March 26, 2023 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Celebrate Unity, Diversity, Hope at Angel City Chorale

By Keldine Hull 

From their humble beginnings, Angel City Chorale (ACC) has evolved into one of the most well- known singing groups in Southern California, celebrating unity, diversity and hope through their music and dedication to the community. 

Artistic Director Sue Fink founded ACC in 1993. Fink explained, “I started teaching private voice and classes at McCabe’s Guitar Shop in Santa Monica. One of them was a choir workshop. That choir, made up of 18 of my voice students, eventually morphed into the Angel City Chorale.” 

Fink’s hope was to create a community for singers in Los Angeles, filling in what she found lacking in the city. Fink continued. “We live in such a big city, and I wanted to create a sense of a small town and community for folks. I started with people who were not choral experts but rather singers who hadn’t sung in harmony groups academically or in church. The music we chose was more audience-friendly, and since most had been performers but not from the more ‘dignified’ choral world, we sang with joy and spontaneity that echoed in our performances. We became a ‘gateway’ choir for a whole new audience who hadn’t experienced choral music before.”

Now in their 26th year, ACC has grown to over 180 singers, with a varied repertoire of songs, from classical and gospel to jazz, pop, and world music.

Last year, ACC competed on Season 13 of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent”, earning millions of new fans across the globe including creator and judge, Simon Cowell. Fink said, “Our cover of Toto’s ‘Africa’ exploded on YouTube and other viral sites, garnering nearly 50 million views and counting. It caught the attention of America’s Got Talent and helped propel us to the Semi-Finals last year. That additional exposure has been tremendous, with people from all over the world expressing interest and praise for our singing. It’s been overwhelming how much our music has resonated with folks from all corners of the globe.”

Equally known for their involvement within the community, ACC has donated food, personal items, and supplies to non- profit organizations that serve Los Angeles. ACC also collaborated with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Los Angeles County to form Angel City Youth Chorale. The program, which began with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Venice and Santa Monica, provides LA youth with a safe place to explore musical interests. Angel City Chorale members who are also music teachers meet weekly with 30 children to engage them in singing, music and the joy of belonging to a choral community.

Local fans can see ACC perform live at Santa Monica’s Barnum Hall on June 21 and June 22 at 8 p.m. ACC will be performing the songs that took them to the semifinals on “America’s Got Talent” as well as classic TV theme songs, contemporary pieces, gospel and world music. With a special appearance by Angel City Youth Chorale, the 2- night musical event will be one fans won’t want to miss.

To learn more about ACC, visit: angelcitychorale.org

Related Posts

Santa Monica Pet Hotel Hosts Puppy-Friendly St. Patty’s Day Party

March 24, 2023

March 24, 2023

A new pet hotel in Santa Monica recently hosted a St. Patrick’s Day party for local dogs. Check out all...

Santa Monica Mountains Largest Ever Restoration Project Nears Completion After 7,000 Hours of Volunteer Work

March 24, 2023

March 24, 2023

Final planting event will be held Saturday, March 25 at 9 a.m. for the park’s largest ever restoration project After...

California Appeals Court Rules Uber and Lyft Can Classify Drivers as Independent Contractors

March 24, 2023

March 24, 2023

Proposition 22 exempted ride-share companies from certain labor laws, court rules in favor of the companies By Sam Catanzaro ​​A...

Film Review – Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre

March 24, 2023

March 24, 2023

FILM REVIEWOPERATION FORTUNE: Ruse de GuerreRated R114 MinutesReleased March 3rd Now that the season of weighty Oscar contender films is...

Santa Monica Uses Innovative Water Recycling Facility to Capture and Store Rainwater

March 23, 2023

March 23, 2023

City’s Sustainable Water Infrastructure Project reducing reliance on imported water and sets a model for future projects Santa Monica has...

Shuttered Santa Monica Loews Hotel to Rebrand and Reopen as a Regent Hotel

March 23, 2023

March 23, 2023

Hotel’s new operator announces plans for $4 million renovation, including rebranding and upgrading accessibility for guests with disabilities By Dolores...

Three Arrested for Identity Theft, Possession of Stolen Property, and Grand Theft in Santa Monica

March 23, 2023

March 23, 2023

Suspects found with over 20 stolen cellphones, credit cards, and identification Three individuals were arrested in Santa Monica for identity...

Proposal for Improved Communication With Street Vendors Sparks Contentious Debate in City Council Meeting

March 23, 2023

March 23, 2023

Councilmembers divided over proposal calling for City Manager to engage in meaningful consultation with authorized vendors regarding sidewalk vending policies...

Former Bank Building in Santa Monica Becomes a Food Destination with Addition of Katsu Bar

March 23, 2023

March 23, 2023

Katsu Bar joins Paderia and Oakberry in the transformation of the 3032 Wilshire building By Dolores Quintana Katsu Bar has...

Survey: Should Officials Remove Barriers to Outdoor Dining?

March 23, 2023

March 23, 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic drastically changed the way we live our lives, and one of the most significant impacts has been...

Gasolina Cafe Owner, Sandra Cordero, to Open New Tapas Bar in Santa Monica

March 23, 2023

March 23, 2023

Tapas bar expected to open late spring in former Heroic Italian space at 516 Santa Monica Boulevard  Sandra Cordero, the...

California’s AB 1217 Could Supersede Costly Outdoor Dining Permits Proposed by Municipalities

March 22, 2023

March 22, 2023

Legislation would preempt local ordinances and preserve regulatory flexibility for struggling neighborhood restaurants By Sam Catanzaro A new bill proposed...

Emerging Artist Jesse Liu Opens First-Ever Exhibition in Venice Gallery

March 22, 2023

March 22, 2023

“Spring Fever” currently on display at Yiwei Gallery By Keemia Zhang Local artist Jesse Liu has opened her first solo...

Santa Monica Place Invites LGBTQIA+ Artisans to Apply for Made With PRIDE Marketplace

March 21, 2023

March 21, 2023

Partnering with Streetlet, the marketplace will take place each weekend in June and showcase local goods made in Southern California....

Santa Monica Councilmember Phil Brock Appointed to National League of Cities Council on Youth, Education, and Families

March 21, 2023

March 21, 2023

Brock to collaborate with group of local leaders to develop and guide programs for communities across the country Santa Monica...