The Los Angeles Clarinet Choir: Clarinet Fiesta!
Dr. Margaret Thornhill, Founder
Victoria Ramos Dresel, Conductor
E-flat Sopranino: David Myer
Principal Soprano: Christin Hablewitz
Sopranos: Rigo Carrillo, Julia Damron, Ryan Espinosa, Joel Nalewajek,
Michael Salas
Alto: Joel Kabakoff
Principal Bass: Steve Hongsik Park
Bass: Daryl Golden, Karen Zelazo
Contrabass: Jose Moreno
The Los Angeles Clarinet Choir returns to HMC with a sizzling program of original works and arrangements from Latin America for clarinet ensemble, including favorites by Zequinha de Abreu, Lorenzo Barcelata, Astor Piazzolla, Álvaro Carrillo, and more.
Sunday, October 26, 7 p.m.
Drinkward Recital Hall
Members of the Los Angeles Clarinet Choir. Photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Clarinet Choir.
PROGRAM
Tico-Tico
Zequjinha de Abreu
(1880-1935)
(1880-1935)
(1952-2021)
El Cascabel
Lorenzo Barcelata
(1898-1943)
arr. Christin Hablewitz
(b. 1969)
(1898-1943)
arr. Christin Hablewitz
(b. 1969)
Danza del Trigo from “Estancia”
Alberto Ginastera
(1916-1983)
arr. Carlos A. Herrera
(present)
(1916-1983)
arr. Carlos A. Herrera
(present)
Libertango
Astor Piazzolla
(1921-1992)
arr. Bart Picquer
(b. 1972)
(1921-1992)
arr. Bart Picquer
(b. 1972)
INTERMISSION
Registro de Pajarillo
Jorge Montilla
(b. 1970)
(b. 1970)
David Myer, soloist
Ternura
K. Ximbinho
(1917-1980)
arr. Christin Hablewitz
(b. 1969)
(1917-1980)
arr. Christin Hablewitz
(b. 1969)
Victoria Ramos Dresel, Joel Nalewajek, Julia Damron, Christin Hablewitz
Pinotepa
Álvaro Carrillo
(1919-1969)
arr. Johnny Miguel
(present)
(1919-1969)
arr. Johnny Miguel
(present)
Veracruz!
Jose Oliver Riojas
(1982-2020)
arr. Matt Johnston
(present)
(1982-2020)
arr. Matt Johnston
(present)
Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2025-26, the Los Angeles Clarinet Choir is internationally known as one of the finest clarinet ensembles in North America. In 2025, Victoria Ramos Dresel became the group's Principal Conductor, after serving for 15 years as Principal Clarinet and Associate Director. The LACC has a history of commissioning and premiering new original works and arrangements for this unique instrumentation, and in 2025 continues with this mission in a new program of popular and concert music by Mexican and Latin American composers. This past June, the group performed at the International Clarinet Association ClarinetFest©2025 in Dallas-Fort Worth.
Founded in in 2005 by Dr. Margaret Thornhill, the 13-member ensemble has an extensive performance history, including featured appearances at five International ClarinetFests© in Vancouver, Los Angeles, Austin, Orlando, and Knoxville, and concerts throughout Southern California in partnership with other nonprofit organizations including colleges, school districts, museums, libraries, churches, arts organizations, and retirement communities.
LACC's list of composer collaborations includes Edward Cansino, Matti Kovler, Erol Gurol, David Avshalomov, Barry Brisk, Mike Curtis, Christin Hablewitz, and James McMillen, as well as many talented arrangers, represented on this program by Christin Hablewitz, Mike
Johnston, and Carlos Herrera.
Victoria Ramos Dresel, Conductor
Victoria Ramos Dresel became the Principal Conductor after serving for 15 years as Principal Clarinet and Associate Director. She is the Director of Bands at Carmenita Middle School in Cerritos, and previously held the same position at Artesia High School in Lakewood.
She holds the MM degree in Music Education from the University of Southern California where she also pursued doctoral work and taught music education courses in the Flora L. Thornton School of Music. Ramos Dresel studied clarinet with Yehuda Gilad and David Howard at USC and also with Dr. David Ross as an undergraduate at The University of Texas at El Paso.
HMC is deeply grateful for the generous support that created The Ken Stevens ’61 Founding Class Concert Series.