Heidi Valencia Vas

THOUSAND OAKS, CA - Music faculty members Angela Hicks and Heidi Valencia Vas will present a free concert at California Lutheran University on Saturday, Oct. 26.

“From Sea to Shining Sea: A celebration of our musical heritage” will be presented at 7:30 p.m. in Samuelson Chapel.

The program will explore music of the American experience featuring compositions by Aaron Copland, Jake Heggie, Libby Larsen and Andre Previn along with patriotic favorites. This celebration of the “Land of the Free and Home of the Brave” features texts by American poets, Wild West heroines and Civil War soldiers. Jessica Helms and Kevin Stoller will accompany on piano.

Vas will sing “America,” which appears on her new studio album, “Shades,” which will be available on iTunes later this month. Her new vocal technique textbook titled “Finding your Voice: A Guidebook for Singers” is due out on iBooks at the end of the year.

A master teacher and recording artist, Vas has numerous opera, recital and oratorio credits, and has been featured in summer stock and regional and off-Broadway theatrical productions. The Thousand Oaks resident has been a soloist with The Los Angeles Baroque Orchestra and made guest appearances with many groups including the Masterworks Chorale. She currently tours with her ensemble and is music director at La Reina High School in Thousand Oaks.

Vas and Hicks are co-founding directors of the CLU Summer Vocal Institute. Both are members of Areté Vocal Ensemble, a professional ensemble in residence at CLU.

Hicks has performed many leading and secondary roles in opera and musical theater both in the United States and abroad. The mezzo-soprano is an avid recitalist in the Southern California area, and can be heard in various film projects. When not on stage, the Canyon Country resident shares her love of singing through teaching. She is the founding director of the CLU Opera Scenes Program and is the vocal music director for the musical theater program. She earned a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from Pepperdine University and a master’s degree in music from the University of Southern California.

Donations will be accepted.

The chapel is located south of Olsen Road near Campus Drive on the Thousand Oaks campus. For more information, call the Music Department at 805-493-3306 or visit http://www.callutheran.edu.