Camarillo, CA - Elementary school children from throughout the Pleasant Valley School District will join the CSU Channel Islands (CI) Choir in an internationally themed spring concert for the public. “Songs from Around the World” will unite the voices of the CSU Channel Islands Choir and the Pleasant Valley School District (PVSD) Chorus for one performance on Sunday, May 4, at 4 p.m. at St. Columba's Episcopal Church, 1251 Las Posas Road, Camarillo. Admission is free, but a $20 donation is suggested to help support the PVSD Chorus.

The third, fourth and fifth grade students of PVSD Chorus practice each week after school, pursuing musical education that is no longer provided directly by the school district due to reduced funding. Their rehearsals culminate in a performance with the Channel Islands Choir, which is their sponsor. Their annual concert this year will focus on folk songs from around the world.

“We're so pleased that this program, funded by donations from the Channel Islands Choir, is able to help fill the gap in vocal music education that exists in the public school system today,” said Lisa Barra, instructor for the PVSD Chorus.

“We’re thrilled to share the stage with these young performers and play a role in their musical education,” said Dr. KuanFen Liu, Artistic Director for the Channel Islands Choir and Performing Arts faculty member at CI. “Music is an integral part of a well-rounded education that boosts students’ success in all areas of their life. It nurtures teamwork, self-discipline, confidence, and emotional IQ, and is one of the few subjects that uses both sides of the brain.”

The music sung by the Channel Islands Choir will complement the PVSD chorus' international theme, with pieces ranging from English madrigals to Canadian nature tunes and Taiwanese folk songs.

“This concert showcases how well the human voice can adapt to the different cultural influences, tones and requirements of each piece,” Liu said. “I'm particularly delighted that the choir is presenting two well-known folk tunes from Taiwan, my home country. In the Taiwanese culture, love and affection are expressed in a manner that’s intense but also much more reserved, which is a departure from today’s pop culture.”

Visit www.cicachoir.org, or contact Nina Ruhland at egruhland@aol.com or 805-914-4589, for more information.

About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands (CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI’s strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master’s degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more about CI by visiting CI’s Social Media.