LA Master Chorale Extends Contract of Music Director Grant Gershon

The Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Master Chorale (LAMC), considered one of the nation’s preeminent choirs, announced that the contract of Music Director Grant Gershon has been extended through the 2014|15 Season.  Appointed Music Director in 2001, Gershon has been widely credited with raising the choir’s artistic profile, attracting increased audiences to its Walt Disney Concert Hall performances, expanding its reach through recordings, radio broadcasts and collaborations with other arts organzations in Los Angeles and beyond, and influencing the contemporary choral music scene on an international level.

LAMC Chairman Mark Foster states, “Grant’s visionary artistic leadership over the past decade has literally transformed the LA Master Chorale into one of the world’s leading choral ensembles.  On behalf of our Board, I want to express not only our gratitude for Grant’s incredibly important partnership but also our excitement as we look forward to future seasons of marvelous programs and thrilling performances.”

Music Director Grant Gershon says, “I am deeply grateful to the Board of Directors for its confidence in my leadership and its belief that, together with our magnificent musicians and committed staff, we can continue this wonderful journey of musical exploration and creativity.  With so many extraordinary artistic opportunities to look forward to, and with huge gratitude to our very loyal patrons for their support, our future is indeed very bright!”

Gershon, who also serves as LA Opera Associate Conductor/Chorus Master, has garnered tremendous critical acclaim during his tenure with the Chorale.  The Los Angeles Timesproclaims that the Chorale “has become the most exciting chorus in the country under Grant Gershon” and states “Gershon is one of the most respected and flexible vocal music-oriented conductors working in the field today.  (He is) approaching the zenith of the vocal music conducting profession with his twin positions at the Master Chorale and L.A. Opera.”  He has led the LA Master Chorale in more than 75 performances at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, including virtually all of the major choral works.  Described as a champion of new music, Gershon has led world premiere performances of works by Louis Andriessen, Meredith Monk, Christopher Rouse, Steve Reich, and Chinary Ung among many others.  His discography includes two Grammy Award-nominated recordings: SweeneyTodd (New York Philharmonic Special Editions) and Ligeti’s GrandMacabre (Sony Classical); as well as four CDs with the Chorale: Glass-Salonen (RCM), You Are (Variations) (Nonesuch), Daniel Variations (Nonesuch), and A Good Understanding (Decca), the last recorded in Disney Hall and released in September.  In New York, he has appeared on the Great Performersseries at Lincoln Center and on the Making Musicseries at Zankel Hall. Other major appearances include performances at the Ravinia, Aspen, Edinburgh, Helsinki and Vienna Festivals.  He has worked closely with many leading conductors, including Claudio Abbado, Pierre Boulez, Gustavo Dudamel, Lorin Maazel, Zubin Mehta, Simon Rattle and Esa-Pekka Salonen. In 2007, Gershon conducted the Minnesota Opera’s world premiere of Ricky Ian Gordon’s opera The Grapes of Wrath,which was recorded live for PS Classics.   In 2008, he made his highly acclaimed Los Angeles Opera debut leading eight performances of Verdi’s La Traviata.  In September 2010, Gershon conducted the critically acclaimed performances of L.A. Opera’s world premiere production of Daniel Catán’s Il Postinofeaturing Plácido Domingo.  He makes his Santa Fe Opera debut in 2011, conducting Peter Sellars’ new production of Vivaldi’s Griselda.  Gershon, named Outstanding Alumnus of the USC Thornton School of Music, is a member of the Board of Advisors for the Thornton School and the Board of Directors of Chorus America.