Photo Coverage: SING-ULAR SENSATIONS with RACHEL YORK

Broadway's leading lady, Rachel York (Les Miserables & Victor/Victoria), stepped in last minute for an ailing Broadway Belle, Susan Egan (Beauty & The Beast) for the standing room only crowd for VOX Femina's SING-ULAR SENSATIONS tribute to Broadway on Saturday night in Los Angele's Zipper Hall.

In the age old adage of the show must go on, Ms. York not only brought the audience to their feet with thunderous applause on more than on occasion with "Don't Rain On My Parade" (Jule Styne & Bob Merrill from Funny Girl), "I Dreamed a Dream" (Claude-Michel Schonberg & Alain Boubill from Les Miserables), and "Maybe Next Time" (John Kander & Fred Ebb from Chicago), but also left them in side splitting hysterics with brilliant impersonations of Streisand and her Broadway co-stars Julie Andrews and Liza Minnelli.

Ms. York joined VOX Femina in voice with "All That Jazz" (John Kander & Fred Ebb from Cabaret) featuring Brooke Randolph, "All I Need is the Girl" (Jule Styne & Stephen Sondheim from Gypsy) featuring Helen R. Mendoza, as well as popular WICKED selection by Stephen Schwartz including "One Short Day," "What Is This Feeling," "Defying Gravity" and "For Good" (the last in duet with Jeni Rodrigues) featuring young Glinda and Elphaba played by Summer Lichtenberg and Grace Privett-Mendoza.

Other noteworthy performances included the evenings theme "One" Sing-ular Sensation (Marvin Hamlisch, Edward Kleban, Arr. Anita Kerr from Chorus Line), "Over the Rainbow" (Harold Arlen, E.Y. Harburg, Arr. Mark Hayes from The Wizard of Oz), "Seasons of Love" (Jonathan Larson, Arr. Roger Emerson from Rent) with soloist Allie Fukushima, "Don't Tell Mama" (John Kander & Fred Ebb from Cabaret) with soloist Alyssa Cossey, "The Color Purple" (Allee Willis, Brenda Russel & Stephen Bray Arr. Rollo Dilworth from The Color Purple) with soloist Debi Tinsley and VOX's own "six merry murderesses from the LA County Jail" (featuring SuzAnne Brown, Alyssa Cossey, Consuelo Moreno, Brooke Randolph, Jeni Rodrigues, Debi Tinsley) in their rendition of "The Cell Block Tango" (John Kander & Frank Ebb from Chicago). There was also a tribute to Broadway's leading ladies that consisted of a medley of songs that historically stopped the show including "Sound of Music," "Adlelaide's Lament," and "Dont Cry for Me." Argentina (Arr. Mac Huff) with soloist Teri Masters and Marcela Pan.

During the evening, a moment of sad and sorrowful silence was given due to the recent passing of CA equality bashing Proposition 8, that was followed by dedications to ALL members of the audience in relationships and in love with "You Could Drive A Person Crazy" (Stephen Sondheim from Company) with Toni Pogue, Alyssa Cossey and Janet Joe and, despite the shadow of despair, a humorous rendition of "Getting Married Today" (Stephen Sondheim from Company) with soloists: Michele Botz, Jeni Rodrigues, Helen R. Mendoza that gave tribute to the human spirit and its ability to over come adversity and prejudice. On hand to support both VOX and the community was No on Prop 8 champion Gloria Allred and 26 year veteran of The Young and The Restless Kate Linder.

VOX Femina is under the Artistic Direction of Boston, Massachusetts native, Dr. Iris S. Levine. Receiving her Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Choral Music from the University of Southern California in 1990, where she studied with Rodney Eichenberger and James Vail. She earned her Master of Music Degree in Choral Conducting from Temple University in Philadelphia. Currently, Dr. Levine is Department Chair and Professor of Music at California State Polytechnic University in Pomona. At Cal Poly, her responsibilities include conducting the Kellogg Chamber Singers and University Concert Choir and teaching Beginning Conducting, Choral Conducting, Choral Arranging and Music Education courses. In addition to her position with Vox Femina Los Angeles, Dr. Levine is the Artistic Director for the Stephen S. Wise Master Chorus and the ACDA Western Division Repertoire and Standards Chair for Women's Choirs. She is frequently invited to appear as a guest clinician and adjudicator for high school festivals throughout California.

Vox Femina Los Angeles is a women's choral ensemble dedicated to the performance of quality choral literature with an emphasis on music by women composers. VFLA is a family of diverse women who are lesbian, bisexual and heterosexual. Through music VFLA celebrates women and builds bridges within and beyond the lesbian and gay communities.

The organization was founded in January 1997 by Dr. Iris S. Levine and Stacey L. Poston. When the 21 founding members of Vox Femina Los Angeles (VFLA) first appeared on stage as guest artists in April 1997. their much-heralded debut added a sparkling new dimension to the cultural life of the greater Los Angeles metropolitan region. Since its inception, Vox Femina Los Angeles has attained a level of musical excellence, community support and financial stability that may well be unequaled in any other chorus in such a short period of time.

Since that time, VFLA has quickly established itself as one of the premier women's choruses in the United States with a demonstrated ability to perform highly eclectic repertoire, some of which can be heard on several recordings. It has actively fulfilled its mission through an aggressive schedule of performances, touring and educational outreach . VFLA has demonstrated its support and encouragement of living composers through commissioning new works.

Funded through grants and private donations, VFLA has ended every year since its inception in a positive financial position. VFLA operates on a July-June fiscal year with auditions being held every August.

Photo Credits: KAWABORI PHOTOGRAPHY