Courtesy photos.
CAMARILLO — In an effort to highlight the importance of high school choirs, Ventura County area high school students are being invited to audition this Fall for the CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) University Chorus.
Auditions are currently underway for high school students, non-student members of the community along with CSUCI students, faculty, and staff for the 2022-2023 concert season. Inviting high school students to audition and participate in a university-level chorus is part of “Project: Lights On,” which is aimed at re-energizing high school choral singing by providing an opportunity for high school singers to perform with professional orchestras at major concerts.
“By doing so, we are creating a healthy feeder program for CSUCI’s music program while inspiring young artists to become contributors to their communities through the arts,” said Dean Butler, President of the Channel Islands Choral Association (CICA), which sponsors the University Choir as well as the Pleasant Valley School District Chorus.
“We are getting closer and closer to helping area high schools turn the lights back on in their choir rooms,” Butler said. “Walk onto many area high school campuses and ask to see their choir room and I think you will get some strange looks. Those rooms just don’t exist or have been converted into storage spaces.”
High school students were part of the CSUCI University Chorus in June of 2022, when—under the direction of CSUCI Associate Professor of Music KuanFen Liu—performed at New York City’s Carnegie Hall, inspiring a standing ovation, two curtain calls and an invitation to return.
“It was encouraging to see so many high school students sharing the stage with us in performance at Carnegie Hall this summer,” said Liu, who holds a doctorate in Musical Arts and is also CICA’s Artistic Director. “I really believe that this was an extraordinary experience that made a positive impact in their lives, and they will treasure it for a long time.”
The “Project: Lights On” 2022/2023 performance season will have a multigenerational focus, Liu explained with the chorus rehearsing first for the winter concert, entitled “De Colores, A Choral Celebration of Colors & Cultures” scheduled for Friday, Dec. 2 in Camarillo and Sunday, Dec. 4 in Santa Paula.
In addition to the high school singers who become part of the University Chorus this Fall, Santa Paula and Ventura High School singers will join the choir for both performances.
In April, CICA along with the Channel Islands Chamber Orchestra, will present their annual “Choral Spectacular!”
“I have chosen music for this performance with the young student voice in mind,” Liu said. “High school students will be able to have their own chance to sing a prepared piece, a combined piece, and then a grand finale piece with the added excitement of a full symphonic orchestra.”
The “Choral Spectacular!” is scheduled for April 22 and 23, 2023 and will include a full performance of American composer Dan Forrest’s “Jubilate Deo.”
“We were just a few weeks away from performing ‘Jubilate Deo’ in 2019 when the pandemic struck and we had to cancel all our performances, “Butler said. “We now get to revisit that missed opportunity. And how exciting to do this with the new voices and additions of our high school students. It really will be a very special concert capping off a very special year!”
For non-registered CSUCI students, auditions for one or both semesters of the CSU Channel Islands University Chorus are now underway. Liu and Butler especially encourage area high school students and CSUCI faculty, staff, alumni, and community members to join the choir this year.
For more information or to schedule an audition, please contact Conductor KuanFen Liu at downbeatplus@gmail.com or visit cicachoir.org
ABOUT CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY CHANNEL ISLANDS — California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI) is Ventura County’s only public university. It opened in 2002 as the 23rd campus in the CSU system, serving the regions of Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles counties, as well as the entire state. CSUCI is nestled against the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains located between Camarillo and the Oxnard Plain, midway between Santa Barbara and Los Angeles, and 25 miles north of Malibu.
With more than 7,000 students, 1,200 employees and over 22,000 alumni, CSUCI is poised to grow in size and distinction, while maintaining a uniquely student-focused learning environment in public higher education. CSUCI offers more than 90 academic degrees, teaching credentials, certificates, and professional and community programs. Connect with and learn more by visiting www.csuci.edu or CSUCI’s Social Media.
The University encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs, events and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation, or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact the respective area below as soon as possible, but no later than seven (7) business days prior to the event/activity:
CSUCI Students
Disability Accommodations & Support Services: accommodations@csuci.edu
CSUCI Employees
Human Resources: angela.portillo@csuci.edu
Members of the Public
Title IX & Inclusion: titleix@csuci.edu