The California Desert Chorale’s 20th anniversary season opens this month with Handel-ing the Holidays, featuring arrangements of carols and 30 minutes of G.F. Handel’s Messiah. Performances are set for Dec. 8, 18, and 22, at the Indian Wells Theater on the Palm Desert campus of California State University, San Bernardino.
The chorale (californiadesertchorale.org), which consists of professional and amateur singers led by Artistic Director Tim Bruneau, will perform The Boys From Britain March 23-30, 2014, featuring the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Elton John, and The Beatles.
Bruneau — who has also sung under legendary conductors such as Leonard Bernstein and collaborated with artists including soprano Leontyne Price, mezzo-soprano Suzanna Guzmán, and baritone Rodney Gilfry — took over the California Desert Chorale in 2007. He also teaches at College of the Desert.
In addition to concerts, the chorale has a college internship program, as well as a scholarship program with a competition in the spring.