History

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Now celebrating its 25th season, Los Robles Children's Choir is recognized for its choral artistry and excellent musicianship. “Striving for excellence in choral singing” has been the mission of Los Robles Children’s Choir since its establishment in 1997. This philosophy has been the driving force behind the development of the choir.  In June of 1997, James Stemen, former chairman of the Moorpark College Music Department and founding director of Los Robles Master Chorale facilitated founding director Donna Young’s dream of forming an auditioned community children’s choir. She grew the choir from a small group of singers to a roster of more than 100 children from over 45 schools across Ventura and Los Angeles Counties. Edward and Dana Rouse took over the leadership of the choir in 2012 and lead the ensembles in creative programing and new performance opportunities until 2022 when the baton was handed to current director, Emma Roche.

All four of our ensembles assist children in developing their vocal, aural, musical and choral skills. LRCC’s rigorous training program includes weekly rehearsals, where vocal technique, stage presence, musicianship skills, and teamwork are regularly taught. The choir not only performs their own concerts in the Conejo Valley and Northern Los Angeles, but collaborates with Los Robles Master Chorale, Areté Vocal Ensemble and the New West Symphony as well. The children have sung under the direction of many world-renown conductors including Paul Salamunovich, Sir David Willcocks, Henry Leck, Z. Randall Stroope, Vance George and David Flood.

The choir has sung in London, Canterbury, Salzburg, Vienna, Prague, and Mainz, Denver, and Carnegie Hall in New York City and the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. Over the summer of 2016 the choir traveled again to Canterbury and London, England and returned to Carnegie Hall in New York City in June of 2017.LRCC has been invited to sing at the Pacific International Children's Choral Festival in Eugene, OR in June of 2019 and in Prague in 2020.

As of today, more than 600 children have been part of LRCC, participating in four choir levels.