Final Concert for Choir Founder

Donna Young has mixed emotions about her final concert as artistic director of the Los Robles Children’s Choir. As the choir’s founding director, the past fifteen years have been a labor of love working with hundreds of children and youth throughout the area, including Agoura Hills.

"Striving for excellence in choral singing by discovering and developing the artistry in each child” has been the mission of the organization since its inception in 1997. Early last summer, Young made the decision that it was time to pass the leadership baton to younger people who share the same passion. To that end, Ed and Dana Rouse have been selected to take over the leadership of the choir beginning this August.

“The time has come for me to use my energy in other places,” . “I adore the children but they will be in good hands.”

The final concert of the season, “Reflections–15 years of memories” promises to be a bittersweet experience for Young and her singers. Not only will this concert feature the four choirs that make up the Los Robles Children’s Choir, but a choir comprised of alumni will also sing.

Some of the alumni singers are presently pursuing careers in music or are working towards a degree in vocal performance at universities and conservatories across the country. For many of the alumni, fond memories of past concerts and tours in Europe will be part of their lives forever.

The concert on Sunday, May 20 at Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks will include many of Young’s favorite pieces from the past 15 years. Music by J.S. Bach, W.A. Mozart, Guilio Caccini, B. Wayne Bisbee,  John Rutter, Z. Randall Stoope will be included.

Every season, the choirs present music from various historical periods and in many different languages. Repertoire is chosen for its artistic merit and its ability to inspire the singers. Each year, the children’s choir joins with the Los Robles Master Chorale to present a joint concert. This past March the joint concert “Zimbe!”- a celebration of African music was presented to a sold-out audience.

During the past 15 years, the choir has had the opportunity to sing several times with the New West Symphony. They have traveled internationally to Canterbury and London in England, to Salzburg and Vienna in Austria, to Prague in the Czech Republic, to Mainz in Germany. Also, they have performed in Carnegie Hall in New York City and in the Newman Center in Denver.

This summer, the choir will once again travel, this time to Nashville, Tennessee where they will sing in the Crossroads Children’s Choir Festival on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry.

For more information and to purchase tickets, call 805-480-9416 or by emailing tickets@singingchildren.com.