Multicultural Choir performs at Walt Disney Concert Hall as part of a festival choir

By Zachary Horowitz
Staff Writer

The Mira Costa Multicultural Choir participated in the Los Angeles Master Chorale High School Choral Festival at the Walt Disney Concert Hall on May 1.

They joined 28 other high school choirs to create a festival choir of over 900 musicians.

“This was an exceptional experience for our students,” choir teacher Michael Hayden said. “They sang with other fine high school singers from all over Southern California and worked with amazing conductors.”

The morning began when the combined choir rehearsed their six selections including Rockin Jerusalem, Soulspeak, and Siyahamba. The conductor of the choir was Grant Gershon, Conductor of the LA Master Chorale and Artistic Director of the LA Opera Chorus. The festival was opened to the public at 1 p.m. .

“I feel like we did really well as a whole,” junior Emily Espinosa said. “We were able to go into the festival very open to Mr. Gershon’s methods of conducting and we were able to learn from the other choirs.”

Four Mira Costa students, Akela Yuhl, Emily Espinosa, George Rochelle, and Matthew Kennedy, were chosen by Hayden to be in the Festival’s Honor Choir. Each school was asked to send 4 students to participate in the choir which sang additional pieces.

“I felt really honored to be even considered to be in that sort of a position,” Espinosa said. “I’m grateful that I got this amazing opportunity to meet and work with so many amazing and talented people.”

On May 8, the Mira Costa Concert Choir attended the Music in the Parks Festival at Disneyland. It was the first time the Concert Choir attended the festival.

“This was a wonderful experience for all of us,” Hayden said. “It gave the girls a chance to sing for adjudication and receive comments from two judges.”

Each choir was judged and given a rating on their two songs, “Laudate Pueri” and “How Can I Keep from Singing”. After they were judged, the Mira Costa choir competed against Bonita Vista High School. the Mira Costa choir came in first place for the best women’s choir division and Overall Winner for all high school choirs.

“I’m beyond proud of my choir because they are so committed to everything that they do,” Layden said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better group to share this experience with.”