Choral Festival Gathers 10 Area Choirs

Six high school choirs will join four college groups for Westmont’s third annual Fall Choral Festival at First Presbyterian Church, Constance and State Street, Friday, Oct. 26, at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Westmont Men's and Women's Chorales, Chamber Singers and College Choir will perform along with high school students from across Southern California. Choirs from Golden West High School in Visalia, Dos Pueblos High School in Goleta, Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach, West Valley High School in Hemet, Santa Maria High School, and Morro Bay High School will hone their repertoires with Westmont choral directors at a workshop before the performance.

The evening will close as all 400 singers perform Christopher Tye’s “Hail, Glorious Spirits” as one mass choir.

“This is the first year we’ve had to turn people down,” says Michael Shasberger, Adams professor of music and worship, as more high schools apply to participate each year.

As a former high school teacher, Shasberger sees the festival as inspiring younger students to experience serious choral literature.

For more information contact Darcy Galvan in the music department at (805) 565-6040 or dgalvan@westmont.edu.