Thornton artists feature prominently in concert honoring women composers, performers, directors

USC Thornton artists will feature prominently in the Los Robles Master Chorale’s upcoming collaborative concert, Women Speak, highlighting the work of women composers, performers and directors.

The all-women chorus VOX Femina Los Angeles will join the Los Robles Master Chorale (LRMC) for the fist half of the evening’s program. Both choruses are led by USC Thornton alumni: Iris Levine (DMA ’90) is the founder and current artistic director of VOX Femina, and Lesley Leighton (MM ’91, DMA ’12) is the artistic director of LRMC.

The choruses will perform the world premiere of a new work by GRAMMY-nominated pianist and Thornton alum Vicki Ray (MM ’88), titled “Zenspiel.” They will also perform the piece “We Are Home,” by composer and non-degreed alum Jenni Brandon.

The evening’s performances will be accompanied by four Thornton alumni musicians: cellist Paula Holchhalter (BA ’76), percussionist Lauren Kosty (BM ’05), and pianist Mitsuko Morikawa (DMA ’11), who will accompany the premiere of Ray’s “Zenspiel.”

Women Speak will take place Sunday, March 1, at Ascension Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks.