On the southeast side of the United Kingdom is a waterfront town where 38 children have been practicing for nine months to visit the United States with their boys’ and girls’ choirs to give a world-renowned concert performance in several California locations. The Southend Boys’ and Girls’ Choirs will launch their 2010 U.S. tour at Christ Lutheran Church in Pacific Beach at 7 p.m., Tuesday, July 27 at 4761 Cass St. The event is free. While the two choirs operate separately, they will join together for a U.S. tour that was planned two years ago. Of the 150 children, ages 8-19, only 38 young singers will travel here. Their ages range from 12 to 19. The choir has performed with the Philharmonia Orchestra in London, the City of London Sinfonia, the BBC Symphony Orchestra and many others. They also have many highly-acclaimed recordings. Rosemary Pennington will accompany the choir and noted the groups are looking forward to singing in some lovely churches and cathedrals, making new friends with their hosts, and seeing some of the wonderful sights and beaches of California. The choir has been described as “astonishingly polished” and “hauntingly beautiful” said Paula Mowbray, the new music director at Christ Lutheran Church. Mowbray is a singer, choral conductor, organist and pianist. She will briefly perform with the choir. The church, which has been in the community for 60 years, was chosen as the location for the concert because its acoustics are of such high quality. This will be the choir’s third U.S tour. In 2004, the boys and girls toured New York, Chicago and Cleveland. They also toured throughout Florida in 2006. “We have a very wide range of repertoire, both sacred and secular, to suit our various performances, but we have learned one song in particular for this tour,” Pennington said. The song is “Route 66.” The groups are bringing their own organist and pianist with them. “We know this will help fill a tremendous need for local programs that introduce young children to music,” Mowbray said. “The engaging program, which emphasizes vocal and musical skill development and rhythmic concepts, has universal appeal and can set the foundation for a life-long love of music.” For more information, visit www.christpb.org.
