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About the Choirs

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The Torrance
Civic Chorale

The Chorale has provided the South Bay with exceptional choral music, instruction and cultural enhancements since 1961. With 90+ singers, the auditioned Chorale is sponsored by the Cultural Services Division of the Community Services Department at the City of Torrance and meets 7:30-9:30 pm Mondays, and as needed.

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Since its humble beginnings in 1961, the Torrance Civic Chorale has grown to between 90 and 100 singers. Members come from the surrounding South Bay communities and encompass all age groups from young adults to people with over 50 years’ vocal music experience. The Chorale represents professions in aerospace, banking and investments, education, parenting, military, medical, governmental social services, professional antique dealers, students, retirees, and church employees. The choristers’ diversities span Japan, China, Chile, England, the Philippines, Spain, Korea, Scandinavia, France, Ireland, Germany, Italy, Greece, Scotland, Middle East and Central America.

The Chorale is under the sponsorship of the Cultural Services Division in the Community Services Department of the City of Torrance. Orchestras, bands, instrumental ensembles, and individual musicians are engaged to perform with the Chorale as needed. The Chorale is under the direction of Dr. Edward Trimis.

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The group’s musical repertoire varies widely from the classics to ancient ballads, pop tunes and Broadway musicals to newly composed masterworks. In Fall 2018, the Chorale premiered Daniel Newman-Lessler’s latest composition, E-mu-nah.

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The full choir performs three major concerts per year, two in December and one in April, all held at the beautiful James R. Armstrong Theater in Torrance. Additional events include somewhat smaller groups performing for community outreach and holiday/social occasions around the South Bay, such as the Torrance Memorial Holiday Festival and the City of Torrance’s 45th anniversary Sister City event with Kashiwa, Japan. Their international choral travel has spanned Europe, Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong, and Canada and in November, 2018 performed the works of Randol Bass at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

The Jazz Singers

The Torrance Civic Vocal Jazz Ensemble (AKA The Jazz Singers) rehearse weekly Mondays from 5:15-7:15 pm. The TCVJE is a separate choir class supported by the City of Torrance and all members must register for the class. Singers may sing in both TCC and TCVJE or choose one of them. There is no requirement to be in both groups. The Jazz Singers perform in several programs throughout the year including concerts with the TCC, jazz festivals, jazz night events, and more.

Meet the Team

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Dr. Edward Trimis

Artistic Director and Conductor

Dr. Edward Trimis (BA, MA, EdD), has held several teaching and administrative positions in Los Angeles at all levels and has been responsible for many reforms and innovative music and arts programs in schools featured in several newspapers and local and national journals, has been an adjunct professor at several colleges and universities including USC and Pasadena City College, is a highly sought after presenter at local, state-wide, and national conferences, and frequently serves the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) as a visiting team chair. Dr. Trimis has directed choral groups at all levels for the last 44 years in Los Angeles. Trimis is proud member of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), the Southern California Vocal Association (SCVA), the Jazz Educators Network (JEN), the American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers (ASMAC), and the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP). When he is not directing one of the Torrance city vocal groups, you may find Dr. Trimis writing music, creating podcasts, spending time with his wife, 4 adult kids and their spouses and 7 grandchildren, or taking in shows at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre or the Hollywood Bowl. 

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Mr. Bradley Hampton

Pianist and Assistant Director

Bradley is a vocal harmony nut! Bradley has shared the stage with great vocal groups such as: Rockapella, The Nylons, The House Jacks, The Blenders, The Drifters, The Bobs, The Knudsen Bros., The Manhattan Transfer, The Real Group, Jon Schmidt (of the Piano Guys), Jon Secada, Weird Al, and many other wonderful vocal ensembles and soloists. He is the music director, a singer, and arranger for the internationally award-winning a cappella group SoundStage. Bradley holds a BA in Music Education (with an emphasis in Composition) from CSU, San Bernardino, and a Master’s degree in Commercial Music (Composition and Arranging) CSU, Los Angeles. In 2021, Bradley was given a full-time position as director of the vocal ensembles and music theory professor at Cypress College. His award-winning vocal arrangements have been sung by numerous vocal groups around the world. You may have heard his radio jingles played on “The Tim Conway Jr. Show”, KIIS FM, or as promo for the hit a cappella movie “Pitch Perfect”. When not composing, arranging, or directing he plays the piano accompanying various choirs, chorales, singers and instrumentalists. He has accompanied or music directed over 70 musical theatre productions, several of those being here in Torrance. He is excited to be joining the Torrance vocal ensembles this Fall term. Other interests include puppets, trees, flowers, fruit, and birds. His friends know to say “no” when Bradley needs help moving, because of the heavy lifting of dozens of boxes of books on birds from everywhere in the world. Bradley loves spending time with his wife, Jammie, and three daughters, Kayla, Coral, and Daphne.

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