About Us
For two decades, Channel Islands Choral Association‘s dedicated mission has been to provide quality choral music education and performance opportunities to students of all ages in Ventura County. Current projects include partnerships with the CSU Channel Islands University and the Pleasant Valley School District and the ongoing sponsorship of two, dynamic choral programs:
The CSU Channel Islands University Chorus is a class that is offered at the university and is open to students, faculty, and staff, as well as, the community at large. The students enjoy the benefit of singing with experienced choral singers and establishing friendships with local community members. Community members enjoy the ability to mentor young talent, make new friends, sing under the baton of a skilled conductor, and perform energizing choral programs right in their own backyard! Each semester, the chorus performs at a venue in the community as well as on campus. Each spring, the chorus performs a major choral work with the Channel Islands Chamber Orchestra in an annual community tradition entitled, “Choral Spectacular.”
The Pleasant Valley School District Chorus is an afterschool program for elementary and middle school students helping provide the District with a high-quality music instructional program, but is open to all children throughout Ventura County. The PVSD Chorus is led by a talented team of music educators and professional community musicians giving students the opportunity to learn musical skills, develop personal confidence, and experience the joy of live concert performance. Students rehearse once a week throughout the school year with many performance opportunities in the local Camarillo area, including holiday concerts, and the annual Camarillo Christmas Parade.
Our newest endeavor focuses on Ventura County’s high school choral programs. In an effort to recharge and refresh high school choral programs and dust off the many unused chairs for high school students, CICA is excited to explore innovative and motivating ways we can help. This endeavor will give high school students the opportunity to perform with CICA and the Channel Islands Chamber Orchestra under the skillful baton of Artistic Director, Dr. KuanFen Liu. In addition, students and their Directors will be supported through a mentoring program designed to bring the support, experience and expertise of local choral conductors and creative musicians attuned to high school culture directly to high school students and their staffs. Additionally, high school choral programs are financially supported through granted access to CICA’s extensive choral music library and offered the opportunity to perform in some of our community’s most exciting concert venues.
As CICA moves into the next decade of its 21st century mission, we are more determined than ever to provide students of all ages access to a quality choral music program. CICA embraces the belief that this not only cultivates musicality, but also a sense of community, belonging, and contribution that adds value to life and provides a safer and healthier community. We are moving forward… clear in our mission and vision, connecting with our community and contributing beautiful, life-enriching choral music FOR ALL!