Mission Statement

The mission of Artes Vocales is to bring innovative choral programming to Los Angeles communities, to provide rigorous vocal training, and to offer career-enhancing opportunities to gifted musicians and composers. We are committed to enriching the musical breadth of our membership and audiences through partnerships with LA-based composers and orchestral musicians. 

What sets Artes Vocales apart from many other community choirs is our focus on vocal technique and training. We are unique in having an Artistic Director who is equally proficient in conducting and vocal technique and are committed to offering high-quality vocal training for both choral singers and experienced soloists. Concert soloists are often auditioned and cast from the ensemble. In select programs, we invite nationally and internationally renowned guest artists to perform with us. In these cases, ensemble members will have opportunities to learn solos and perform them in rehearsals. We also perform at least one concert per year with the Artes Vocales Festival Orchestra, an ensemble made up of professional orchestral musicians from around Los Angeles.

Artes Vocales performs three major concerts each season, with a varied, innovative repertoire that includes major choral masterworks; music that reflects the multicultural communities of Los Angeles; and works by contemporary local composers. Recent programs have featured works such as Johannes Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem (June 2019); Misa Azteca by Joseph Julian Gonzalez (November 2018); American folk songs arranged by Shawn Kirchner (June 2017); and our signature program, Requiem Reflections, which puts Mozart’s Requiem in conversation with other musical celebrations of life from around the world. These programs also feature collaborations with exceptional artists including the Artes Vocales Festival Orchestra; the Young Men’s Ensemble of the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus; organist Scott VanOrnum; renowned opera singers, including Eduardo Villa and Vladimir Chernov; and talented soloists from our own choir.

Our Professional Mentorship Program for Teachers of Singing, launched in 2022, embeds professional singers within the choir as section leaders and coaches, and provides professional-caliber solo performance opportunities.  This program serves as a springboard for future artistic leaders, including those from communities of color that remain marginalized and underrepresented in classical music. Mentors also support novice choir members with personalized vocal coaching and the educational rigor of academic ensembles, without the typical barriers to entry. We also offer a Young Musicians Fellowship for students and singers in need.