2014 was a banner year for Angel City Chorale, quite possibly the most exciting, challenging, and gratifying yet in the choir’s 21-year history. It’s hard to believe a year has passed since ACC went into the studio with Grammy-winning composer Christopher Tin to record seven tracks for his album The Drop That Contained the Sea. A trip to New York to sing the Drop’s world premiere at Carnegie Hall followed, and a few weeks later ACC threw a record release party for Christopher Tin to celebrate the album’s debut at #1 on the classical chart. The Spring 2014 concert, Elements, featuring the west coast premiere of The Drop That Contained the Sea, was a powerful and moving experience for the whole choir.
Being so deeply involved in the growth and expression of this challenging piece of music caused ACC to grow as well. As artistic director Sue Fink noted during song selection for the Holiday 2014 season, the choir has come a long way since its early days as a sing-along in the back of McCabe’s guitar shop! After such an exceptional spring season, the song selection committee was hard-pressed to create a holiday program as interesting and musically challenging as the previous concert. A dedicated group spent hundreds of hours listening to tracks and poring over scores to put together a program of beautiful and interesting seasonal selections.
Among the chosen songs were a number of pieces that included some challenging vocal runs. Guest conductor Michael Hayden, named teacher of the year as director of choirs at Mira Costa High School, was invited to teach a clinic on breath and vocal control. With his help, and the guidance and indomitable spirit of Sue Fink, ACC rose to the occasion, performing a range of classical, madrigal, pop, jazz, and gospel songs that took the audience’s breath away. Of the concert, Rich Borowy from ACCESSIBLY LIVE OFF-LINE wrote:
“Angel City Chorale has taken the near lost art of a vocal chorale and enhanced such musically expressed sounds for the new millennium. Its unique arrangements as led by its lead conductor Sue Fink, brings out the sonancy of its many voices to its own peerless and appealing style, from performing a “greatest hit” from the 16th century, to a new standard for the 21st. This assembly can do it all. ACC keeps this spirit of song going for all ages to learn and appreciate. It’s not just for “church” anymore!!”
