Los Angeles Children’s Chorus Names Fred Meads as New Associate Artistic Director

Los Angeles Children’s Chorus has announced the appointment of Fred Meads as their new Associate Artistic Director. Meads, a renowned music educator and conductor, is currently the Education Director for the Westrick Music Academy in Princeton, New Jersey, and also serves as Music Director of the Princeton Boychoir. He will join LACC on August 1, 2023, succeeding Mandy Brigham, who is retiring at the end of the 2022-23 season.

Fernando Malvar-Ruiz, Artistic Director of LACC, said that he was thrilled to welcome Meads to the organization, describing him as one of the most thoughtful, talented, caring music educators and artists working in the choral music field today. He also stated that Meads was the best person to succeed Brigham and continue the tradition of excellence for which LACC is renowned.

Meads expressed his excitement about joining LACC, saying that the organization is one of the premier youth choruses in the world, and that he deeply admired it. He added that he was immediately struck by the warm and welcoming learning environment, the collegial community, and the exceptional caliber of singing of LACC’s various ensembles.

As Associate Artistic Director, Meads will conduct LACC’s Preparatory Choir and Intermediate Choir, and oversee the organization’s musicianship program. He previously served alongside Malvar-Ruiz for nine years at the American Boychoir School, where he was Director of Vocal Studies.

Meads has been a director of choirs in public and private schools, churches, and at the collegiate level for the past 25 years. He has also conducted various honor choirs and all-state choirs in several states, and internationally presented choral workshops for music educators. He received his Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from Ithaca College, NY, and his Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He completed his Kodály training at Capital University in Columbus, OH.