La Cañada High School’s choral music program is well known for high quality performances across the globe. It’s also becoming increasingly known for the themes chosen for each year’s performances. Choral director Jeff Brookey introduced this year’s “Awakening the Artist Within” theme at the recent Fall Debut Concert at the First United Methodist Church in Pasadena.
The program included a showcase of American composers, including Jake Runestad, Eric Whitacre, Shawn Kirchner, Daniel Pinkham and Moses Hogan. The singers performed American and international folk songs and hymns.
All six La Cañada High School choirs sang at the event, including the 7/8 vocal ensemble, 7/8 women’s ensemble, men’s ensemble, women’s ensemble, concert choir and chamber singers.
“The theme of our concerts is an important learning tool,” said Brookey, who is starting his 10th year in charge of the program. “We believe in what Leonard Bernstein wrote, that art can’t change events, but it can change people. We want our music to be a positive force for change.”
The program included a showcase of American composers, including Jake Runestad, Eric Whitacre, Shawn Kirchner, Daniel Pinkham and Moses Hogan. The singers performed American and international folk songs and hymns.
All six La Cañada High School choirs sang at the event, including the 7/8 vocal ensemble, 7/8 women’s ensemble, men’s ensemble, women’s ensemble, concert choir and chamber singers.
“The theme of our concerts is an important learning tool,” said Brookey, who is starting his 10th year in charge of the program. “We believe in what Leonard Bernstein wrote, that art can’t change events, but it can change people. We want our music to be a positive force for change.”
