La Sierra production at Disney Hall brings record audience

The dramatic production titled “Oh My Son” had debuted three years earlier in New York’s Carnegie Hall and in local churches to much acclaim. Gonzalez performed as one of the featured soloists. The two friends now wanted to bring the work to the West Coast.

“Oh My Son” tells the story of Jesus of Nazareth and specifically focuses on Jesus’ relationship with his mother, Mary. It offers poignant insight into the humanity and emotions of key characters during Jesus’ ministry, death and resurrection. After months of planning, “Oh My Son” premiered first at the Loma Linda University Church on April 11 featuring musicians from La Sierra and the Loma Linda church, including Gonzalez who played the role of Jesus.

Gonzalez, a seasoned operatic tenor and performer then found himself in an entirely different role as producer and promoter for “Oh My Son” at Disney Hall. The responsibility involved organizing a chorus and orchestra and filling the iconic venue that is home to the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

On June 21, following weeks of intense grassroots publicity through the La Sierra music department, “Oh My Son” debuted at Disney Hall and attracted about 1,350 attendees. It was the La Sierra music department’s largest audience to date.

“Promoting was one of the more challenging parts of the process since “Oh My Son” is still an unknown work of sorts,” said Gonzalez. “Because of the religious nature of the work, churches were our main target audience. I, along with many of our talented La Sierra Music students, went on an eight-week tour of the Los Angeles area and visited more than 10 churches. Every weekend was booked from mid-April to the last Sabbath before the performance in June. 

Those eight weeks were intense, but also gave our students an opportunity to put their gifts to work and learn that the arts are about connections,” Gonzalez said.

The Disney Hall production showcased four acclaimed operatic soloists who have performed previously for the work, and a mass choir of more than 160 members from the La Sierra University Chamber Singers and University Chorus, Loma Linda University Church Sanctuary Choir, First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood Cathedral Choir, Lake Avenue Church Choir, and selected singers from Escondido, Loma Linda, Newbury Park, Pine Hills, Redlands and San Gabriel academy choirs. 

The production also involved a 70-member orchestra comprised of players from the La Sierra University Orchestra and Symphony Irvine. Dean Anderson, conductor of both orchestral groups, directed the Disney Hall production. It was his first appearance as conductor in the famed venue. 

“It was truly an amazing experience to conduct such a fine orchestra, choir and soloists on such a remarkable stage,” he said. “The nuances of the acoustics were truly magical.”

“It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Jill Genobaga, La Sierra alum and music director at Pine Hills Adventist Academy in Auburn, Calif. She participated in “Oh My Son” as a second soprano in the chorus as did her 16-year-old daughter, Georgia Genobaga who sang soprano. Three other Pine Hills academy students selected by Gonzalez also performed with the chorus.

“It was really cool not only to be in the choir, but to hear all the soloists,” commented Georgia. She also participated in the Montecito International Music Festival held at La Sierra July 12 – 31 studying with Grammy-winning operatic vocalist Faith Esham. 

Sara Pinto da Silva, who in June completed a performance certificate in choral conducting at La Sierra was among the La Sierra choral members who performed at Disney Hall. She also played  significant behind-the-scenes roles as coordinator of La Sierra’s singers and the academy groups, providing logistics communication on attire, performance conduct, choir seating and entrances at Disney Hall. She also drove a 16-foot truck carrying university instruments and props to Los Angeles and back on the day of the performance. 

“I believe it went really well after a few bumps in the road here and there in which I learned a lot,” Da Silva said. “I was excited from the beginning to be part of an event like this. I knew that the challenge was great, but I also knew that we were prepared for it and I had a great time.” 

Galvany, a native of Spain, was influenced as a child by the rich cultural and religious Holy Week celebrations he enjoyed as a boy in Crevillente, Spain when sculptures of Jesus and other characters were paraded through the streets on carts adorned with flowers. Years later he composed a first aria while studying music at Washington Adventist University in Takoma Park, Md. where he and Gonzalez were classmates.

The aria, “Oh My Son,” became an audience favorite when performed by Washington Adventist University’s New England Youth Ensemble and the university’s collegiate choir.  “Marcos was encouraged by many to compose a larger work around this one aria and this is how the whole work of “Oh My Son” was born,” said Gonzalez.

One of the perks of organizing the Disney Hall event involved introducing his friend, Galvany to the audience, Gonzalez said.

“More than anything, I was humbled that Marcos put his faith and trust in me and in the La Sierra Music department to produce the work here.”