Choir members in rehearsal (left); Artistic Director Dr. John Sutton (right). [Courtesy photos]
“We have several people in our ensemble who, some who have lost homes, others who have been displaced,” said Sutton. “I myself am a resident of Altadena and my wife, and we haven’t been in our home since January 7th when we evacuated. We still aren’t there and we’re not sure when we’ll be back to be able to live in our home again.”
The concert, scheduled for Sunday, April 13 at 4:30 p.m. at First Church of Christ, Scientist in Pasadena, will juxtapose classical works like Johannes Brahms’ Liebeslieder Waltzes with contemporary compositions such as Frank Ticheli’s Earth Song and David C. Briggs’ There Will Be Rest. This program deliberately bridges musical eras to highlight the universality of love and loss while showcasing the ensemble’s versatility.
In a direct response to community needs, voices/LA is offering free admission to residents of fire-affected areas in Altadena and Pacific Palisades, as well as to firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical personnel with identification. A streaming option is also available for remote audiences. Ticket prices range from $30 for general admission to $15 for students, seniors, and arts professionals.
“We would be responsive to what’s happening in our community and what’s happening in the world that we would sort of not have a deaf ear and just do art for art sake, but that we could do art that has meaning for those that are current in the situation,” Sutton explained.
The 70-member professional choir has grown rapidly since its formation, obtaining nonprofit status by mid-2024. Its mission extends beyond performance to address a gap in the musical landscape for trained singers. All members are trained in the 500-year choral tradition, providing them with a solid foundation in classical vocal techniques while offering expertise in contemporary music across popular genres.
“We didn’t want to start just another group. We wanted to form a group and start a group for people who had been singing but who currently weren’t singing… It’s like if we weren’t doing this, they would be on their phones home watching TV or watching a Netflix show or something. But because of Voices/LA, they’re out singing again. And that really thrills me,” noted Sutton.
The choir also serves as an educational stepping stone for developing musicians. Sam Estes, Chair, Founding Member, and First Tenor, emphasized this aspect: “There seems to be a missing gap between being in college and training and doing your voice and then trying to get into professional realm of things. We are also acting a little bit as an incubator and to help further people’s education… really being in community.”
Educational outreach is central to voices/LA’s mission. Their debut concert will feature a composition by a student from a local university, marking the first step in connecting with students at all educational levels. Their five-year vision focuses on encouraging musical participation throughout the community and supporting student musicians from grade school through university.
Pasadena was strategically chosen as the choir’s base. “We have members from Orange County, Riverside County, San Ventura County, and of course Los Angeles County. And so Pasadena is this sort of middle place of freeway to get there,” said Sutton.
The choir has established a unique operational structure to accommodate its diverse membership, rehearsing twice monthly at Lake Avenue Church in Pasadena, with performances held at the First Church of Christ Scientist. This twice-monthly rehearsal schedule allows members traveling from across Southern California to participate.
voices/LA formed after Sutton was asked to create a choir for a holiday singalong with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association in December 2023. After gathering talented singers he had worked with in the past, the group performed at the event and decided to continue. Estes leveraged his connections in the Los Angeles performing arts scene and film music industry to recruit members and establish the artistic infrastructure, helping to establish the group as a nonprofit organization by mid-2024.
The ensemble’s impressive track record includes having already performed at Walt Disney Concert Hall twice and completing their first recording session in December 2024. Their collective resume includes performances with celebrated artists like Julie Andrews, Barbara Streisand, and Hans Zimmer at prestigious venues including Hollywood Bowl. Sutton brings over five decades of experience in choral conducting, while Laura Mason serves as Executive Director with fifteen years of experience in the nonprofit arts community.
Information and tickets are available at the choir’s website, with specific links for both in-person and streaming options.
Sutton summed up the group’s philosophy: “I believe with all my heart that people who are singing or making music… are better people, we’re better, we’re better boyfriends, husbands, wives, sons, daughters, uncles, aunts, partners. We’re better people in the community. And I think if everybody was singing, I think the world would be a better place.”
For tickets: https://www.voicesla.
For streaming tickets: https://www.voicesla.
