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Press Releases
Conductor Jenny Wong to Make Her Debut with the Los Angeles Master Chorale at Festival of Carols Concerts December 3 & 10
Conductor Jenny Wong, newly appointed to the Los Angeles Master Chorale’s creative team by Artistic Director Grant Gershon, will make her debut at the chorus’s popular Festival of Carols concert on Saturday, December 3 at 2 pm at Walt Disney Concert Hall. The concert program repeats on Saturday, December 10 at 8 pm. Wong will share the podium at these concerts with Gershon.
Wong, a native of Hong Kong, was offered the prestigious conductor opportunity following a national search.
In addition to conducting on upcoming Master Chorale programs, Wong will direct rehearsals, determine repertoire and conduct the chorus’s 16-voice Chamber Singers, and collaborate with Gershon on all artistic matters. She will also cover the Artistic Director for all Los Angeles Master Chorale rehearsals and main-stage performances and be a key part of the annual audition process as well as take a leadership role in outreach projects, including the High School Choir Festival, one of the region’s longest running and far-reaching music education programs.
“Jenny Wong is an exceptionally gifted artist,” says Mr. Gershon. “The Los Angeles Master Chorale will benefit greatly from her tremendous skills and keen artistic sensibilities. I look forward to working closely with her over the next two seasons.”
“I believe that being authentic comes across to people, musically and emotionally,” says Wong. “Musicians are empowered when they experience genuine connection and rewarding performances. For the conductor, this means a lot of listening and understanding the music and the musicians. There is no short-cut in conducting!”
Los Angeles Master Chorale President and CEO Jean Davidson added: “We are delighted to have Jenny Wong join our creative team and to continue this internationally-recognized wave of successful, acclaimed, female conductors arriving in Los Angeles including Lithuania’s Mirga Gražinyte-Tyla, Associate Conductor at the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Finnish conductor Susanna Mälkki, Principal Guest Conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.”
ABOUT JENNY WONG
Wong began her conducting career at Hong Kong’s Diocesan Girls’ School. Since then, she has conducted and served as a music director and performed in Germany, Austria, New Zealand, Australia, South Korea, China, and across the United States. Her numerous accomplishments include conducting the Hong Kong Sinfonietta and Hong Kong City Chamber Orchestra. In the U.S. she was assistant conductor of the Donald Brinegar Singers, and, at the University of Southern California, she was conductor of the USC Apollo Men’s Choir and recipient of the USC Chamber Singers Award. Additionally, she has served as a conducting fellow for the Oregon Bach Festival, the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, the Distinguished Concerts International New York, and Hong Kong SingFest. She was one of the youngest conductors to win two consecutive World Champion titles at the World Choir Games (China, 2010) and the International Johannes Brahms Choral Competition (Germany, 2011). In 2015-16 she was the Visiting Instructor of Choral Activities at University of the Pacific Conservatory of Music, where she was Music Director of the Pacific Singers, Oriana and University Choir, taught Choral Conducting and Sight Singing, and prepared choruses for the Stockton Symphony. Prior to that, she taught choral conducting at the University of Southern California, where she is ABD (All but Dissertation) for her Doctor of Musical Arts in conducting and completed her Master of Music degree.
ABOUT LOS ANGELES MASTER CHORALE
The Los Angeles Master Chorale is the country’s largest independent professional chorus and one of Southern California’s most vibrant cultural treasures. Hailed for its powerful performances, technical precision, and artistic daring, the Master Chorale is led by Artistic Director Grant Gershon. It is a founding resident company of The Music Center and the choir-in-residence at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Chorister positions are highly sought-after and the professional choir is a diverse and vocally dynamic group showcasing the many voices of L.A.
Presenting its own concert series each season, the Master Chorale performs choral music from the earliest writings to contemporary compositions striking a balance between innovation and tradition. It also regularly performs with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at Disney Hall and the Hollywood Bowl. Praised for its definitive performances, the choir is committed to recording the choral repertoire and has also featured with Gershon on the soundtracks of many major motion pictures. It is further heard beyond the concert hall via broadcasts by Southern California’s Classical KUSC.
The Los Angeles Master Chorale serves more than 30,000 audience members of all ages annually and provides education outreach to some 9,000 students each year. www.lamc.org
PERFORMANCE DATES AND TIMES
There will be two performances of Festival of Carols at Walt Disney Concert Hall:
• Sat., Dec. 3, 2016 at 2 pm
• Sat., Dec. 10, 2016 at 8 pm
Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012
PROGRAM
John Rutter | Deck the Hall
Alfred Burt | The Star Carol
Shawn Kirchner | O, What a Beautiful City
Greg Jasperse | Winter Wonderland
Jerry Rubino | We Need A Little Christmas
Peter J. Wilhousky | Carol of the Bells
plus many other carols and songs of the season!
LOS ANGELES MASTER CHORALE
Grant Gershon, conductor Jenny Wong, conductor
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets begin at $29 and can be purchased in person at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion Box Office (Mon.-Sat., 10-6) or the Walt Disney Concert Hall Box Office (day of performance), by phone at 213-972-7282 or online at lamc.org. For disability access, call 213-972-0777.
LOS ANGELES MASTER CHORALE MEDIA CONTACT:
Jennifer Scott, Director of Public Relations
jscott@lamasterchorale.org | 213-972-3142
Gary W. Murphy, GM/PR, Los Angeles Master Chorale Public Relations Consultant
gmurphypr@gmail.com | 310-914-0178; 213-700-9645
Wong, a native of Hong Kong, was offered the prestigious conductor opportunity following a national search.
In addition to conducting on upcoming Master Chorale programs, Wong will direct rehearsals, determine repertoire and conduct the chorus’s 16-voice Chamber Singers, and collaborate with Gershon on all artistic matters. She will also cover the Artistic Director for all Los Angeles Master Chorale rehearsals and main-stage performances and be a key part of the annual audition process as well as take a leadership role in outreach projects, including the High School Choir Festival, one of the region’s longest running and far-reaching music education programs.
“Jenny Wong is an exceptionally gifted artist,” says Mr. Gershon. “The Los Angeles Master Chorale will benefit greatly from her tremendous skills and keen artistic sensibilities. I look forward to working closely with her over the next two seasons.”
“I believe that being authentic comes across to people, musically and emotionally,” says Wong. “Musicians are empowered when they experience genuine connection and rewarding performances. For the conductor, this means a lot of listening and understanding the music and the musicians. There is no short-cut in conducting!”
Los Angeles Master Chorale President and CEO Jean Davidson added: “We are delighted to have Jenny Wong join our creative team and to continue this internationally-recognized wave of successful, acclaimed, female conductors arriving in Los Angeles including Lithuania’s Mirga Gražinyte-Tyla, Associate Conductor at the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Finnish conductor Susanna Mälkki, Principal Guest Conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.”
ABOUT JENNY WONG
Wong began her conducting career at Hong Kong’s Diocesan Girls’ School. Since then, she has conducted and served as a music director and performed in Germany, Austria, New Zealand, Australia, South Korea, China, and across the United States. Her numerous accomplishments include conducting the Hong Kong Sinfonietta and Hong Kong City Chamber Orchestra. In the U.S. she was assistant conductor of the Donald Brinegar Singers, and, at the University of Southern California, she was conductor of the USC Apollo Men’s Choir and recipient of the USC Chamber Singers Award. Additionally, she has served as a conducting fellow for the Oregon Bach Festival, the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, the Distinguished Concerts International New York, and Hong Kong SingFest. She was one of the youngest conductors to win two consecutive World Champion titles at the World Choir Games (China, 2010) and the International Johannes Brahms Choral Competition (Germany, 2011). In 2015-16 she was the Visiting Instructor of Choral Activities at University of the Pacific Conservatory of Music, where she was Music Director of the Pacific Singers, Oriana and University Choir, taught Choral Conducting and Sight Singing, and prepared choruses for the Stockton Symphony. Prior to that, she taught choral conducting at the University of Southern California, where she is ABD (All but Dissertation) for her Doctor of Musical Arts in conducting and completed her Master of Music degree.
ABOUT LOS ANGELES MASTER CHORALE
The Los Angeles Master Chorale is the country’s largest independent professional chorus and one of Southern California’s most vibrant cultural treasures. Hailed for its powerful performances, technical precision, and artistic daring, the Master Chorale is led by Artistic Director Grant Gershon. It is a founding resident company of The Music Center and the choir-in-residence at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Chorister positions are highly sought-after and the professional choir is a diverse and vocally dynamic group showcasing the many voices of L.A.
Presenting its own concert series each season, the Master Chorale performs choral music from the earliest writings to contemporary compositions striking a balance between innovation and tradition. It also regularly performs with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at Disney Hall and the Hollywood Bowl. Praised for its definitive performances, the choir is committed to recording the choral repertoire and has also featured with Gershon on the soundtracks of many major motion pictures. It is further heard beyond the concert hall via broadcasts by Southern California’s Classical KUSC.
The Los Angeles Master Chorale serves more than 30,000 audience members of all ages annually and provides education outreach to some 9,000 students each year. www.lamc.org
PERFORMANCE DATES AND TIMES
There will be two performances of Festival of Carols at Walt Disney Concert Hall:
• Sat., Dec. 3, 2016 at 2 pm
• Sat., Dec. 10, 2016 at 8 pm
Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012
PROGRAM
John Rutter | Deck the Hall
Alfred Burt | The Star Carol
Shawn Kirchner | O, What a Beautiful City
Greg Jasperse | Winter Wonderland
Jerry Rubino | We Need A Little Christmas
Peter J. Wilhousky | Carol of the Bells
plus many other carols and songs of the season!
LOS ANGELES MASTER CHORALE
Grant Gershon, conductor Jenny Wong, conductor
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets begin at $29 and can be purchased in person at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion Box Office (Mon.-Sat., 10-6) or the Walt Disney Concert Hall Box Office (day of performance), by phone at 213-972-7282 or online at lamc.org. For disability access, call 213-972-0777.
LOS ANGELES MASTER CHORALE MEDIA CONTACT:
Jennifer Scott, Director of Public Relations
jscott@lamasterchorale.org | 213-972-3142
Gary W. Murphy, GM/PR, Los Angeles Master Chorale Public Relations Consultant
gmurphypr@gmail.com | 310-914-0178; 213-700-9645
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