Southern California Children's Chorus
600 St. Andrew's Road, Newport Beach, CA 92663
About
Southern California Children's Chorus focuses on choral music education and performances that include concert tours, orchestral productions, adult choral productions, opera productions, and rock music recordings. Choristers take part in appearances at Segerstrom Center for the Arts and have toured to venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Sydney Opera House, and Westminster Abbey. The program also involves participation in major motion pictures, television productions, commercials, recordings, and Disney events that are both televised and live.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
The Southern California Children’s Chorus was founded in 1996 as a 501c3 nonprofit organization whose mission is “enhancing children’s lives through distinguished choral music education and world-class performance.” It serves nearly 300 children, ages 5 through 20, through a sequential choral program that consists of six choirs: Concert Chorus, Advanced Chorus, Intermediate Chorus, Apprentice Chorus, Primary Chorus, and Kinder Chorus. The Concert Chorus is comprised of approximately 70 choristers primarily from grades 7 through 12, the Advanced Chorus has approximately 50 members from grades 6 through 10, the Intermediate Chorus has approximately 50 choristers from grades 4 through 6, the Apprentice Chorus has approximately 65 choristers from grades 2 and 3, the Primary Chorus is designed for children in the first grade, and the Kinder Chorus is designed for children 5 years of age.
The leadership team includes Founding Director Lori Loftus; Co-Director (Concert Chorus) Tina Peterson; Director (Advanced Chorus) Zachary Lindquist; Director (Intermediate Chorus) Dr. Ricardo Soto; Director (Apprentice Chorus) Sara Littlefield; Co-Directors (Primary Chorus and Kinder Chorus) Noelle Nielsen and Marga Gargantiel; and Administrative Director Pamela Alex. The program is tuition-based and states that it is dedicated to making its programs available to children from all economic backgrounds, providing scholarships and other forms of assistance to families in need and engaging in an array of fundraising activities. The Southern California Children’s Chorus derives a significant portion of its budget from tax-deductible contributions from the community as well as support from grant-making organizations.
The Southern California Children’s Chorus has gained international acclaim for the quality of its music education program and is the recipient of three Emmy awards. Its choruses are featured frequently at Orange County’s Segerstrom Hall, and performances have taken place at Carnegie Hall, the Sydney Opera House, Westminster Abbey, and the White House. The chorus has contributed singers for Touchstone and MGM films, television productions and commercials, orchestral, adult choral, and opera productions, rock music recordings, and many Disney events, both televised and live. Emmy-winning collaborations include a rendition of “Dream On” with Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith for ESPN’s E:60 special “Boston Strong,” and a live performance of “What a Wonderful World” with Esperanza Spalding at the 84th annual Academy Awards.
According to Henry Leck, Founder/Director of the Indianapolis Children’s Choir, “With acclaimed faculty, national and international concert tours, and appearances at Carnegie Hall, the Southern California Children’s Chorus has attained world-class performance status.”
Last updated July 13, 2026.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
The Southern California Children’s Chorus was founded in 1996 as a 501c3 nonprofit organization whose mission is “enhancing children’s lives through distinguished choral music education and world-class performance.” It serves nearly 300 children, ages 5 through 20, through a sequential choral program that consists of six choirs: Concert Chorus, Advanced Chorus, Intermediate Chorus, Apprentice Chorus, Primary Chorus, and Kinder Chorus. The Concert Chorus is comprised of approximately 70 choristers primarily from grades 7 through 12, the Advanced Chorus has approximately 50 members from grades 6 through 10, the Intermediate Chorus has approximately 50 choristers from grades 4 through 6, the Apprentice Chorus has approximately 65 choristers from grades 2 and 3, the Primary Chorus is designed for children in the first grade, and the Kinder Chorus is designed for children 5 years of age.
The leadership team includes Founding Director Lori Loftus; Co-Director (Concert Chorus) Tina Peterson; Director (Advanced Chorus) Zachary Lindquist; Director (Intermediate Chorus) Dr. Ricardo Soto; Director (Apprentice Chorus) Sara Littlefield; Co-Directors (Primary Chorus and Kinder Chorus) Noelle Nielsen and Marga Gargantiel; and Administrative Director Pamela Alex. The program is tuition-based and states that it is dedicated to making its programs available to children from all economic backgrounds, providing scholarships and other forms of assistance to families in need and engaging in an array of fundraising activities. The Southern California Children’s Chorus derives a significant portion of its budget from tax-deductible contributions from the community as well as support from grant-making organizations.
The Southern California Children’s Chorus has gained international acclaim for the quality of its music education program and is the recipient of three Emmy awards. Its choruses are featured frequently at Orange County’s Segerstrom Hall, and performances have taken place at Carnegie Hall, the Sydney Opera House, Westminster Abbey, and the White House. The chorus has contributed singers for Touchstone and MGM films, television productions and commercials, orchestral, adult choral, and opera productions, rock music recordings, and many Disney events, both televised and live. Emmy-winning collaborations include a rendition of “Dream On” with Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith for ESPN’s E:60 special “Boston Strong,” and a live performance of “What a Wonderful World” with Esperanza Spalding at the 84th annual Academy Awards.
According to Henry Leck, Founder/Director of the Indianapolis Children’s Choir, “With acclaimed faculty, national and international concert tours, and appearances at Carnegie Hall, the Southern California Children’s Chorus has attained world-class performance status.”
Last updated July 13, 2026.
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