravo recently graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno, where she completed her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance. Some of her performance experience includes musical theater and opera productions, and choral and chamber ensembles with the Nevada Chamber Opera, Nevada Chamber Singers, American Choral Director's Association Gospel Choir, and NATS. Since graduating, Adriana released original and cover music, teaches private voice lessons, and moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in singing. She is excited to be in her first season with MMC! @adrianabeee www.adrianabravovoice.com
Marco Cassone is delighted to join the Metropolitan Master Chorale. He studied vocal performance at the University of Washington and co-founded the jazz-funk-pop a cappella sextet, m-pact. The ensemble toured, recorded, and delivered performing arts educational programs on a global stage. (Their streaming album m-pact is Marco's fave.) After 20 years on the road, Marco turned his love for teaching/coaching into a second career in Organization Effectiveness, helping companies navigate large-scale change. Marco is thrilled to make great music and new friendships in the MMC.
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Randy Drake is an accomplished drum set and percussion performer. He has performed with Dan Siegel, Bill Watrous, John Novello, Pat Kelley, and Gregg Karukas. Between 1990 and 1992, he performed and recorded with artists including Birds of a Feather, the Mark Masters Jazz Orchestra, Uncle Festive, Ralph Carmichael, and many other Los Angeles artists. Randy recently toured Japan with Japanese guitarist Tak Matsumoto and Daniel Ho and the United States with Englebert Humperdinck. He has performed, recorded, and toured with jazz-pop artist Daniel Ho and Kilauea. Recently, Randy has been performing and recording with Daniel Ho, Jennifer Leitham, and San Gabriel Seven. Randy was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2022 for his work on “East West Players Presents: Daniel Ho & Friends Live in Concert.”
Randy earned a Ph.D. in ethnomusicology with a Doctoral Emphasis Program in Feminist Studies at University of California, Santa Barbara, in June 2018. His research interests include the intersections of race, class, age, and gender (particularly trans identity) in several genres of music and sound studies and popular music. His dissertation considers music’s ability to open up spaces for underrepresented forms of embodiment and identity.
Ashley Espinoza is a music major studying at Los Angeles Valley College. Ashley sang and performed through high school, granting her the honor to perform at Carnegie Hall with her school ensemble choir in 2019. Since Ashley is a believer of the Christian faith, her music inspiration is rooted in the genres of contemporary Christian and gospel music. Her love of singing and openness to blessings has provided her the opportunity to sing in many choirs.
Mia Flaieh grew up listening to Arabic music and taught herself Middle Eastern percussion. She is recognized for her tremendous sense of time and feeling. She did not have the opportunity to study music academically until she came to the United States in 2021 and experienced all different types of music. Mia fell in love with jazz and in 2022 began studying music at Los Angeles Valley College to prepare herself for a career in jazz. She currently performs with an eclectic band called The Tribe.
On tour with Bob Dylan in utero, Andi Gibson was born into the arts. With director Kenny Ortega, her acting career began at age two in Fleetwood Mac’s music video "Gypsy." At age seven, Andi began her singing career recording for Warner Brothers. She has performed at the Staples Center behind Barbra Streisand, Universal Studios Japan, the Pasadena Playhouse and Alliance Theater with Sister Act: The Musical, Celebrity Cruises, and the Disneyland Resort. After 18 years of live performing, Andi started voiceover work for commercials and videogames. Andi has voice more than 20 videogame titles. She can also be heard singing on episodes of Duncanville, Archibald's Next Big Thing and ThunderCats Roar, including the main theme song. In addition, Andi sang on the premiere episode of Hacks for HBO Max and most recently Bugs Bunny Builders on Cartoonito. In front of the camera, Andi was the Witch for Google Nest’s Halloween campaign. Check her out on YouTube.
Diana Kavilis is so happy to be singing with the MMC after not being in choir due to the pandemic. Her heart is filled! Diana’s most recent credit was performing in Frozen Live at the Hyperion at Disney California Adventure. Aside from many shows at the Disneyland Resort, Diana has a resume filled with musical theatre including Broadway, national and international tours, and Los Angeles companies.
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." Her debut solo jazz album, Seven, received international airplay and rave reviews from critics across the globe. "Lewis’s soulful and soaring vocal range joined with beautifully sculpted arrangements make for an outstanding production.” (Glenn Daniels of The Jazz Page) "Moved by intuition, she instinctively connects emotionally to the lyrics, making the listener contemplate each word, seeing songs like Irving Berlin's "Cheek to Cheek" and Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone" in a new light…(making) the songs seem even more brilliant than their original version." (Susan Frances of AXS) A consummate singer/songwriter, her originals, "Seesaw" and "Tidepool," earned Finalist positions with the John Lennon Songwriting Contest and the Hollywood Music in Media Awards, and she won the Akademia Music Awards for Best Americana Song and Best Jazz Album. In addition, Alison served as a vocalist for a number of independent films and TV shows including Disenchantment, What We Do In the Shadows, and Good Trouble. She loves performing choir music and has a been a proud member of the MMC community since 2010.
Maia (also known as Sonjia Hubert Harper) is an internationally-renowned vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and composer. She is has been a member of various bands and ensembles, including the Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra in Los Angeles and SAMANA, an all-female instrumental and vocal ensemble in Chicago. The Maia Quintet appeared as headliner and first all-female band at the Dakar Goree Jazz Festival 2019, in Dakar, Senegal West Africa. Maia has performed at the REDCAT Theater at Disney Hall, Ford Amphitheater, Jazz at LACMA, The Vibe Summit, Skirball Cultural Center, Central Avenue Jazz Festival, Watts Tower Jazz Festival, The World Stage, Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center, Top of the Hill Music Festival, and House of Blues.
“It is with great humility and gratitude that I can collaborate again with the MMC and Glenn Carlos with this song. ‘KUJICHAGULIA’ was originally conceived in 1997, recorded in 1999, and has grown into a full jazz ensemble piece. The original a capella and most recent arrangements of this song can be purchased at maia8.bandcamp.com and can be downloaded at all music streaming platforms.”
Wylder Reinman, who uses they/them pronouns, has been singing tenor with the Metropolitan Master Chorale since the fall of 2022. Wylder began leading music in the church setting at eleven years old. They fell in love with choral harmony in high school, and went on to receive their Bachelors in Vocal Performance from Sonoma State University and their K-12 Music Credential from San Jose State University. Wylder is the choir director at Shadow Hills Presbyterian Church, South Pasadena Middle School and South Pasadena High School. Wylder enjoys singing with friends, playing guitar, and exploring LA on their road bike.
Winter Songs
11/19/2022 7:00 PM - Los Angeles Valley College Recital Hall
Join the Metropolitan Master Chorale for Winter Songs on November 19, 2022!
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Los Angeles Valley College Recital Hall, 5800 Fulton Avenue, Valley Glen, CA 91401Parking is available near the Recital Hall in Lot B and in the parking structure. Click here for a map.
The the Metropolitan Master Chorale is supported in part by the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture and the City of Los Angeles Department of Arts and Cultural Affairs.
Soloists for Winter Songs
Kevin Alvarez is a Bass/Baritone who is currently enrolled in the Applied Music Program at Los Angeles Valley College. Kevin is majoring in voice performance under Diana Tash and plans to transfer soon to a four-year college. He has performed with the MMC for the last three seasons and sung at LAVC in the chamber ensemble for nearly three semesters.
On tour with Bob Dylan in utero, Andi Gibson was born into the arts. With director Kenny Ortega, her acting career began at age two in Fleetwood Mac’s music video "Gypsy." At age seven, Andi began her singing career recording for Warner Brothers. She has performed at the Staples Center behind Barbra Streisand, Universal Studios Japan, the Pasadena Playhouse and Alliance Theater with Sister Act: The Musical, Celebrity Cruises, and the Disneyland Resort. After 18 years of live performing, Andi started voiceover work for commercials and videogames. Andi can also be heard singing on episodes of Duncanville, Archibald's Next Big Thing and ThunderCats Roar, including the main theme song. In addition, Andi sang on the premiere episode of Hacks for HBO and most recently Trick or Treat Scooby-Doo. In front of the camera, Andi was the Witch for Google Nest’s Halloween campaign. Check her out on YouTube.
Lisa Margaroli is originally from New York and holds a B.S. in Music from Hofstra University. Lisa has performed in choirs at Walt Disney Concert Hall, Carnegie Hall, Geffen Hall in Lincoln Center, St. Patrick's Cathedral, on tour throughout the pacific northwest, and most recently at the Hollywood Bowl singing Wynton Marsalis's "All Rise" with Wynton Marsalis, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, and LA Phil. Lisa also sings with California Philharmonic Chorale and the gospel choir RAISE. Lisa is an active session and live singer and has performed live background vocals for Lou Gramm, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Linda Perry, Juliette Lewis, Joe Perry, Johnny Depp, Nancy Wilson, Tiffany, Corey Taylor, on recordings for Seal, Jeff Beck, Harry Nilsson, and most recently for FX's What We Do in the Shadows. Lisa is the lead singer in several bands including It's So Easy - A Tribute to Linda Ronstadt. Lisa performed as an Andrews Sister and soloist in the national tour of In the Mood, a 1940s big band revue celebrating the music of WWII. Thank you, Glenn Carlos, for this wonderful opportunity! @lisamargaroli www.lisamargaroli.com
Holly Pitrago is from a small town in Michigan where she grew up studying music through private lessons and with her father who was a band director in the local schools. She took up piano at the age of seven and followed in her father’s footsteps with the bassoon at age eleven. She later became first chair with the Detroit Symphony Civic Orchestra. After receiving her M.A. in Theatre Arts, Holly pursued a career of singing and acting in various musical theatre roles in New York, in dinner theatres and aboard Premier’s S.S. Seabreeze. Since moving to Los Angeles, Holly’s live singing has included concerts, churches, synagogues, and touring with New Directions Veterans Choir. Holly also works as a session singer and can be heard on film, TV, and sound recordings. Recent TV singing roles include the voice of Principal Perry on Disney XD’s Lab Rats and Paige in Sue’s uncut a cappella group on ABC’s The Middle. As a vocal contractor on TV shows, Holly has performed on Netflix’s Alexa and Katie, Disney’s Raven’s Home, and Netflix’s No Good Nick. www.hollypitrago.com
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Rebecca Ramirez grew up surrounded by multiple genres of music. Raised by a professional musician, she naturally began to pick up melodies, harmonies, and rhythms, which led her to begin both piano and violin lessons when she was child. She continued to play the violin throughout her adolescence with her school orchestras. Rebecca shifted from instrumental to vocal music after she took her first voice class with MMC Artistic Director, Glenn Carlos, at Los Angeles Valley College in 2008. After completing the Applied Music program at LAVC, she transferred to CSU Northridge. During her time at CSUN, she studied privately with Diane Ketchie, sang with the Northridge Singers, and participated in multiple school performances. She completed her studies at CSUN with both a Bachelor of Music degree and a Master of Music degree in vocal performance. Rebecca is currently a full-time educator, teaching music, mathematics, and language arts to students ranging in age from four to eighteen. She is in her fifth season with the MMC.
Ravi Raval sang with the Ragazzi Boys Chorus from 1998 to 2006. Through Ragazzi, Ravi had the privilege of singing with the San Francisco Symphony and the San Francisco Opera. He majored in music at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where he was the student conductor of several choirs, including one he founded. He then sang in Ragazzi Continuo, the alumni group of his boy choir, and served as director for two seasons. Outside of singing, Ravi is an Engineering Manager at WorkRamp, a tech startup.
Harry Schlager studied music at Casper College in Wyoming, then received his Bachelor of Music degree in Musical Theater Performance from Arizona State University. He has performed in productions at many theaters in southern California including San Gabriel Civic Light Opera, San Bernardino CLO, and Long Beach CLO among others. Harry was privileged to perform alongside stars of stage and screen, Donald O'Connor, Carol Lawrence and Sandy Duncan, to name just a few. His favorite role was Count Philippe in the Yeston/Kopit version of Phantom. Other productions include Jesus Christ Superstar, Camelot, The Desert Song, The Student Prince, Kismet and many more. Harry has also performed in a professional Christmas caroling group for more than thirty years! Harry is thrilled to be a part of this concert of Winter Songs. He has been singing with the MMC nearly four years and he wishes to thank everyone involved in putting together this show of gorgeous music and for the privilege of singing with this talented group of musicians! He is featured in "Welcome to all the pleasures".
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Rebecca Simon is a historian of piracy and a professor at Santa Monica College. She has published two books, Why We Love Pirates: The Hunt for Captain Kidd and How He Changed Piracy Forever and Pirate Queens: The Lives of Anne Bonny & Mary Read. Rebecca has been studying voice and singing in choirs off and on since 1999. She sang with MMC for the 2017-18 season and is very excited to be singing with the group again!
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Natasha Sydor grew up in Randolph, New Jersey and is a recent LA resident. She graduated from Rutgers University where she double-majored in English and French Literature with a minor concentration in Music and Theater. Natasha has been singing since a young age and has been part of the Rutgers University Choir, West Village Choral in NYC, and Harmonium Choral Society—New Jersey's leading choral arts organization. Natasha is a Senior Brand Manager at Amazon Studios in Culver City. She enjoys singing in multiple genres but mostly listens to classical, electronic, electro swing, and neurofunk music.
At the age of nineteen, Adrian Torres is the Assistant Band Director of the Instrumental Music Program at Van Nuys High School, so there's something to be said about his skills as a musician. Adrian loves to dabble in anything that involves music and has training in guitar, percussion, bass, and piano. Lately Adrian has taken an interest in music engineering and production. He is very grateful to be accepted as a part of the wonderful Metropolitan Master Chorale only seven years after first singing in a choir in school.
Tenor Jeff Wang is the Founder and Director of WEL-JVG STEAM Center, an education center in Rowland Heights. He is a member of the National Association of Teachers Singing (NATS), and in 2016 he received the First Place Adult Division award at the NATS National Student Audition. Jeff sings with the LA Opera and other groups in Los Angeles. He sang roles in Madame Butterfly directed by Lee Blakeley and On Gold Mountain by Nathan Wang. He directs an orchestra and a Chinese choir, which sang in Noyes Flood and The Three Women of Jerusalem directed by James Colon.
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