TORRANCE CIVIC CHORALE PRESENTS
CELEBRATION
Featuring Torrance Civic Chorale and TCC Jazz Singers
Dr. Ed Trimis, Director | Diana Brownson, Accompanist
Special guest California State University Dominguez Hills Chorus
Lynn G. Atkins, Jr., Conductor | Kevin Jeffries-Phan, Accompanist
A NIGHT THE WHOLE FAMILY CAN ENJOY!
A PROGRAM OF THE CULTURAL SERVICES DIVISION OF THE TORRANCE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT. WWW.TORRANCECA.GOV
Rebecca Poirier
City Treasurer Tim Goodrich
Torrance Civic Chorale is a program of the Cultural Services Division of the Torrance Community Services Department. www.TorranceCA.Gov
Sponsored in part by Torrance Chorale Friends 501(c)(3)
City Manager
Aram Chaparyan
Community Services Director
John La Rock
Cultural Services Manager
Monica Harte
Torrance City Council Mayor George K. Chen Jeremy Gerson Jon Kaji Sharon Kalani Bridgett Lewis Aurelio Mattucci Asam Sheikh City Clerk
Welcome from the Cultural Services Division
Monica Harte Cultural Services ManagerA MESSAGE FROM OUR ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
I am so excited to present you with A Disney Celebration tonight from our wonderful Torrance Civic Chorale and TCC Jazz Singers with our very special guests, the California State University, Dominguez Hills Chorus! We have been working hard to narrow the program to a one-night show; many songs did not make it into the program, but I think you will find some of your favorites did!
We all have our own Disney stories. I think one of my favorites is when I took my marching band from Huntington Park High School to play at Disneyland and we did not have students to carry our banner. So, what did I do? As any high school band director would do, I got my kids to carry it! Of course, they were only 12 and 10 at the time, but they put on our smallest band uniforms and carried the HPHS banner all over the park with the band!
I am so happy to have our friends at Cal State Dominguez sing with us tonight. Thank you, Dr. Atkins and his team! They join an ever-growing list of guest artists, along with groups from El Camino College, North HS, and the South Bay Children’s Choir. We hope to pull all then groups together for a choral festival next year! We are thrilled to have an all-star band playing with us tonight and I thank them for sharing their gifts with us and making the choir sound great.
I am also excited to present our new vocal jazz ensemble, the TCC Jazz Singers, who just performed in the Oceanside Jazz Festival and the Fullerton Jazz Festival a few weeks ago. Plans are in the works for the group to have its own class in the Fall!
And, lastly, a huge thank you to the Torrance Chorale Friends, Gia, Monica, and all of our support from the City of Torrance, and our amazing singers who continue to motivate me, inspire me, and look forward to Monday night rehearsals all year!
Dr. Ed Trimis
TORRANCE CIVIC CHORALE
Directed by Dr. Edward Trimis
Pianist: Diana Brownson
Rainbow Connection (from The Muppet Movie)......................Music and Lyrics by Paul Williams & Kenneth Ascher
Solo: Suzy Husner
Yo-Ho......................................................................................Music by George Bruns
Lyrics by F. Xavier “X” Atencio
The Grim Grinning Ghosts Quintet............................................Music and Lyrics by Buddy Baker & F. Xavier “X” Atencio
Disney/Marvel Instrumental Overture*....................................................
Music by (from Avengers, Star Wars, and Indiana Jones films) John Williams, Alan Silvestri
Arranged by Michael Brown and Will Rapp, Paul Lavender
Star Spangled Banner.................................................Music by John Stafford Smith
Lyrics by Francis Scott Key
Arrange by David Burks
That’s How You Know (from Enchanted)................................Music by Alan Menken
Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz
Arranged by Alan Billingsley
Soloist- Alexandra Balan
Disney Spectacular...........................................
Music and Lyrics by Multiple Artists
(Feed the Birds, Chim Chim Cher-ee, Arranged by Mac Huff Step in Time, A Spoonful of Sugar, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, Heigh-Ho, Whistle While You Work, Someday My Prince Will Come, It’s A Small World)
* Fun Fact
TORRANCE CIVIC CHORALE
Directed by Dr. Edward Trimis
Pianist: Diana Brownson
Go the Distance (from Hercules).............................................Music by Alan Menken
Lyrics by David Zippel
Arranged by John Leavitt
The Little Mermaid Medley...................................................Music by Alan Menken (Fathoms Below, Under the Sea, Lyrics by Howard Ashman Kiss the Girl, and Part of Your World) Arranged by Roger Emerson
Soloist- Andy Worshill
Glow (from Walt Disney World choir).......................................Music by Eric Whitacre
Lyrics by Edward Esch
Arranged by Lisa Edwards
Beauty and the Beast Medley................................................Music by Alan Menken
(Be Our Guest, Belle, Something There, Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Beauty and the Beast)
Arranged Roger Emerson
California State University, Dominguez Hills Chorus
Directed by Dr. Lynn Atkins - Pianist: Kevin Jeffries-Phan
Examine Me........................................................................................By Cedric Dent
O Domine Jesu Christe...........................................................By Francisco Guerrero
Lullaby of Birdland..............................................................Arranged by Kerry Marsh
Criome Mi Madre....................................................................By Francisco J. Nunez
A Dream is A Wish Your Heart Makes.......................................Music and Lyrics by Mack David, Al Hoffman, and Jerry Livingston Arranged by Audry Snyder
Walk in Jerusalem...........................................................................By Rollo Dilworth
-INTERMISSION-
TCC JAZZ SINGERS
Directed and Accompanied by Dr. Edward Trimis
A Whole New World (from Aladdin)........................................Music by Alan Menken
Lyrics by Tim Rice
Soloists- Colleen Charles and Andy Worshill
Cruella De Vil (from 101 Dalmatians)...........................Music and Lyrics by Mel Leven
Soloist- Andy Worshill
You’ve Got A Friend In Me (from Toy Story)......Music and Lyrics by Randy Newman
Soloist- Connor Peterson
Almost There......................................................Music and Lyrics by Randy Newman (from The Princess and the Frog)
Soloist- Precious Anyanwu
Lullaby............................................................................................Music by Ed Trimis
Lyrics by Moira Trimis
Arranged by Ed Trimis
Soloists- Mike Cavanaugh and Andy Worshill
Journey to the Past (from Anastasia)...............................Music by Stephen Flaherty
Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens
Arranged by Audrey Snyder
Soloist- Kseniya Orlik
Pure Imagination.........................................................................Music and Lyrics by (from Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse
Arranged by Yumiko Matsuoka
Soloist- Colleen Charles
The Family Madrigal (from Encanto).........Music and Lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda
Arranged by Roger Emerson
Soloists- Claire Lyon and Suzy Husner
TORRANCE CIVIC CHORALE
Directed by Dr. Edward Trimis
Pianist: Diana Brownson
Lion King Medley.........................................................................Music by Elton John
(Can You Feel the Love Tonight, Lyrics by Tim Rice
I Just Can't Wait To Be King, . Arranged by Mark Brymer Circle Of Life, Hakuna Matata and Be Prepared) Soloists- Zach Rodenbucher and Tina Mitro Colors of the Wind (from Pocahontas)...................................Music by Alan Menken Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz
Arranged by Mac Huff
I See the Light (from Tangled).................................................Music by Alan Menken
Lyrics by Glenn Slater
Arranged by Mac Huff
Soloists-Tomoyo Namigata and Adam D’Jamily
Songs of a Disney Hero......................................................
Music by Multiple Artists (How Far I'II Go (from Moana), Arranged by Alan Billingsley Touch the Sky (from Brave), Reflection (from Mulan), When Will My Life Begin?(from Tangled), and Zero to Hero (from Hercules)
Remember Me (from Coco)........................................................Music and Lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez Arranged by Roger Emerson
We Don't Talk About Bruno (from Encanto)................................Music and Lyrics by Lin Manuel-Miranda
Arranged by Mark Brymer
Soloists- Colleen Charles, Andy Worshill, Precious Anyanwu and Celeste Johnson
Trio- Sonia Varghese, Precious Anyanwu, and Suzy Husner
COMBINED CHOIRS
Directed by Dr. Edward Trimis
Pianist: Diana Brownson
Let It Go (from Frozen)...........................................Music and Lyrics by Robert Lopez & Kristen Anderson-Lopez
Arranged by Mac Huff
A Wish Worth Making (from Wish).......................Music and Lyrics by Julia Michaels and Benjamin Rice
Arranged by Ed Trimis
When You Wish Upon a Star (from Pinocchio)....................
Music by Leigh Harline
Lyrics by Ned Washington
Arranged by Mac Huff
*FUN AND INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT TONIGHT’S MUSIC
Fun Fact: According to Robert Sherman, as recounted in “The Musical World of Walt Disney,” Walt Disney’s favorite song was the ballad “Feed the Birds.” Walt would invite the Sherman Brothers to his office for a scotch and a chat, then he would ask Richard Sherman to play the song that he would later call “the most beautiful song written for me.”
Fun Fact: “Glow” was written for the World of Color Honor Choir as part of the World of Color – Winter Dreams show which premiered at Disney California Adventure® Park, Disneyland® Resort, Anaheim, California.
Fun Fact: Angela Lansbury was hesitant to sing the song “Beauty and the Beast” because she was not familiar with the style, but ended up recording the song in just one take!
Fun Fact: Alan Menken has won more Academy Awards than any other living person.
Fun Fact: Randy Newman has scored nine Disney-Pixar animated films, including all four Toy Story films, both Monsters, Inc. films, and the first and third Cars films.
Fun Fact: Actually not a Disney song, “Lullaby” is the type of song that could be sung by any number of Disney characters or princesses in Disney films.
Fun Fact: Tim Rice was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to music in 1994.
Fun Fact: Stephen Schwartz was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for live theatre (he was composer and lyricist for Wicked, the musical).
Lin Manuel-Miranda started out as an English teacher and broke into theatre by writing reviews of plays!
Frozen finished its theatrical run as the highest-grossing film of 2013 and the fifth-highest-grossing film of all time. The film's songs, characters, storytelling elements, and appeal to a general audience were called a popular culture phenomenon.
Fun Fact: This song excerpt was from one of the most recent Disney films and an apt way to introduce our closing song.
Fun Fact: This song won an Academy Award for Best Original Song, and is considered a signature song for The Walt Disney Company (often used at the beginning of Disney films since the 1980s).
TORRANCE CIVIC CHORALE
DR. EDWARD TRIMIS, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR & CONDUCTOR
DIANA BROWNSON, COLLABORATIVE PIANIST
1st Soprano
Bonham, Lindsey
Chang, Pamela
Charles, Colleen*
Farnes, Nancy
Fleming-Stephens, Ruth
Hoffman, Jill
LeVee, Julia
Orlik, Kseniya
Pedone, Gina
Peterson, Karen
Scheer, Albane
Venable, Susan
Walsh, Anne Marie
2nd Soprano
Baker, Jaynie
Chapman, Rebecca
Erenmark, Emma
Husner, Suzy *
Lynch, Marilyn
Martin, Jana
Mitro, Tina
Namigata, Tomoyo
Neal, Karen
Van der Baan, Linda
Varghese, Sonia
Alto
Anyanwu, Precious
Austin, Marie
Balan, Alexandra
Fanco, Abigail
Galassi, Desiree
Goldman, Sherri
Hanson, Christine
Johnson, Celeste
Kessler, Kelly
Kinsey, Sally Jo
Lyon, Claire *
Moss, Sunny
Trask, Nedra
Wolff, Jeanette
1st Tenor
Braman, Lauren
Cavanaugh, Michael
Gohata, Linda
Suhr, Susan Culver *
2nd Tenor
Braman, Lauren
Cavanaugh, Michael
Gohata, Linda
Suhr, Susan Culver *
Baritone
Appy, Mike
Feldman, Richard
Palmer, Peter
Rodenbucher, Zachary
Williams, Hal *
Bass
Bastarache, Yves
Gohata, Ted
Petterson, Connor
Worshill, Andy
Ziegler, Michael
*Section Leader +Member, Jazz Singers
CHRISTINE HANSON
Favorite Disney Movie: Cinderella, and The Little Mermaid
Favorite Disney Character: Cinderella, and Ariel
Favorite Disney Villain: Ursula
JANA MARTIN
Favorite Disney Movie: The Little Mermaid, Moana
Favorite Disney Character: Peter Pan, Anna (from Fozen)
Favorite Disney Villain: Mal from Descendants
TOMOYO
Favorite Disney Movie: Fantasia and Tangled
Favorite Disney Character: Tinkerbell
Disney Favorite Villain: Jafar
NEDRA TRASK
Favorite Disney Movie: Peter Pan
Favorite Disney Character: Peter Pan
Disney Favorite Villain: Hook
JEANNIE WOLF
Favorite Disney Movie: Lilo & Stitch
Favorite Disney Character: Stitch
Favorite Disney Villain: Maleficent
DESIREE GALISSI
Favorite Disney Movie: Soul
Favorite Dinsey Character: Mary Poppins
Favorite Disney Villain: Evil Queen from Snow White
GINA PEDONE
Favorite Princess: Anastasia
Favorite Villain: Rasputin
TED GOHATA
Favorite Disney Movie: 101 Dalmatians
Favorite Disney Character: Dopey (Seven Dwarfs)
Favorite Disney Villain: None - we can learn from everyone.
RUTH FLEMING-STEPHENS
Favorite Disney Movie: Mary Poppins
Favorite Disney Character: Eeyore
Favorite Disney Villain: Cruella de Vil
LINDSEY BONHAM
Favorite Disney Movie: The Little Mermaid
Favorite Disney Character: Tinkerbell
Favorite Disney Villain: Maleficent
ALBANE SCHEER
Favorite Disney Movie: Beauty and The Beast
Favorite Disney Character: Mushu (Mulan)
Favorite Disney Villain: Maleficent
KELLY GRAVES
Favorite Disney Movie:
Favorite Disney Character:
Favorite Disney Villain:
REBECCA CHAPMAN
Favorite Disney Movie: Mary Poppins
Favorite Disney Character: Baymax
Favorite Disney Villain: Ursula
CONNOR PETERSON
Favorite Disney Movie: Empire Strike Back
LINDA GOHATA
Favorite Disney Movie: Pinocchio
Favorite Disney Character: Mary Poppins
Favorite Disney Villain: None
ADAM D’JAMILY
Favorite Disney Movie: The Lion King
Favorite Disney Character: Flynn Rider (I’m told I look like him too)
Favorite Disney Villain: Gaston
SUZY HUSNER
Favorite Disney Movie: Robin Hood
Favorite Disney Character: Belle
Favorite Disney Villain: No favorite
Favorite Disney Character: Dug (from UP)
Favorite Disney Villain: Darth Vader
YVES BSTARACHE
Favorite Disney Movie: Cinderella
Favorite Disney Character: Cinderella
Favorite Disney Villain: Cruella de Vil
ANDY WORSHILL
Favorite Disney Movie: Aladdin
Favorite Disney Character: The Genie
Favorite Disney Villain: Hades
MARILYN LYNCH
Favorite Disney Movie: No favorite
Favorite Disney Character: Goldilocks
Favorite Disney Villain: Bruno
ALAN TRIEBULL
Favorite Disney Movie: Star Wars
Favorite Disney Character: Mickey Mouse
Favorite Disney Villain: Ursula
SUNNY MOSS
Favorite Disney Movie: Fantasia
Favorite Disney Character: Dumbo
Favorite Disney Villain: Cruella de Vil
SONIA VARGHESE
Favorite Disney Movie: Mighty Ducks franchise
Favorite Disney Character: Belle
Favorite Disney Villain: Hades
PETER PALMER
Favorite Disney Movie: Snow White
Favorite Disney Character: Goofy
Favorite Disney Villain: Cruella de Vil
SUZIE VENABLE
Favorite Disney Movie: The Little Mermaid
Favorite Disney Character: Mickey Mouse
Favorite Disney Villain: Ursula
MICHAEL CAVANAUGH
Favorite Disney Movie: Bambi
Favorite Disney Character: Bambi
Favorite Disney Villain: Cruella de Vil
ABIGAIL FANCO
Favorite Disney Movie: Turning Red
Favorite Disney Character: Rapunzel
Favorite Disney Villain: Dr. Facilier
TINA MITRO
Favorite Disney Movie: Moana
Favorite Disney Character: Jiminy Cricket
Favorite Disney Villain: Ursula
MIKE APPY
Favorite Disney Movie: Flight of the Navigator
Favorite Disney Character: Wall-E
Favorite Disney Villain: The Mad Madam Mim
ALEXANDRA BALAN
Favorite Disney Movie: Beauty and The Beast
Favorite Disney Character: Hei-Hei
Favorite Disney Villain: Cruella de Vil
ZACHARY RODENBUCHER
Favorite Disney Movie: Wall-E
Favorite Disney Character: Cassian Andor
Favorite Disney Villain: Scar
CELESTE FRALEY
Favorite Disney Movie: Fantasia
Favorite Disney Character: Winnie the Pooh
Favorite Disney Villain: Hades
JAYNIE LEE BAKER
Favorite Disney Movie: Emperor’s New Groove
Favorite Disney Character: Mulan
Favorite Disney Villain: Yzma
PAMELA CHANG
Favorite Disney Movie: Frozen
Favorite Disney Character: Elsa
Favorite Disney Villain: Jafar
ANNE MARIE WALSH
Favorite Disney Movie: The Little Mermaid
Favorite Disney Character: Ariel
Favorite Disney Villain: Ursula
PRECIOUS ANYANWU
Favorite Disney Movie: Mulan
Favorite Disney Character: Mulan
Favorite Disney Villain: Ursula
EMMA ERENMARK
Favorite Disney Movie: Encanto
Favorite Disney Character: Moana
Favorite Disney Villain: Scar
MARIE AUSTIN
Favorite Disney Movie: Dumbo
Favorite Disney Character: Cinderella
Favorite Disney Villain: Jafar
CLAIRE LYON
Favorite Disney Movie: Ratatouille
Favorite Disney Character: Mulan
Favorite Disney Villain: Yzma
KELLY KESSLER
Favorite Disney Movie: Bambi
Favorite Disney Character: Bambi
Favorite Disney Villain: Ursula
SALLY KINSEY
Favorite Disney Movie: Pinocchio
Favorite Disney Character:
Peter Pan
Favorite Disney Villain: Cruella de Vil
NANCY FARNES
Favorite Disney Movie: Cinderella
Favorite Disney Character: Winnie the Pooh
Favorite Disney Villain: Darth Vader
LINDA VAN DER BAAN
Favorite Disney Movie: Jungle Book
Favorite Disney Character: Cinderella, Winnie the Pooh
Favorite Disney Villain: Sheer Kan
LAUREN BRAMAN
Favorite Disney Movie: UP
Favorite Disney Character: Mary Poppins
Favorite Disney Villain: Evil Stepsisters
MICHHAEL ZIEGLER
Favorite Disney Movie:
101 Dalmatians
Favorite Disney Character: All 101 Dalmatians
Favorite Disney Villain: Cruella de Vil
KAREN NEAL
Favorite Disney Movie: Beauty and The Beast
Favorite Disney Character: Belle
Favorite Disney Villain: Ursula and the Evil Queen
JULIA LEVEE
Favorite Disney Movie: Cinderella
Favorite Disney Character: Nemo
Favorite Disney Villain: Cruella de Vil
KSENIYA ORLIK
Favorite Disney Movie: Snow White
Favorite Disney Character: Mandolorian Din Jarin
Favorite Disney Villain: Gaston
SUSAN CULVER SUHR
Favorite Disney Movie: UP, Star Wars, Enchanted
Favorite Disney Character: Dug, R2D2, Giselle
Favorite Disney Villain: No favorite Villain
ED TRIMIS
Favorite Disney Movie: Beauty and The Beast/Frozen
Favorite Disney Character: Moana
Favorite Disney Villain: Ursula
CSUDH Chorus
Dr. Lynn Gary Atkins, Jr., conductor
Kevin Jeffries-Phan, accompanist
*Section leaders
Sopranos
Alyssa Abando, Alexis Berrier, Ace Cordero-Melo*, Elizabeth Escobar, Lauren Lopez, Alyannah Ramirez, Ashley Reyes
Altos
Aimee Alberto, Ariana Alvarado, Eric Bertone, Kianna Le, Laila McNutt, Lia McNutt, Monique Nardone, Cathy Navarrete, Itzel Perez*, Juju Suazo
Tenors
Eric Calderon, Emmanuel Cortez, Joan Hall*, Moises Hernandez, Rene Izaguirre, Allan B. Mancia, Michael Mejia, Nolberto Meza, Max Starr, Jacob White, Alcea Willis, Atzin Zacapa
Basses
Christopher Ajayi, Justin Bresee, Malcolm Fisher, Victor Hernandez Justin Parenteau, Jeremy Sarmiento*, Dominic Sykes
CSUDH Chorus
Dr. Lynn G. Atkins, Jr., conductor Kevin Jeffries-Phan, accompanist
The vocal ensemble of California State University, Dominguez Hills, CSUDH Chorus, is made up of students who study in the Department of Music at CSUDH as well as non-majors who seek out the opportunity to sing on campus in a large ensemble. A staple of the Department of Music since its inception in the 1970's, the ensemble performs regular concerts on campus and within the greater Carson community.
Currently under the direction of Lynn Gary Atkins, Jr., the CSUDH Chorus performs repertoire from the western canon as well as more contemporary fare from a wide variety of composers. In its 2022-2023 season, the ensemble performed the world premiere of Rosephanye Powell’s multi movement work, Harriet Tubman: Journey to Freedom. This season the chorus will perform Vivaldi’s Gloria as well as Michael John Trotta’s For a Breath of Ecstasy, based on the poetry of American poet Sara Teasdale. The Chorus looks forward to making its Lincoln Center premiere in March 2025.
Proud son of the Jersey Shore, Lynn Gary Atkins, Jr., is the conductor of CSUDH Chorus. As Assistant Professor of Music at California State University, Dominguez Hills, he is the coordinator of the voice area and teaches courses in vocal pedagogy, conducting, and music education. An 18-year veteran of teaching in secondary schools, Dr. Atkins' work in the area of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives for choral music includes helping to create the LGBTQ and Disabilities Inclusive Curriculum in the State of New Jersey as well as to setthe executive agenda for One Voice Chorus Richmond, an intentionally integrated choral music organization in Richmond, Virginia whose mission is to bring together persons of racially divergent backgrounds though choral music.
Lynn received his bachelor’s degree in music education from Westminster Choir College of Rider University. In 2012, he was honored to be a member of the first cohort of students to receive the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting from James Madison University. In addition to his duties at CSUDH, he is Director of Music Ministries for Faith United Methodist Church in Torrance, CA, Artistic Director of LA Bronze Handbell Ensemble, and is a member of the National Board of Directors for Handbell Musicians of America. Atkins enjoys memberships with the National Association of Negro Musicians, Mu Phi Epsilon music fraternity, as well as Pi Kappa Lambda, the national music honor society.
Organist and pianist, Kevin Jeffries-Phan, has a versatile career as a collaborative pianist, recitalist, and church musician. He received his Bachelor of Music in Collaborative Piano at California State University, Fullerton, and is currently pursuing a Master of Music in Organ Performance. Led by his passion for art song and opera, he joined the staff of California State University, Dominguez Hills as a collaborative pianist, vocal coach, as well as accompanist for the CSUDH Chorus. Always yearning to stay in the world of choral music, Jeffries-Phan is the collaborative pianist for Meistersingers, a professional choral ensemble in Orange County that performs major works and concertizes frequently throughout the year. He is currently the Director of Music Ministries and Organist at Yorba Linda Presbyterian Church where he conducts the chancel choir and oversees an active music ministry.
PROGRAM NOTES
Walter Elias Disney (December 5, 1901 – December 15, 1966) was an American animator, film producer, and entrepreneur. A pioneer of the American animation industry, he introduced several developments in the production of cartoons. As a film producer, he holds the record for most Academy Awards earned and nominations by an individual.
Born in Chicago in 1901, Disney developed an early interest in drawing. He took art classes as a boy and took a job as a commercial illustrator at the age of 18. He moved to California in the early 1920s and set up the Disney Brothers Studio (now The Walt Disney Company) with his brother Roy. With Ub Iwerks, he developed the character Mickey Mouse in 1928, his first highly popular success; he also provided the voice for his creation in the early years.
As the studio grew, he became more adventurous, introducing synchronized sound, fullcolor three-strip Technicolor, feature-length cartoons, and technical developments in cameras. The results, seen in features such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), Pinocchio, Fantasia (both 1940), Dumbo (1941), and Bambi (1942), furthered the development of the animated film. New animated and live-action films followed after World War II, including the critically successful Cinderella (1950), Sleeping Beauty (1959), and Mary Poppins (1964), the last of which received five Academy Awards.
In the 1950s, Disney expanded into the amusement park industry, and in July 1955 he opened Disneyland in Anaheim, California. To fund the project he diversified into television programs, such as Walt Disney's Disneyland and The Mickey Mouse Club. He was also involved in planning the 1959 Moscow Fair, the 1960 Winter Olympics, and the 1964 New York World’s Fair. In 1965, he began the development of another theme park, Disney World, the heart of which was to be a new type of city, the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow (EPCOT).
Disney was shy but adopted a warm and outgoing public persona. He had high standards and high expectations of those with whom he worked. Widely considered to be one of the most influential cultural figures of the 20th century, Disney remains an important presence in the history of animation and in the cultural history of the United States, where he is acknowledged as a national cultural icon. His film work continues to be shown and adapted, the Disney theme parks have grown in size and number to attract visitors in several countries and his company has grown to become one of the world's largest mass media and entertainment conglomerates.
The Torrance Civic Chorale Disney Orchestra
Ann Patterson: Flute, Clarinet, Bari Sax
Keith Bishop: Clarinet, Tenor Sax
Mike Zonshine: Trumpet 1
Curt Sletten: Trumpet 2
Les Benedict*: Trombone
Diana Brownson: Piano
Rick Hils: Synthesizer
Tom Hynes: Guitar
Daniel Lopez: Bass
Dave Tull: Drums
Nick Stone: Percussion
*Lead
Dave Tull has long been known as one of the world’s finest jazz drummers and has also built a reputation as a premiere jazz singer and songwriter. Dave Tull’s latest release, “Texting and Driving” was the #2 most requested new album of 2018 on SiriusXM Real Jazz, and was featured by NPR’s Susan Stamberg on Weekend Edition. Singing from the drums, Dave brings to the stage a rare combination of joyous songwriting, world-class jazz singing and drumming. Think “Frishberg meets Gershwin”. Dave’s songs have been called both “laugh out loud funny” and inspiring of “soul searching and introspection”, propelling “Texting and Driving” to #5 on the Billboard Jazz Chart, and #3 on the Billboard Comedy Chart in the same week, and 23 weeks on the JazzWeek chart! Dave’s celebrated first CD, “I Just Want To Get Paid”, continues to get regular airplay many years after its release.
Tom Hynes is Director of Jazz in the Pines Student–IA’s summer jazz program–and Instructor of Jazz Guitar at the Academy. He is an Assistant Professor of Music at Azusa Pacific University and also teaches at St. Catherine’s Academy in Anaheim. His jazz credits include the Kim Richmond Concert Jazz Orchestra, led by the Grammy-nominated composer. His recordings include Tom Hynes and Marshall Hawkins: Live at the Fret House. Tom is also a composer, with numerous original jazz compositions commissioned by colleges and universities in California, and film music composed for the Smithsonian Museum.
Les Benedict is a versatile musician who performs on alto, tenor and bass trombones, euphonium and tuba, and sundry other brass instruments. He recorded with Clare Fischer’s “Jazz Corps” on Eb Cornet, Eb flugelhorn, and Eb helicon tuba, covering three octaves of instruments. Les played trombone on Bette Midler’s CD Bathhouse Betty, trombone and euphonium on Herbie Hancock’s soundtrack to A Soldier’s Story, and lead trombone on Gerald Wilson’s Grammy-nominated Suite for Monterey. He has performed with the Honolulu Symphony and the Honolulu Opera Orchestra and played alto horn on the soundtracks of Glory and The Hunt for Red October. A concert with Buddy Collette in Washington, D.C. was broadcast on Public Radio and will soon be released on CD, the first such recording produced by the Library of Congress. He played on Joe Zawinul’s Grammy-nominated CD, Faces and Places, on tuba, bass trombone, tenor and alto trombones, marching trombone, alto horn and euphonium. Les performed in the Vienna, Austria Concert House with The Gerald Wilson Orchestra, and toured Japan with The Billy Vaughn Orchestra, Abe Most and Ray Anthony big bands, the U.S. and Canada with Frank Sinatra, and has performed with Tony Bennett, Elvis Presley, and Quincy Jones. Performances at jazz festivals include Monterey, Playboy, Santa Barbara, Ocho Rios (Jamaica), Drew, San Francisco, Boston Globe, Honolulu, West Coast, and Central Avenue. The L. A. Jazz Scene wrote that Les is “…a very gifted trombonist who can play in many different styles.”
At the age of 22, Mike Zonshine joined the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra as Principal Trumpet, a job he held for almost a decade. After relocating to Los Angeles, he has become an active freelancer in the Los Angeles music scene, performing in many live and studio settings. Over the past years, he has taught extensively. He co-founded the University of Hawaii Trumpet Ensemble, which soon became an ensemble that involved the entire trumpet community of the island of Oahu. Mike also taught for five summers at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute where he was the brass coach for the Young Artist’s Orchestra. As a Yamaha Performing Artist and Clinician, Mr. Zonshine has given various recitals and master classes at many of the top music institutions in the US as well as countless master classes for high school/middle school band programs. For the last three years, Mike has been on faculty at Cal Poly Pomona, teaching trumpet, an “Introduction To Music” course to non-music majors, and recently added a brass pedagogy course for music education majors. Mike joined the Colburn Community School as a trumpet instructor in the summer of 2019. Mike studied at Boston University, Eastman School of Music, and the University of Southern California. Mike was twice a part of the Tanglewood Music Center’s famed fellowship program. One of those times, Mr. Zonshine won the Voisin Trumpet Award.
Over the past 25 years, Ann Patterson has freelanced as a saxophonist in all areas of the music business and performed with the bands of Jack Sheldon, Bill Berry, Bill Holman, Buddy Childers, Buddy Collette, the Frank Capp/Nat Pierce Juggernaut, and the American Jazz Philharmonic. She played lead alto with the Don Ellis Orchestra, appearing at the Newport, North Sea, and Montreux Jazz festivals and on two of the band’s recordings. Other artists with whom she has played and/or recorded include Cleo Laine, Joe Williams, Etta James, Plas Johnson, Neil Sedaka, Sammy Davis, Jr., Lou Rawls, Barry White, The Temptations, El DeBarge, Nell Carter, John Mayall, Ray Charles, and k.d. lang. Ann also leads Maiden Voyage, the acclaimed 17-piece allfemale orchestra she founded in Los Angeles in 1980 that has appeared at the Playboy, Monterey, Concord, Tucson Primavera, and Jazz on the Rocks (Sedona) Jazz festivals as well as at numerous Los Angeles area festivals and at the Hollywood Bowl. Maiden Voyage has toured Japan three times, performed at the Kennedy Center’s Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival twice, opened for Billy Crystal at the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles, been a guest of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, and appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. A graduate of the University of North Texas and the University of Illinois as a classical oboist, Ann received a doctorate in Jazz Studies from the University of Southern California. Named Jazz Educator of the Year in 2000 by the Los Angeles Jazz Society, she has taught at the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point, Cerritos College, California State University at Dominguez Hills, and currently teaches jazz improvisation at El Camino College.
Los Angeles based percussionist and drummer Nick Stone has made his career performing across the world, including such countries as France, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and China. He has performed in venues from Carnegie Hall and Alice Tully Hall in New York to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and Disney Hall in Los Angeles. Nick is a passionate musical theatre percussionist playing at such venues as the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, The Rubicon Theatre, and the Garry Marshall Theatre. Additionally he was the percussionist for Sunday in The Park with George and A Little Night Music at the Pasadena Playhouse for their Tony award winning 2023 Season. He played Xylophone throughout the run of the Pixarmonic Orchestra at Disney California Adventure.A native of LA, he has performed with many different ensembles around Southern California including the Long Beach Symphony, the Echo Society, the New West Symphony, and the Long Beach Municipal Band, where he serves as the mallet percussion specialist. He has recorded for such composers as Joe Trapanese, Rob Simonsen, Kris Bowers, Jeremy Zuckerman, and Nathan Johnson. You can hear his work in the live action Lady and the Tramp (2019) as well as several episodes of the Disney+ TV show Encore!
PRODUCTION STAFF
Cultural Services Manager........................................................... Monica Harte
Cultural Services Supervisor.............................................................Gia Jordahl
Additional Musical Arrangements........................................................ Ed Trimis
Rehearsal Audio Recording Engineers................ Bill Stieritz, Susan Culver Suhr
Promotion Coordinator......................................................... Michelle Friedman
Photographer.................................................................................. Mickey Elliot
Lobby/Program/Social Media Photos............................................ Olivia Sblan
Armstrong Technical Director..................................................... Devon Ausman
Box Office Manager........................................................................ Jean Jordan
Communication/Website/Social Media Coordinator..................Edward Trimis
Special thanks to Dr. Lynn Gary Atkins, Jr. (Director, CSUDH Chorus) and Julie Corallo (Director, South Bay Children’s Choir)
TORRANCE CHORALE FRIENDS
Torrance Chorale Friends (TCF) was established in April 1987 as a California 501(c)(3) charitable organization to support the Torrance Civic Chorale with fundraising, event planning, and concert production. Tax-deductible contributions received from chorale members, audience patrons, and local businesses are used to cover expenses not included in the City’s operating budget. For more information on how you can become a supporting patron of the Torrance Civic Chorale, please visit our website www.TorrancecCivicChorale.net/Support.
Chairman: Susan Culver-Suhr
Secretary: Karen Peterson
Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer: Karen Peterson
Board Member: Jill Hoffman
Wardrobe Committee: Karen Peterson/Jill Hoffman
Fundraising/Advertising Chairperson: Susan Culver-Suhr
Music Librarians: Linda Gohata, Ted Gohata, Marie Austin, Sonia Varghese
Dr. Edward A. Trimis,
Artistic Director
Dr. Edward Trimis (BA, MA, EdD), has held several teaching and administrative positions in Los Angeles. He has been responsible for many reforms, innovative music and arts programs in schools, which have been featured in several newspapers, local and national journals. He has been an adjunct professor at several colleges and universities including USC and Pasadena City College. He is highly sought after as a presenter for local, state-wide, and national conferences, and frequently serves the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) as a visiting team chair.
Trimis has directed choral groups for the last 40 years in Los Angeles. He has performed/directed groups at the Hollywood Bowl, LA Memorial Coliseum (LA Raiders Band), Mike Douglas Show, Chevy Chase Show, LAUSD events including Superintendent’s Administrators Retreat (multiple), Board of Education. He has toured with his groups to San Francisco, San Diego, and festivals and competitions all over Los Angeles and Orange Counties.
Trimis is a proud member of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), the Southern California Vocal Association (SCVA), the Jazz Educators Network (JEN), the American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers (ASMAC), the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), and the American Federation of Musicians (AFM), Local 47 (Los Angeles). You may find his complete bio at www.trimismusic.com/ed-trimis-bio
Diana Brownson, Accompanist
Diana has held the position of pianist for the Torrance Civic Chorale since September of 2000. She is honored to be a part of several compositional premieres with the Chorale. She is also the pianist at Chadwick School in Palos Verdes, and staff organist and pianist at St. Lawrence Martyr Church in Redondo Beach. Diana also plays piano/keyboard in the traditional jazz bands The Uptown Rhythm Makers and Swingergy. She was also the keyboardist for 3 years with the World's Only All-Female Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Band, Lynette Skynyrd.
Diana also plays ukulele, banjolele, harmonicas and her latest addition to the mix - mandolin. She performs with these instruments in The Pennyroyal Players, a Reader's Theater group that present historical presentations all over Southern California, with all proceeds going to various music charities. The Pennyroyals were honored to be the recipients of the 2017 City of Torrance Arts in Excellence Award in Music.
Diana has served as music director, pit musician and performed in more than 40 productions. She has performed at the Norris Theater, Culver City Civic Light Opera, South Bay Light Opera Society, Redondo Beach Theater Company, Manhattan Beach Community Theater, Kentwood Players, San Pedro Theater Company, and with the show choir The Notables as a singer, dancer, pianist and keyboardist.She holds a B.M.Ed degree from California State University, Long Beach. As an organist, Diana has held positions with Presbyterian, Methodist, 7th Day Adventist, Lutheran, Christian Science and Catholic churches in the greater Los Angeles and San Diego areas. As a collaborative pianist, she has had the honor of working with Karen Morrow (star of stage and screen), Josephine Lott (co-founder of the Long Beach Opera Co.), various Ballet Schools, and several cabaret and variety shows. More info on Diana can be found at www.linkedin.com/in/dianabrownson
SUPPORTING PARTONS
We’d like to include your name on our list of supporting patrons. Please see our website at: www.torrancecivicchorale.net for additional information on becoming a supporting patron.
Symphony ($1,000-$2,499)
Ted and Linda Gohata
Concerto ($500-$999)
Lynn and Esther Bridgman
Sonata ($100-$499)
Marilyn Lynch
Ralph's Market
Pam Sivula
Cantata ($25-$99)
Lynda Kraemer
Torrance Chorale Friends gratefully acknowledges our donors for helping to underwrite the musical expenses of each concert. You are invited to become a Friend of the Torrance Civic Chorale.
Your tax-deductible contribution of any size may be mailed to:
Torrance Chorale Friends P.O. Box 3201 -Torrance, CA 90510-3201 (non-profit #95-3808603)
Torrance Civic Chorale members would like to thank the City Council for their continued support of the Chorale, and all arts programs presented by the Cultural Services Division. Thank you to Torrance Chorale Friends and Board; and all the friends, family and community members joining us today.
We also recognize the past directors and founders of the TCC, the late David Burks, Irene Apanovitch-Leites, Ben Johns, Scott Rieker, Ray Schnurr, Diane Simons, and the late Dr. Jane Hardester.
EASY WAY TO HELP THE TORRANCE CIVIC CHORALE
Ralphs Community Contribution Program donates 1-4%* to Torrance Chorale Friends (*Less than $200 – 1%, $200+ to $350 – 2%, $350+ to $500 – 3%, and $500 or more – 4%)
Go to www.Ralphs.com
Sign in by entering email address and password for your existing Ralph’s account (or see below to create one). If it asks for your “Alt ID,” type in the phone number that is associated with the account.
Click near the upper-right corner where it says “Welcome, <your name>” and select “My Account”
Scroll down to the “Community Rewards” section of your account page
Select “Enroll Now” or “Edit”
Choose Torrance Chorale Friends as your charity of choice or enter 90122 as our organization number
Click “Save
If you don’t have an online Ralph’s account, you’ll need to create one and link it to your Ralphs Rewards card:
Go to www.Ralphs.com.
Select Create Account.
Enter your information. Once you’ve created an account, go to your email inbox to confirm your account.
Go back to www.Ralphs.com and make sure you are signed in. Follow directions #3-7 above.
Your Ralphs purchases will begin counting toward our organization within 72 hours. It takes about 10 days for the program total to begin displaying on your receipts. It will also say, “At your request, Ralphs is donating to Torrance Chorale Friends.”
If you do not have access to a computer or an email address, you can call Ralph’s at 800-4434438 and they can link your rewards card or phone number with Torrance Chorale Friends. You can also call Ralph’s Digital Customer Service line at 866-221-4141 or Ralph’s Rewards Hotline at 800-660-9003 for additional help.
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There’s always something special brewing at the Torrance Civic Chorale.
Congrats on your concert!
