Listen Up. The celestial voices heard on the soundtrack of Star Wars: The Last Jedi are from the DT. The Los Angeles Master Chorale, a widely recognized as the country’s leading professional choir and one of Southern California’s most vibrant cultural treasures was specifically chosen to sing on the soundtrack by the film’s legendary composer John Williams. Sixty-four singers and Grant Gershon, the Master Chorale’s Kiki and David Gindler Artistic Director, recorded vocal tracks live at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City this past April.
The Los Angeles Master Chorale rehearse at The Music Center and choir-in-residence at Walt Disney Concert Hall had been contracted individually to sing on previous Star Wars-franchise soundtracks, for this movie, Williams asked for the ensemble.
“I’ve always admired the brilliant artistry of the LA Master Chorale, and I was delighted that they and Maestro Gershon were available to lend their voices to this new Star Wars score,” said Williams. “Los Angeles, and indeed the entire country, can be justifiably proud of this outstanding ensemble.”
The Los Angeles Master Chorale is comprised of 100 professional singers and positions are highly sought-after. The Master Chorale presents its own series of concerts in Disney Hall and performs with the LA Philharmonic in both Disney Hall and the Hollywood Bowl, frequently with Music Director Gustavo Dudamel.
Since its foundation in 1964, the Master Chorale has featured on numerous soundtracks but Grant Gershon said it was a particular honor to be personally invited by Williams for this engagement: “John Williams’ works are iconic, instantly recognizable, and revered throughout the universe. To be part of a film project of this magnitude and to have the experience of working with Maestro Williams here in our hometown was nothing short of thrilling.”
Gershon says there are several benefits to using the Los Angeles Master Chorale on film and television projects: “I literally audition hundreds of singers each year. The audition process for the Master Chorale is notoriously rigorous and the competition to become a member of the group is intense, so I can declare with confidence that we have the most gifted and versatile singers in Los Angeles. Additionally, our experience singing together as an ensemble makes us a lean, mean, singing machine which is invaluable in an industry where time is money.”
Other soundtracks featuring the Los Angeles Master Chorale and Gershon include Lady in the Water and License to Wed. Soundtracks the Master Chorale features on with its former Music Director, Paul Salamunovich, include A.I. Artificial Intelligence, My Best Friend’s Wedding, The Sum of All Fears, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and Waterworld. For more information visit www.lamasterchorale.org
