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By Julia Goldman An educator, choral clinician and Grammy-award winning conductor, Robert Istad shares his experiences leading the Long Beach Camerata Singers from 2009 - 2017. Pictured, the 2011- 2012 season of Camerata Singers pose before the Queen Mary. Graphic by Julia Goldman. From the very start, Robert Istad brought changes to the Long Beach Camerata Singers. Taking over as artistic director in 2009, Istad immediately expanded the ensemble from its size of about

By Julia Goldman Former Camerata Artistic Director, David Wilson, stands beside a poster that advertises the group’s international performance in Dresden, Germany in 1999. A scholar and conductor, Wilson spent much of his life restoring the works of German composer Johann Adolf Hasse, which saw its performance for the very first time on this tour. Graphic by Julia Goldman. What is now known as the Long Beach Camerata Singers began in 1966 as a small, 16-20 voice community

By Julia Goldman Graphic by Julia Goldman Whether showcased in concert halls, featured in commercial advertisements or debated as contenders for the “greatest work ever created,” musical masterworks continue to shape culture, foster connection and inspire appreciation for generations long after their debut. Follow along to learn the story and significance of four Camerata-sung masterworks of the past, plus a sneak peek of future performances coming to Long Beach! Bach’s

By Julia Goldman Photo caption: A collection of historic media from the Long Beach Bach Festival’s 44-year span, from photos of costumed musicians to local news headlines from publications like the Press Telegram, the Herald American and Call-Enterprise and the Daily 49er. Graphic by Julia Goldman Families, musicians and children, decked out in long stockings, garters, petticoats and spiral-bound power wigs once joined together every year in Long Beach, in the na

By Julia Goldman Graphic by Julia Goldman As mankind first stepped on the moon on July 20, 1969, Camerata sang! Known as the Vocal Arts Ensemble then, the ensemble sang that day at the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History and was featured on KFAC on-air radio broadcast. A 20th century jam packed with change, America and Camerata have experienced many historic “firsts” over the past 60 years. Follow along to learn intriguing tidbits and lore surrounding Camerata, f

By Julia Goldman Photo caption: Beside rows and rows of bookshelves that point toward her storied career as a German professor, department chair and dean of undergraduate education with the University of Irvine, Meredith Lee sits within her living room on Aug. 7 recounting a lifetime spent alongside Camerata Singers. Photo credit: Julia Goldman In the life cycle of a koi fish, in the time it takes a maple tree to mature, within the span of 30 years, Meredith Lee and Ruth S

By Julia Goldman Held at the mercy of a “very strict” instructor, Sharon Tanabe followed the footsteps of her mother and played violin as a child. Though Tanabe said she has always loved to sing, she viewed herself then as a violinist first and a vocalist second. It wasn’t until the summer of eighth grade when a surprised Tanabe learned she had placed in the highest vocal group after auditioning at the Interlochen International Music Camp that her life

As Americans fought for civil rights, as mankind first walked on the moon and while Easy Bake ovens entered the hands of children, Camerata sang. Founded in 1966 by Frank Allen, the Long Beach/South Bay-centered choir was known initially as the “Vocal Arts Ensemble,” consisting of just 16-20 singers. Described as a “young chorale” by the Press Telegram upon their inception, the group has since performed alongside the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra, toured across the world and

On March 20th and 21st, The Long Beach Camerata Singers Children’s Music Academy (CCMA) went on tour with their Kinder Konzert entitled “Rainy Day Parade”to three YMCA Pre-Schools: 70th Street, Mayne, and First Friendships. Led by CCMA Program Director, Andria Cabrera, the Kinder Konzert brought to life the musical concepts of rhythm, beat and melody to the children ages two to five years. The CCMA teaching staff, Kim Mendez, Anne Gholson, Miguel Fernandez, German Godinez and

Sarah LenPublic Relations and Digital Marketing Manager Sarah Len currently works as Public Relations & Digital Marketing Manager with the Long Beach Camerata Singers. In her role she manages the social media platforms for the ensemble, communicates with artistic partners to promote concerts and events, and more. As a singer in the choir for nearly a decade, she is passionate about supporting the mission of the ensemble to enrich the lives of the community and performers thro

By Jan Hower, President. It’s a good thing that Peanut wasn’t GF Handel’s dog — he never would have put up for being ignored during that 3-week period when the master composed Messiah!...

By Jan Hower, President. GF Handel, like most composers of his era, borrowed and recycled musical themes on a routine basis. Today, we would consider the practice at best, distasteful, and at worst, plagiarism...

By Jan Hower, President. We all know that GF Handel is famous for his iconic chorus from the oratorio, Messiah, the Hallelujah Chorus. He’s so famous, it turns out, that even Homer Simpson likes his music...

By Jan Hower, President. Long Beach Camerata Singers will perform Handel’s Messiah on December 21, 2023, with Tesserae Baroque Orchestra. There are many reasons to attend what promises to be a beautiful performance...

By Jan Hower, President. One of the most extraordinary aspects of Handel’s music is the use of “word-painting,” the musical technique of composing music that reflects the literal meaning of a song’s lyrics...

By Jan Hower, President. It’s a good thing that Peanut wasn’t G.F. Handel’s dog — he never would have put up for being ignored during that 3-week period when the master composed Messiah! ....

By Amy Luskey-Barth, General Manager. Imagine a world without music. Without artistic expression. As an arts advocate and educator for over thirty-five years I have spent a lot of time thinking about how to best articulate the value of arts programs in schools....

By incorporating a variety of creative techniques, Andria and her teaching assistants, Anne Gholson and Anastasia Gastelum captivate the children whose voices fill the classroom as they sing “The World is Like a Rainbow.”

By Guest Blogger, Michael Waks It’s hard to find anyone who doesn’t have a strong connection to music. For some, it’s an all-consuming part of their identity, reflected in band monikers printed on a stable of hard-worn T-shirts and a record collection that seems to grow larger and larger every week. For others, it’s a … Continue reading Listen up! How Music Could Save Your Life →

The year 2020 has been a wild ride, and it’s not over yet. As we watched the cascade of announcements from most major professional music groups that they were cancelling their entire 2020-21 seasons, our hearts broke. We saw not just the financial ramifications which will affect these organizations for years to come, but our … Continue reading You Want to be on the Lawn where it happens! →