Los Angeles Children’s Chorus Announces Contract Extension With Artistic Director Fernando Malvar-Ruiz

Los Angeles Children’s Chorus Tuesday announced a five-year extension of Fernando Malvar-Ruiz’s contract as Artistic Director. The contract extension runs through the conclusion of the 2025|26 season, which will be Malvar-Ruiz’s eighth as Artistic Director.

Malvar-Ruiz became only the third Artistic Director in LACC’s 33-year history when he joined the Chorus on August 1, 2018. During his first three seasons as Artistic Director, Malvar-Ruiz led the Chorus in more than 30 performances, including LACC’s lauded return to Walt Disney Concert Hall in December 2019 as part of the LA Phil’s Sounds About Town series.

Malvar-Ruiz also continued LACC’s rich tradition of touring by leading tours to the East Coast and to Sun Valley, ID in 2019, and, following the arrival of COVID-19 in March 2020, oversaw the implementation of a proprietary online learning platform that kept LACC fully operational throughout the pandemic. Malvar-Ruiz’s third season concluded with LACC’s return to the concert stage for a special cinematic concert experience in collaboration with alumni Billie Eilish and FINNEAS, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Gustavo Dudamel that was filmed at the Hollywood Bowl and released on Disney+ on September 3, 2021.

“On behalf of the entire LACC Board of Directors, it is my great pleasure to be able to share the wonderful news that Fernando Malvar-Ruiz will lead LACC for the next five years,” said Kai Ryssdal, LACC Board Chair. “Under Maestro Malvar-Ruiz’s steadfast leadership, LACC’s artistic and educational programming has been remarkable. Despite the challenges of the pandemic over the last 18 months, Maestro Malvar-Ruiz has led a resilient, dedicated, and innovative group of music faculty and educators who have ensured that LACC was able to be there for our choristers and community, week after week, month after month. With in-person activities resuming this season and a five-year extension to his contract, we could not be more excited to partner with Maestro Malvar-Ruiz and work collectively to achieve his ambitious vision for the organizational excellence, innovation, and growth in the coming years.”

“I could not be more excited for LACC’s future,” remarked Fernando Malvar-Ruiz. “When I arrived at LACC three years ago, I inherited an artistically-vibrant and educationally-rich organization that was well-positioned for dynamic growth in the coming seasons. While the pandemic unexpectedly threw a wrench in my early plans for LACC, the vision remains the same. I look forward to continuing to work closely with the talented and dedicated faculty, staff, and Board of Directors to advance the artistic and educational work that has made LACC one of the country’s premier youth choruses for decades, while also focusing on expanding LACC’s sphere of service and influence to other parts of the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area.”

Highlights of LACC’s 2021|22 season under Malvar-Ruiz’s leadership include a return to in-person choral music programs for 320+ choristers from over 40 communities across Los Angeles County and beyond. LACC will appear on concert stages in more than a dozen performances, including self-produced winter and spring programs in December and May as well as appearances as guest artists for programs presented by Pasadena Symphony and POPS (Holiday Candlelight, on December 18, 2021), Jacaranda (Vanquished, on January 22, 2022), and the LA Opera (St. Matthew Passion, from March 12 – 27). LACC will conclude its 36th season with a yet to be announced 11-day international tour featuring, for the first time ever, all three of the Chorus’s most senior ensembles: Concert Choir, Young Men’s Ensemble, and Chamber Singers.