The Angel City Chorale is set to bring its holiday concerts to UCLA's Royce Hall this December, featuring more than 160 singers, an orchestra, and a toy drive benefiting families served by Homeboy Industries. The Los Angeles-based choir will present two performances, titled "Unwrap the Holidays," giving Southern Californians a chance to kick off the season with a mix of familiar tunes and less traditional arrangements.
The performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. on Saturday, December 5, and 3 p.m. on Sunday, December 6. For those unable to make it to the Westwood campus, organizers have confirmed that Sunday's performance will also be streamed live.
Under the direction of founder and Artistic Director Sue Fink, the chorale, accompanied by the Angel City Chorale Orchestra, will navigate a wide-ranging program. The selection includes traditional Christmas and Hanukkah music, gospel, classical compositions, and contemporary arrangements. Attendees can expect holiday standards such as “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” “O Come All Ye Faithful,” “Angels We Have Heard on High,” and “O Holy Night.”
Beyond the usual holiday fare, the program will feature Lauridsen’s “O Nata Lux” and Norman Hutchins’ gospel work “He Has Come.” Other selections include “Hine Ma Tov,” “My Christmas Prayer,” and “Bohemian Chanukah,” a holiday-themed interpretation of a Queen classic. The concerts will also include audience participation, with sing-alongs planned for “Winter Wonderland,” “Frosty the Snowman,” and “Let It Snow.” Young voices will also join the stage, as the Angel City Youth Chorale is scheduled to perform independently and alongside the adult choir for portions of the program.
A key component of the holiday concerts is the toy drive. Concertgoers are encouraged to bring new, unwrapped toys for a collection that will directly benefit families connected with Homeboy Industries. This Los Angeles-based nonprofit is known for its work providing job training, support services, and other assistance to individuals who are rebuilding their lives.
Founded by Sue Fink in 1993 with an initial group of 18 singers meeting at McCabe’s Guitar Shop in Santa Monica, the Angel City Chorale has since grown significantly to more than 180 members. Over its three decades, the nonprofit has established a reputation for performing diverse musical genres, from classical and gospel to Broadway and pop. The chorale gained broader national attention in 2018 when it reached the semifinals of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent,” even earning a Golden Buzzer during its run. Its performance of Toto’s “Africa” from the show has since garnered more than 115 million online views.
Fink, reflecting on the upcoming concerts, noted in a statement that "The greatest gifts are the ones we create together." Her sentiment highlights the collaborative spirit central to the chorale's mission and the communal experience these holiday performances aim to offer.
Tickets for the December concerts start at $35. Further information regarding ticket purchases and details about accessing the Sunday livestream can be found through the organization’s website.
