LA Area Children’s Choir Festival to Showcase Barnhart Chorus and Barnhart Parents’ “Celebration Dance of Diversity” Workshop at Glendale City Church

Barnhart School’s chorus will be singing in the LA Area Children’s Choir Festival held this Saturday, April 9 at 5:00 p.m. at Glendale City Church. Barnhart parents, Lelalois Beard and Dawn Blackman, are also holding an African dance workshop prior to the event beginning at 1:30 p.m.

“We look forward to the opportunity to hold our dance workshop at the Festival. Dance is a wonderful embodiment of the differences that make us one,” said Lelalois Beard, Barnhart parent and co-founder of the school’s diversity committee.

Elisabeth (Lissie) Quishenberry, who directs Barnhart’s choir, music and drama programs has been a teacher since 1990. Heralding from La Sierra University, she is the First Experiences in Choral Singing Ensemble Director at Los Angeles Children’s Chorus as well as teaching their Level Seven musicianship class in conducting. With the local support of the Choristers Guild, Quishenberry has also chaired the children’s choir festival in Los Angeles, now in its third year. She is the mother of three talented choristers.

Located in Arcadia, Barnhart offers a private K-8 education. Distinguishing programs of Barnhart include Spanish, Art and Music at all grade levels, daily physical education, the Virtues Project™ character development program, the creative writing program (Lucy Calkins’ Writer’s Workshop), a choral group, and an on-site harvest garden. The school has an early literacy emphasis, a 1:1 technology ratio and an average 12:1 student-teacher ratio. Barnhart is accredited by the California Association of Independent Schools and Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Established in 1959 by Dr. Ethel Barnhart, Barnhart is affiliated with the non- denominational Santa Anita Church.

Glendale City Church is located at 610 E. California Avenue, Glendale. The Festival Director is Karol Kinard Kimmell. The Festival Organist is Sean O’Neal. A reception will be held following the concert to allow an opportunity to meet the artists.

Admission is a freewill offering.