A fun, welcoming, experience-first singing community for kids and teens led by caring industry professionals. Everyone is welcome!
Music Sundays
Music Sundays are a once-a-month program of First Kids First where everyone is invited to sing, dance, and connect through music. Younger voices are led by Joanna Wallfisch in more play-based music experiences called The Young Voices Club. Teens and older kids are led by Brandon Harris in a more focused rehearsal process, and prepare for regular performances throughout the year. We call this endeavor The Commonwealth, a name that refers to the communal act of creating music together. Everyone participates in the Christmas Eve pageant through a staged, music-filled play.
The Commonwealth
The Commonwealth will sing together on Sunday mornings from 11:00am-12:00pm on the following days in 2024-2025:
9/29, 10/27, 11/10, 12/1, 1/26, 2/23, 3/23, 4/6, 5/18, and 6/1.
Performances include
11/17/24 Sunday morning service
12/24/24, 5:00pm Christmas Eve Pageant
2/8, 6:00pm MLK Concert (3:00 rehearsal with dinner following)
6/1, 1:00pm Spring Concert
and other dates to be announced
The Commonwealth is a community-wide project that brings the voices of a new generation together to sing, act, dance, connect, learn, and promote the benefits of diversity & social justice in our changing world. It is a function of First Kids First, and meets once a month on Sunday mornings from 11:00-12:00. The Commonwealth is all about the fun of singing together with others. Director Brandon Harris’ inspired and singer-first energy insures that everyone feels included and valued. Commonwealth members will be invited to sing pieces they have learned at special moments throughout the year in different contexts. A select ensemble of older singers will also meet to prepare special pieces. If you are interested in knowing more about how you can be a part of this singing experience, contact Music and Arts Director David Harris by clicking the “contact” button.
Brandon Harris (he/him), Countertenor holds BA in Music Education from Cal State Fullerton and MM in Vocal Chamber Music from University of Redlands and is a singer that specializes in various styles including opera, classical, choral, jazz, gospel, R&B and pop. Brandon currently sings through out SoCal in ensembles including LA Opera Chorus, Pacific Choral, Long Beach Camerata Singers, Choral Arts Initiative, DC6, and is also a soloist through out SoCal.
David (drdavidharrismusic.org) specializes in new music, American music, and the intricacies of communication in choral singing and conducting. He is also the co-director of VoiceScienceWorks (voicescienceworks.org), a composer, a frequent performer around LA, and a regular contributor to voice and choral publications.
The Young Voices Club
The Young Voices Club is an interactive musical play space for younger kids. Renowned singer/songwriter and kids music educator Joanna Wallfisch guides exploration of musical instruments, singing, and dance in a supportive and loving environment. The Young Voices Club is about being together with other kids surrounded by music and people who care.
London born vocalist-composer, multi-instrumentalist, author and painter, Joanna Wallfisch heralds from generations of professional musicians. Since 2011 Joanna has released six albums of original music, has featured on various film soundtracks, and appears on four tracks of the 2021 chart topping record Dawn Fm, by The Weeknd.
Her gift for music encompasses her passion for both performance and for education. She strives to helps others, promoting messages of peace and community, healing and equality through the arts, via education and outreach programs. She is an early childhood music educator for non-profit Urban Voices Project and owns her own company, Little Whale Music.
Music and creativity have been integral to Joanna's life and career. World Music Report describes Joanna's songs as "quintessential heart-music by a vocalist who seems to have connected with the deepest recesses of her being emerging into brightness again with songs of haunting beauty.” Her music defies genre classification as she effortlessly imbues her songs with nuances of jazz, classical, art-song, and folk, carrying her "clear-eyed poetry" (Boston Globe) and "striking vocals" (Hothouse). Joanna’s unique musical background shines through in her own compositional style, evoking her classical routes with her love of jazz, art-song, folk and pop, pushing boundaries of genre and stylistic expectations.
Click the image to hear The Commonwealth singing “Try Everything.”
Click the image to hear The Commonwealth singing “There’s A World” from “Next To Normal”