The Pasadena Chorale announced a nine-concert, entirely free 2026-27 season that will bring a range of choral music — from Mozart and Baroque repertoire to contemporary works and several world premieres — to audiences across Pasadena and neighboring communities.
Four ensembles, multiple venues
The season will feature performances by four groups operated by the organization: the Pasadena Chorale, the Pasadena Choral Society, the High Notes youth choir and a select 16-voice ensemble composed of Pasadena Chorale singers. Concert venues named in the schedule include First United Methodist Church Pasadena, San Marino Community Church and Pasadena Presbyterian Church.
The season opens on Nov. 18 with the Pasadena Chorale performing Mozart’s Mass in C minor at First United Methodist Church Pasadena. The Chorale will return on Dec. 9 with a program titled “The Light of Hope Returning,” which will feature the High Notes ensemble. The Pasadena Choral Society will present a “Baroque Christmas” program on Dec. 16.
“Every concert this season is an invitation to step away from the ordinary and experience something together: something that transports you, moves you, and stays with you,”
said Jeffrey Bernstein, founding executive and artistic director of the Pasadena Chorale, in the organization’s announcement.
Spring and summer programming, new and returning works
The calendar continues into 2027 with the 16-voice ensemble performing “Awakenings” on March 10 at San Marino Community Church. Additional highlights include two parts of a themed series called “The Explorers.” “The Explorers: Part 1,” scheduled for April 7, will feature Reena Esmail’s “Earth Speaks,” a piece originally composed for the Pasadena Chorale in 2015. On June 9, “The Explorers: Part 2” will present Ralph Vaughan Williams’ A Sea Symphony.
The youth choir High Notes will stage its annual “Spring Sing” on May 3, and the Pasadena Choral Society will perform Maurice Duruflé’s Requiem on May 12. The season concludes on June 19 at Pasadena Presbyterian Church with “Listening to the Future,” a concert showcasing world premieres by young composers.
Growth of the Choral Society and community impact
The Pasadena Choral Society, which completed its first full season earlier this year, has grown significantly since its founding. According to the organization, the group expanded from about 45 singers to 85 following auditions this spring. Its concerts are scheduled at San Marino Community Church.
Founded in 2009, the Pasadena Chorale oversees the community ensembles listed above and notes a particular emphasis on auditioned community choirs and youth development through the High Notes program, which serves students in grades six through 12.
- Number of concerts: 9 (all free)
- Ensembles: Pasadena Chorale, Pasadena Choral Society, High Notes, 16-voice ensemble
- Season highlights: Mozart’s Mass in C minor; Vaughan Williams’ A Sea Symphony; Duruflé’s Requiem; world premieres by young composers
| Date | Program | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Nov. 18 | Mozart: Mass in C minor | First United Methodist Church Pasadena |
| Dec. 9 | The Light of Hope Returning (with High Notes) | — |
| Dec. 16 | Baroque Christmas (Pasadena Choral Society) | San Marino Community Church |
| Mar. 10 | Awakenings (16-voice ensemble) | San Marino Community Church |
| Apr. 7 | The Explorers: Part 1 (includes Reena Esmail’s Earth Speaks) | — |
| May 3 | High Notes: Spring Sing | — |
| May 12 | Duruflé: Requiem (Pasadena Choral Society) | — |
| June 9 | The Explorers: Part 2 (Vaughan Williams: A Sea Symphony) | — |
| June 19 | Listening to the Future (world premieres) | Pasadena Presbyterian Church |
Organizers said additional concert details and the free ticket reservation process will be published by the Chorale in the coming weeks. For many local residents, the calendar represents both accessible arts programming and opportunities for students and emerging composers to have their work presented in prominent local churches.
The Chorale’s mix of standard choral repertoire, contemporary commissions and youth programming positions the organization as a steadying cultural presence in Pasadena’s arts landscape, offering performances intended to attract longtime patrons and new listeners alike.
