By Stacy Lee
Pasadena Master Chorale is seeking young composers and artists to create pieces of chorale music as well as design artwork.
High school-aged teens living in the Pasadena-area can now apply to compose music or create designs for Pasadena Master Chorale for its new program “Listening to the Future.”
“We listened to our hearts when we created ‘Listening to the Future,’” Pasadena Master Chorale founder Jeffrey Bernstein said. “The program – with its emphasis on supporting and inspiring young composers – is a natural extension of our commitment to new music and to education.”
This is the first time Pasadena Master Chorale is offering this program.
“I’m certain that’s this is the first of the annual ‘Listening to the Future,’” Bernstein said. “This is something that we are deeply committed to and feel very strongly about.”
Students will have the opportunity to work with composer-mentors Shawn Kirchner and Dale Trumbore to draft new chorale music about every other week from November until June. Pasadena Master Chorale will then perform the new pieces on June 25, 2016. There will only be six to eight students chosen for this.
Bernstein said Pasadena Master Chorale is looking for teens interested in creating music for choirs and ideally someone who has done so before. He said it also helps if the students have some experience singing in a choir or musical ensemble.
“We want to be flexible,” Bernstein added. “If someone who has been in a chorus or has a love of choral music feels they have something to say, we want to see if there’s a way to work together even if they do not have formal musical training.”
Teens interested in submitting artwork will work with artist-mentor Alejandro Lopez to design promotional materials to publicize the June 25 concert. There is no selection limit.
“Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, there is no cost to students participating in ‘Listening to the Future,’” Bernstein said. “The only cost is to students themselves – and music lovers everywhere, who will miss the chance to experience these young people’s artistry – if they fall to take advantage of this opportunity.”
To apply, visit http://www.pasadenamasterchorale.org/#!listening-to-the-future/pgjhk. The application deadline is Nov. 6.
Pasadena Master Chorale was established in 2009 by Bernstein as a nonprofit arts organization dedicated to cultivate appreciation of classical choral music. For more information, visit www.pasadenamasterchorale.org.
