Children’s Choir Prepares for First Concert

The South Bay Children’s Choir is gearing up for its first performance Sunday, which will feature a variety of popular Christmas and Hanukkah songs.

Organized in September, the 60-member musical group is the first regional choir in the South Bay. The organization was formed by veteran choir directors Jane Hardester and Diane Simons to fill the musical gap left as schools discontinued their music programs.

Hardester, a longtime music instructor and choir director at El Camino College in Torrance, received the backing of the college to start the choir. The school provides the young singers rehearsal space and pays Hardester’s salary.

In addition, the college has set up the choir like a class. Members, who range in age from 7 to 13, will receive credit for their participation.

Although they have just gotten started, Hardester and Simons have big plans for the choir. They have created two music ensembles, one for the older children and another for the younger ones, and are setting up a regular performance schedule.

They plan a spring concert at the college and may take the group to a chorale festival next year.

At Sunday’s concert, the two ensembles will perform separately and conclude the show with a joint performance. In addition, one choir member will perform a piano solo.

Two performances are scheduled, at 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. in the Haig Recital Hall at El Camino College in Torrance, 16007 Crenshaw Blvd. Tickets are $3.