Ensembles
Concert Choir
About
Members of the Vanguard University Concert Choir are selected through an audition and interview process, and represent almost all of the 40 academic majors offered at Vanguard University, with more than half of the members being non-music majors. The Concert Choir performs locally at churches, schools, and conferences, and can be seen annually on the Hour of Power broadcast, recorded at the Crystal Cathedral, and televised both domestically and internationally. The Concert Choir is quickly becoming recognized as one of the premier choral organizations among Christian universities and is well-received by all audiences due to its eclectic and inspiring range of vocal music including traditional, classical, sacred, praise and worship, and contemporary Christian arrangements.
Director
Tours & Recordings
The Vanguard University Concert Choir tours yearly, outside of local, monthly bookings. In the spring of 2001, 2003, 2006, 2009, and 2012 Concert Choir toured in New York City and performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Times Square Church, Cathedral of St. John the Divine, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. In addition to the New York tours, the University Concert Choir tours all over the Western United States ministering to churches, schools and participating in choral competitions.
Recordings
The Vanguard University Concert Choir has recorded five CD projects, the most recent is Magnificent and Holy.
Contact Information
Contact the Music Events office at 714-619-6412 or email concerts@vanguard.edu
Women's Chorus
About
Fifty women shining the light of Christ through music and worship – this is Luminaria, the University Women’s Chorus at Vanguard University of Southern California. Members are selected from the close to 2,000-member student body and are representative of the many academic majors offered at Vanguard University. Call today to book this dynamic ensemble for a concert at your church, school or special event.
Director
Tours & Recordings
Women’s Chorus performs an annual concert tour, traveling throughout the Western United States region, ministering in churches and schools along the way. Ministering and worshiping together as a unit, these concert tours build camaraderie, character and friendships that last a lifetime. In addition to the annual choir tour, this ensemble has had several opportunities to participate in a combined choral performance with the University Concert Choir at Carnegie Hall and Avery Fisher Hall in New York.
Call today to book Women’s Chorus for a concert!
Recordings
The Vanguard University Women’s Chorus has recorded three CD projects, the most recent is Kaleidoscope of Praise, released in Spring 2010.
Contact Information
Contact the Music Events office at 714-619-6412 or email concerts@vanguard.edu
Guitar Ensemble
About
The Vanguard University Guitar Program, under the direction of Professor Michael Nigro, is recognized as having one of the strongest and active programs in Orange County. The guitar program provides a thorough and challenging program of study for students who are wishing to complete their bachelor of music in performance, music education, church music, composition, or jazz studies. Many students in the guitar program are in the bachelor of arts in general music, bachelor of arts in worship studies, or music minors. The guitar program regularly hosts international performing artists and educators, and provides an excellent foundation for a professional career.
The guitar program includes courses in beginning guitar, guitar ensemble, guitar quartet, fretboard skills, guitar pedagogy, guitar history and literature, and private instruction. Classes are open to music and non-music majors. Performance scholarships are available to qualified students.
The guitar program has had some of the world’s most accomplished artists for masterclasses and concerts including Marc Teicholz, Matt Denman, William Kanengiser, Lynn McGrath, Scott Tennant, Vladimir Gorbach, David Grimes, Anthony Kakamakov, David Isaacs, Gregory Newton, Gisle Krogseth, Nikola Chekardzhikov, Peter Zisa, and Dmirty Koudymov. In addition, the guitar program recently held its Second Annual Guitar Festival which hosted over 160 students from various high schools and colleges from Southern California and as far as Arizona and Texas.
The Guitar Ensemble performs regularly both locally and out of state. Some of the performance venues include; The Ventura County Classical Guitar Society, The Bing Concert Series (located in the Stanford Hospital Medical Center), The Clark County Library’s Main Theatre in Las Vegas, Glendale Community College, AZ, Marylhurst University, OR, Oregon State University’s “Music a la Carte,” St. Luke’s Anglican Church in Redding, CA, Mount Shasta High School, CA, Denver School of the Arts, CO, Simpson University in Redding, CA and the Segerstrom Center for Arts in Costa Mesa, CA for the Annual Christmas Fantasia Concert.
Guitar students have consistently placed or taken top prizes in both solo and chamber competitions including the 2012 Christopher Parkening International Guitar Competition, Pacific Guitar Festival, Indiana University Guitar Competition, 2012 Sigma Alpha Iota scholarship, the 2013 Aron Green ASTA Guitar Competition, the 2013 Musical Arts Competition of Orange County, the Vanguard University Concerto Competition, and the 2013 Sierra Nevada Guitar Competition. Students graduating with degrees from the VU Guitar Program have gone on to pursue graduate degrees at Cal State Fullerton, and the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.
Tours & Recordings
The Vanguard University Guitar Ensemble tours yearly, outside of local, monthly bookings. In the fall of 2011 & 2012, the Guitar Ensemble was invited on tour up the Pacific Coast performing at universities, churches, concert halls, guitar societies and schools. In addition to their Fall Tour, the guitar ensemble traveled to Las Vegas, Denver and Colorado Springs in the Spring of 2013 for the Soundscapes CD release tour
Now in 2015, the Guitar Ensemble has an exciting opportunity to embark on a week-long tour down to Argentina. Their tour will extend from May 20th to May 27th, where they will participate at the University Guitar Festival in San Juan and minister to the students there. Argentina has a struggling economy with many opportunities of spiritual and practical ministry at its doorstep. Our students could benefit from your prayer support and financial support, as God works through their talents and outreach.
Recordings
In 2013, the Guitar Ensemble released their debut album Soundscapes featuring the guitar ensemble and guitar quartets. This is a full length album including compositions from world class composers as well as various arrangements from Dr. Gregory Glancey. This album was made possible through a generous donation by Eoin & Lettie Cowie who have been vibrant supporters of our guitar ensemble and the music program at Vanguard University.
Contact Information
Contact the Music Events office at 714-619-6401 or email concerts@vanguard.edu
Director
Jazz Ensemble
About
The Jazz Ensemble provides a positive and quality instrumental experience for music students and others from the student body that have an interest in jazz music and its performance, as well as helping to develop an appreciation for jazz repertoire and the significance of jazz music as an American art form. In the Jazz Ensemble, an importance is placed on teaching the members scriptural and biblical truths through some of the selected repertoire, presenting ministry concerts as ambassadors of Christ and His kingdom, and blending the highest academic and musical excellence possible with genuine worship and personal ministry.
The University Jazz Ensemble hosts an annual Jazz Festival for local Christian high-schools and middle schools to bring their jazz bands and combos for a day of competition, clinics, performances and improvisation.
The 17 members of the Jazz Ensemble are selected from the over 2200-member student body from the University and are representative of the over 30 academic majors offered at Vanguard University and hail from many states in the U.S. as well as several international countries.
Tours & Recordings
The Vanguard University Jazz Ensemble tours yearly, outside of local and monthly bookings. Recently, the Jazz Ensemble has toured in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Nevada, Oregon & Washington visiting many churches and schools. The Jazz Ensemble often tours to Reno, NV to compete in the Reno Jazz Festival.
Recordings
Through a generous donation given by James A. Curtis (Class of 1977), who has been a vibrant and active supporter of our school, Dr. Kenneth Foerch and the Vanguard University jazz band released its first CD project in Spring 2006 titled “Sea Changes”. The release was punctuated by a professional “CD release party” at Steamers Jazz Club in Fullerton. We would like to honor not only Mr. Curtis, but the past instrumental alumni who have served in building the program that Vanguard University enjoys today, most notably Ralph Carmichael (’47), Mark Davidson (’55), and Darrel Gardner (’69).
Contact Information
Contact the Music Events office at 714-619-6401 or email concerts@vanguard.edu
Director
Vanguard Singers & Band
About
The Vanguard Singers and Band is our longest running and most recognizable music performance group here at Vanguard University. Members of the Vanguard Singers & Band are selected through a rigorous audition and interview process, and each member is additionally a member of another of our major ensembles. These students are leaders of their peers and represent a wonderful cross-section of the academic majors offered at Vanguard University, both music and non-music majors. The Vanguard Singers & Band performs locally at churches, schools, and conferences, and takes an annual extended tour, both domestically and internationally.
Director
Tours & Recordings
The Vanguard Singers & Band tours yearly, outside of local, monthly bookings. Most notable are the group’s international tours. In 2010, they were invited to tour China and in the summer of 2011 they have been invited to a number of venues in Europe. Spring of 2005 found the Vanguard Singers & Band in a month-long tour of South Korea and The People’s Republic of China. While visiting these countries, many doors were opened in which the group members could share the Gospel and the love of Christ with those who might otherwise not have known. These tours are a growing opportunity for the student leaders as they are not only able to represent the University and God’s Kingdom, but they are able to gain perspective of life outside the bounds of the United States.
Recordings
The Vanguard Singers & Band music can be found on the following CD Recordings: All the Earth (2007), Simply A Cappella (2004), Everlasting (2002), Emmanuel (2002), I Could Sing of Your Love Forever (2001), Draw Me Close* (2000), Psalms of Praise* (1999), and Vanguards* (1994), featuring the female voices of the Vanguard Singers.
Contact Information
Contact the Music Events office at 714-619-6412 or concerts@vanguard.edu to request the group for your specific event, church, or school.
University Orchestra
About
The Vanguard University orchestra is the largest instrumental ensemble sponsored by the department of music. The orchestra is committed to excellence in music performance and is well received by all audiences due to its wide range of orchestral repertoire including classical, popular, sacred, and traditional as well as contemporary Christian music. The orchestra performs on campus, schools, churches and concert halls throughout the academic year.
Director
Contact Information
Contact the Music Events office at 714-619-6401 or email concerts@vanguard.edu
LIFEsong
About
This student lead ensemble features 8 voices dedicated to touching lives through excellent music and worship ministry. Join us for a harmonious experience of praise and fellowship!
The vision for this ensemble format is that Vanguard will eventually have multiple small groups – all student led, with 6-8 singers and a pianist pulled from the larger department ensembles. The format is streamlined, efficient and will help develop and empower student leaders. We see this vision growing into a great outreach tool for Vanguard and see it as a “win-win” opportunity. Building leaders in the small group setting will further equip and enhance our larger ensembles, which also continue to make a significant impact in our local churches and schools.
Contact Information
Contact the Music Events office at 714-619-6412 or concerts@vanguard.edu
