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BELLA BONFANTE

How many years did you spend in LACC? 

9

In which choirs did you perform?

Apprentice Choir, Intermediate Choir, Concert Choir, Chamber Singers

What are your college or other plans for the future?

I will be attending Pepperdine University.

Do you have any favorite memories from your time with LACC? 

I remember the thrill of getting our makeup done professionally for the Trip to The Moon opera. The set and costumes were incredible, and the music was so unique!

What’s your favorite song from LACC repertoire?

“As The Rain”

Do you plan to keep singing?

Yes! I am majoring in vocal performance in college.

ANDREW DESCHENES

How many years did you spend in LACC? 

8

In which choirs did you perform?

Apprentice Choir, Intermediate Choir, Concert Choir, Young Men’s Ensemble, Chorale

What are your college or other plans for the future?

This upcoming year I will be taking a gap year. For the first half, I will be in France, first immersing myself in the language and culture and then interning at a French company. For the second half, I will pursue a singing or sports writing internship in Los Angeles. After that year, I will be studying neuroscience at Princeton University.

Do you have a favorite LACC Tour or Tour memory?

My favorite LACC Tour was the YME Tour to Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. During the tour, I sang in some of the best concerts of my life, solidified long-lasting friendships, and in general made some of the best memories of my life.

Do any other LACC memories spring to mind? Did you have any other favorite activities?

I greatly enjoyed the special performances I participated in as a younger chorister, including operas such as La Boheme and Tosca and other performances like Bernstein’s Mass and Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis.

What’s your favorite song from LACC repertoire?

The Three Polish War Songs

Do you have a favorite language to sing in?

French

Do you plan to keep singing?

Yes! I plan on joining singing groups in college.

Do you have any other favorite memories of your time with LACC you’d like to share?

Not one moment in particular, but the opportunity to do my favorite activity with some of my favorite people has been wildly formative and powerful. I am intensely grateful for my time at LACC.

JAMIE FELIX-TOLL

How many years did you spend in LACC?

12

In which choirs did you perform?

FES, FECS, Apprentice Choir, Intermediate Choir, Concert Choir, Young Men’s Ensemble, Chorale

What are your college or other plans for the future?

I will be attending Oberlin College and Conservatory studying classical voice performance in the conservatory.

Do you have a favorite LACC Tour or Tour memory?

YME 2019 tour in Central Europe, easily.

Did you have any other favorite activities?

All the operas I had a chance to do have been a huge inspiration for me to continue studying music.

What’s your favorite song from LACC repertoire?

The first song from The Three Polish War Songs.

Do you have a favorite language to sing in?

I love singing in German.

Do you plan to keep singing?

Yes!

Do you have any other favorite memories of your time with LACC you’d like to share?

Just how much fun coming into rehearsal each week has been.

FINN FLANAGAN

How many years did you spend in LACC? 

11

In which choirs did you perform?

FES, FECS, Apprentice Choir, Intermediate Choir, Concert Choir, Young Men’s Ensemble, Chorale

What are your college or other plans for the future?

I have been accepted to Tulane University, intending to Major in Architecture, with a minor in Immersive Spaces/Game Design. My enrollment commences in 2023; I am taking a gap year to further my other extracurricular interests, including choir, sailing, and community involvement. In the future, I anticipate continuing singing with the Tulane Glee Club and enjoying/being a part of other communal singing experiences.

Do you have a favorite LACC Tour or Tour memory?

I absolutely loved the collaboration between Dr. K, Eric Lifland, and Deb Stark during my four years in YME. Early on, Diana Landis, and later, Mandy Brigham, directed my choir in the younger years with absolute patience, professionalism, and love, supporting my love of singing. During FECS, I also remember Lizzie Quishenberry as a passionate and loving person who encouraged me to grow as a human being as I developed my singing prowess. More recently, in March of 2017, YME performed at the Hollywood Bowl alongside John Williams and Steven Spielberg’s work, which was great fun, given my family’s connections to Hollywood. In terms of a favorite memory, YME’s 2019 Eastern Europe Tour, in which we visited Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Krakow, Poland, presented a fabulously unusual opportunity for us to understand and connect with the lives of Holocaust survivors as well as others throughout the region. Without LACC, I would not have been able to understand and enjoy such a meaningful firsthand experience.

Did you have any other favorite activities?

The LACC annual picnics are an absolute delight! I am grateful we are able to resume in-person, fun, and casual celebrations since COVID. In most recent years, seeing all of my friends and mentors weekly, and especially in-person each Sunday as a member of YME, as well as being able to close out each wonderful year as I have experienced each and every one of the choirs of this amazing organization. LACC has shaped my life in ways I could not have imagined. I have particularly enjoyed performing at different venues, such as Sounds About Town at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in 2019. I am also particularly keen on the fact that LACC won a Grammy award and that I was able to advance the already great achievements during my time as a multi-level chorister at LACC makes me extremely proud. I look forward to sharing my musical abilities not only within Tulane University, but also globally.

What’s your favorite song from LACC repertoire?

“Oh, Shenandoah”

Do you have a favorite language to sing in?

English

Do you plan to keep singing?

Yes!

CHARLOTTE HART

How many years did you spend in LACC?

9

In which choirs did you perform?

Apprentice Choir, Intermediate Choir, Concert Choir, Chamber Singers

What are your college or other plans for the future?

I am going to attend Barnard College where I will be double majoring in political science/computer science and music! Barnard has an amazing program where as a music major, you can cross study with the Manhattan School of Music and/or Julliard! I plan to focus on Vocal Performance and maybe Composition. Other than that, I plan to continue singing in choirs and performing on stage!

Did you have any other favorite activities?

Singing with Billie Eilish and performing Buddha Passion with the LA Phil and Gustavo Dudamel was awesome!

What’s your favorite song from LACC repertoire?

“As the Rain”

Do you have a favorite language to sing in?

French

Do you plan to keep singing?

Yes!

LILY KEATING

How many years did you spend in LACC? 

14

In which choirs did you perform?

FES, FECS, Preparatory Choir, Apprentice Choir, Intermediate Choir, Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, Chorale

What are your college or other plans for the future?

Attending Barnard College in NYC to study architecture and music.

Do you have a favorite LACC Tour or Tour memory?

My favorite tour memory must be the entire Iceland trip. It was my first year in concert choir and my first year working with Anne Tomlinson. I was honored to be a part of her parting tour with my choir mates.

Did you have any other favorite activities?

My favorite LACC performance must be Bernstein’s Mass. It was such a fun and crazy show with amazing music. I just remembered the thrill and excitement that came to me when preparing for the show and performing in it.

What’s your favorite song from LACC repertoire?

“Even When He Is Silent.” Or all the songs from my first year of concert choir.

Do you have a favorite language to sing in?

I love to sing in all languages.

Do you plan to keep singing?

Yes!

Do you have any other favorite memories of your time with LACC you’d like to share?

I am so thankful for the many amazing friends and mentors I have met along the way.

GRACIE MODEAN

How many years did you spend in LACC? 

9

In which choirs did you perform?

Apprentice Choir, Intermediate Choir, Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, Chorale

What are your college or other plans for the future?

I will attend Berklee College of Music, studying vocal performance and songwriting.

Do you have a favorite LACC Tour or Tour memory?

On a boat through the Fjords singing in Norway was my favorite memory.

Did you have any other favorite activities?

Singing in Mass, singing at the Wallis with Idina Menzel, and singing at the Hollywood Bowl with Billie Eilish recently were some of my favorites.

What’s your favorite song from LACC repertoire?

“Breathe in Hope”

Do you have a favorite language to sing in?

German

Do you plan to keep singing?

Yes, I will sing at Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Do you have any other favorite memories of your time with LACC you’d like to share?

Hollywood Bowl and Disney Concert Hall have been wonderful memories. And, meeting friends and working with wonderful teachers–Mrs. Brigham, Mr. Fernando and Mrs. T. have been awesome! Thank you!

AMELIA MONSOUR

How many years did you spend in LACC? 

11

In which choirs did you perform?

FES, Apprentice Choir, Intermediate Choir, Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, Chorale

What are your college or other plans for the future?

I will be attending UC Berkeley majoring in Political Science and minoring in Public Policy.

Do you have a favorite LACC Tour or Tour memory?

My favorite tour was the 2019 East Coast Tour.

Did you have any other favorite activities?

Some other LACC memories I love are performing in the Trip to the Moon opera, St. Matthew Passion, summer performances at the Hollywood Bowl, and our concerts in Disney Hall. Looking out at the massive audiences in the Hollywood Bowl and Disney Hall always reminded me of how lucky I was to have those experiences.

What’s your favorite song from LACC repertoire?

“As the Rain”

SOREN RYSSDAL

How many years did you spend in LACC?

10

In which choirs did you perform?

Apprentice Choir, Intermediate Choir, Concert Choir, Young Men’s Ensemble, Chorale

What are your college or other plans for the future?

I plan to attend Northwestern University.

Do you plan to keep singing?

Yes I will major in vocal performance next year.

SUTTON SPINDLER

How many years did you spend in LACC?

3 1/2

In which choirs did you perform?

Young Men’s Ensemble

What are your college or other plans for the future?

Study Computer Science at Northeastern University in Boston.

Did you have any other favorite activities?

I enjoyed the opportunity the retreats provided us with getting to know each other better at the start of each YME season.

What’s your favorite song from LACC repertoire?

I enjoyed learning the 3 Polish war songs and “Vola o Serenata.”

Do you have a favorite language to sing in?

Besides English, either Italian or German

Do you plan to keep singing?

Although I have no definitive plans at this moment, I very much hope to continue singing and pursuing musicianship in some for at college depending on the opportunities provided.

Do you have any other favorite memories of your time with LACC you’d like to share?

I enjoyed serving as a mentor to the incoming students, as well as the warming and friendly atmosphere created by Dr. K and Eric’s attitudes towards teaching.

BRANDON TAKAHASHI

How many years did you spend in LACC?

10

In which choirs did you perform?

Apprentice Choir, Intermediate Choir, Concert Choir, Young Men’s Ensemble, Chorale

What are your college or other plans for the future?

I will be attending Northwestern University!

Do you have a favorite LACC Tour or Tour memory?

My favorite LACC tour was going to the east coast in my last year with concert choir. I had never been able to go before, so being able to go to see the Franklin institute, the National Aquarium in Baltimore, the National Mall, Times Square, and more was awesome for me.

Did you have any other favorite activities?

Being able to do so many productions with the LA Opera was incredible. It not only helped me bond with fellow choristers, but it also allowed me to get an inside perspective of show business at a very young age and watch and listen to some of the best performers in the world.

What’s your favorite song from LACC repertoire?

“Oh, Shenandoah”

Do you have a favorite language to sing in?

Spanish

Do you plan to keep singing?

Yes!

CARMELA VARGAS-VONBREYMANN

How many years did you spend in LACC?

8

In which choirs did you perform?

Apprentice Choir, Intermediate Choir, Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, Chorale

What are your college or other plans for the future?

I will be at UCLA next year studying at the school of Arts and Architecture.

Do you have a favorite LACC Tour or Tour memory?

My Concert Choir tours were definitely my favorite. Iceland and Norway was a once in a lifetime, incredible experience that I will never forget and I am so grateful for. The East Coast tour was closer to home, but just as fun as I bonded even more with everyone in the choir. One thing about LACC is that you will make life lasting friendships in a very special way. The unique bond I have with my choir friends is unlike any other.

Did you have any other favorite activities?

I will never forget participating in the musical Mass at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. It was incredible to be a part of such a professional production, and see the way in which they transformed the stage.

What’s your favorite song from LACC repertoire?

“Cantique,” Spanish “Ave Maria,” “Breathe in Hope”

Do you have a favorite language to sing in?

French, Latin, or Spanish

Do you plan to keep singing?

Yes!