LAHS News:
The Choir Winter Gala, an evening of entertainment featuring the Los Alamos Choirs with special guests Xavier Moore and Coro de Cámara, will take place Wednesday, Jan. 22, at the Duane Smith Auditorium in Los Alamos. Doors open at 6 p.m. Entertainment starts at 7 p.m. The evening also includes a Silent Auction, hors d’oeuvres and desserts.
Jason Rutledge, director of the Los Alamos High School Choirs, who will be traveling with the group to New York City, is excited for the experience the students will have – not only in rehearsals and performance of this classical choral piece, but for the invaluable opportunity to sing on a famous Carnegie Hall stage with their peers.
“It is so very important for our students to be exposed to music and texts by Black Composers and Poets, so when we had the opportunity to do this amazing musical work I absolutely had to jump at the opportunity,” he said. “To further their education by bringing in a guest artist and lecturer who can deepen their understanding of this truly unique American art form is the icing on the cake. I am so very thankful for the Bombadts and their contributions to the Los Alamos Public Schools Foundation for making this dream a reality, and equally thankful to our School Administration and School Board for allowing this educational trip to New York happen – a true ‘once in a lifetime’ experience for many of these kids.”
Coro de Cámara was founded in 1989 as an auditioned chamber chorus with singers and high school apprentices from Los Alamos and Santa Fe. Two LAHS students, Deborah Brug and Molly Couture, are second-year apprentices in the chorus. Mr. Rutledge also sings with Coro de Cámara when his busy schedule permits.
Coro’s unique programs cover a host of topics with captivating music in numerous styles, often with scripts, instruments, and multimedia. Coro de Cámara will be sharing four moving selections by Black writers and composers from its Feb. 22-23 concert program, Dreamscapes: Dare to Dream.
Tenor Xavier Moore is often praised for his rich, full voice and engaging stage presence. Having received a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Pittsburg State University and a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from University of Arkansas.
Mr. Moore has a lengthy performance history of opera and song recitals. He has recently been featured in productions with Heartland Opera Theatre, Opera Kansas, and Music On Site, Inc. He currently serves as Adjunct Lecturer of Voice at Pittsburg State University.
An important aspect of the evening Gala will be the silent auction. The Choir Winter Gala was created as a benefit for the New York City travelers from the Los Alamos High School Choirs. The proceeds will go directly to help defray their travel expenses and enable them to have this unique opportunity.
Please come and enjoy these quality performances and help support the LAHS Choirs.
Tickets are $35 per person and can be purchased in advance by using the QR code on the Los Alamos Choirs’ Facebook page or through this link.
Donations can also be made through this link.
Additionally, if you, or someone you know, has any items to donate towards the silent auction, please email the Los Alamos High School Choir Booster club at lahschoirboosters@gmail.com.