Press Kit 2019/20 LOS ANGELES | NEW YORK | WASHINGTON, D.C. | SAN FRANCISCO
Walt Disney Concert Hall
“One of the finest children’s choirs in the world today.” — Grant Gershon ®
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Our Mission Statement
The National Children’s Chorus transforms the lives of young people, empowering them to effectively lead society toward the ideals of artistic excellence, cultural openness, and social justice.
Ancient City Wall, Xi’an, China
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Our Vision Statement
A world where choral music powerfully nourishes awareness of our most important human values.
Xi’an, China
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Our Unique History The National Children's Chorus, under the leadership of Artistic Director Luke McEndarfer and Associate Artistic Director Dr. Pamela Blackstone, is quickly establishing itself as one of the world’s leading children’s choirs, with a set of 22 ensembles and more than 800 students, based in Los Angeles, New York City, Washington, D.C. and San Francisco Performing locally and abroad, the National Children's Chorus is one of few youth arts organizations in America to have its concert series presented by professional music halls. Tracing its lineage back to the 1904 inception of the Paulist Choristers in Chicago, the National Children's Chorus has garnered a superb reputation for musical excellence, and amassed an impressive résumé of experience. Its groundbreaking Season 2019/20, entitled Evolución, expands on the chorus’ recent success, featuring an array of stunning repertoire, demonstrating the organization’s firm commitment to new music, world culture and extraordinary professional collaborations.
Collaborating with some of the finest music companies in the nation, the group has performed live with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Opera Company, the Los Angeles Master Chorale, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, the Joffrey Ballet, the Kronos String Quartet, Center Theatre Group and Musica Angelica Baroque Orchestra, under the direction of such distinguished conductors as Gustavo Dudamel, Grant Gershon, James Conlon, Paul Salamunovich, Helmuth Rilling, John Rutter, Stephen Layton, David Alan Miller, John Mauceri, Eric Whitacre and Esa-Pekka Salonen, with whom the ensemble recorded Mahler's Symphony No. 3 in D minor, with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under the Sony Classical Label. Notable premieres have included music by composers Stephen Cohn, Ibrahim Maalouf, Eric Whitacre, Tan Dun, Sharon Farber, Morten Lauridsen, Rufus Wainwright, Sage Lewis, Meredith Monk and Nico Muhly. In addition, the National Children's Chorus has been featured on numerous movie and television soundtracks, including on screen for Paramount Pictures and its 2009 film Imagine That, starring Eddie Murphy. Through the years, the group performed numerous times as the musical act on Jay Leno's former Tonight Show, and its members are regularly contracted as solo artists for professional engagements both in the studio and on stage, including principal roles on Broadway and in opera. Recent television appearances have included special features on CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox networks.
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NCC at a Glance
Our Community Our Team
18 803 conductors students 11 full-time 39 staff worldwide venues 16 musicianship 1,428 instructors donors 9 private voice instructors 5,000 live audience members 11 pianists
325 12 schools production represented support staff
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Our 2019/20 Season The National Children’s Chorus begins a new era, having just concluded a landmark 10th Anniversary Season. Entitled Evolución, Season 2019/20 will serve as a meaningful depiction of the human experience, celebrating the transformations made through the incredible journey of life. Led by Artistic Director Luke McEndarfer and Associate Artistic Director Dr. Pamela Blackstone, Evolución features stunning repertoire by celebrated composers, as well as notable world premieres by young emerging artists. More than 800 students in the NCC’s four cities of Los Angeles, New York, Washington, D.C. and San Francisco will take part in extraordinary musical experiences both on and off the stage, flavored with influences fromHispanic and Latin cultures across Europe, Mexico and South America. Exciting venues include Royce Hall, Carnegie Hall, the Christ Cathedral (formerly the Crystal Cathedral), San Francisco Conservatory of Music and Lincoln Center, the latter of which will host the NCC’s 2020 all-city event, with students singing together from across the country. Artistic collaborations entail concerts with the Dresden Philharmonic Children’s Choir, Lindenbaum Festival Orchestra from South Korea, and Los Angeles-based Musica Angelica Baroque Orchestra, in addition to the NCC’s 2nd appearance at the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. Next July, the chorus will embark on its 6th international tour to Portugal and Spain, with visits and presentations at key sites in Lisbon, Seville, Madrid and Barcelona. SEE OUR UPCOMING PERFORMANCES
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Media
VIDEO LINKS
TOMORROW SHALL SICUT CERVUS SLEEP BE MY DANCING DAY (MASS PERFORMANCE) (SATB) John Rutter Palestrina Eric Whitacre St. Mark’s Basilica, Lincoln Center, NYC Lincoln Center, NYC Venice, Italy
AUDIO DOWNLOADS
SYMPHONY 1997 SNOW ANGEL YALDEI HAOR Tan Dun Sarah Quartel (NCC COMMISSION) Disney Hall, LA Lincoln Center, NYC Sharon Farber Lincoln Center, NYC
PHOTO DOWNLOADS
PHOTO GALLERY
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Recent Domestic Venues
Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles
Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall, New York Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall, New York
The Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C. Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, New York
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Recent International Venues
Mapo Art Center, Seoul Matthias Church, Budapest
St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican Musikverein, Vienna
Kyoto Concert Hall, Kyoto Berlin Wall, Berlin
9 | NATIONAL CHILDREN'S CHORUS | Booking and press inquiries, please contact [email protected] "winning virtuosity" — LA Times "amazing" "phenomenal" — Grammy-winning composer Eric Whitacre — British choral composer John Rutter "accomplished" — LA Philharmonic "pitch perfect" "absolutely stunning" — Washington Parent Magazine — Fox News "the best" — Grammy-winning composer Tan Dun "incredible" — ABC News
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