As Providence grows in student body size, so do many of the co-curricular opportunities offered by the institution. One area that Providence continues to expand and highlight is the music program, as many gifted students arrive on campus each year. Last year, fittingly, students indicated interest in forming an instrumental ensemble with the long-term goal of creating a band or orchestra; the college responded by appointing an instructor, who brought the group together this fall. The founders of this instrumental group began rehearsals in September, with all the instruments necessary to play a variety of music including jazz, hymns, and contemporary pieces. The instrumental ensemble includes trumpets, trombone, alto saxophone, piano, and guitar. They will perform their inaugural set on Sunday, October 25, joining the Chamber Singers during the evening service at 6:00 PM at First Chino United Reformed Church,  6159 Riverside Dr, Chino, CA.

Both the instrumental ensemble and the Chamber Singers of Providence are under the direction of Visiting Professor of Music and Theatre, Christina Bristow. Professor Bristow’s full-time occupation is performing as a soprano with the Los Angeles Master Chorale.  Some of the highlights from her time with the LAMC include performance as the soprano soloist for Handel’s Messiah and completing a successful summer Hollywood Bowl season with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Highlights included Mendelsohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream conducted by maestro Gustavo Dudamel and Verdi’s La Traviata. Bristow also has had the opportunity to sing in her first feature film soundtrack, Pixels. While finding time in her busy music career is hard to do, Professor Bristow gives voice lessons to several Providence students who greatly benefit from her training and expertise.

The Chamber Singers have a long history at Providence and have been in existence from the very beginning of the college. Providence enjoys several students each year who come from high schools with excellent choral and music programs, and the most elite of these students form the Chamber Singers. A small yet powerful ensemble of performers, the Chamber Singers perform in a number of churches, fine art nights, and in various concerts each season. Each year begins with a learning intensive retreat followed by twice a week practices to perfect and memorize a wide variety of performance pieces.

Other music opportunities at Providence include private piano lessons from Dr. Lawrence Mumford, whose experience includes music published by eight different companies. His works include pieces for orchestra, chamber groups, film, choir, and voice (both classical and popular). In addition, many students are finding a place to use their musical gifts on the worship teams that lead chapel twice weekly.

Providence will soon be rolling out a new music scholarship for Fall 2016 applicants. Music scholarships are available for qualified students who audition and participate in performing ensembles.  To be notified of this additional scholarship opportunity on its release date, fill out the interest form here: Information Request Form.