Cal Lutheran Music Department

08/20/2026

🎻 CLU Orchestra Auditions! 🎻
Calling all CLU students who play violin, viola, cello, or double bass! Come make music with us this fall. Orchestra membership is encouraged for both music majors and non-music majors!
Live auditions: Monday, August 24
👉 Sign up for a live audition: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GzuxA_MQwKe5whaLDJ62slJUsWC1JgJ6hk5kOWLVrfE/edit?usp=drivesdk
Audition music & information:
👉 https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1FyzZVcCybJMt5I0eAKBZDLt8QLhtWOrb
Video audition / Orchestra membership: Friday, August 28
👉 Sign up and submit a video audition: https://forms.gle/pPbMrbr7kW28S5NMA
Questions? Contact the conductor, Dr. Thornton, at [email protected].
We’d love to have you join us! 🎶

08/05/2026

The Music Department is excited to announce the appointment of Dr. Adan Alejandro Fernandez as Interim Director of Choral Activities for the upcoming 2026–27 academic year! In addition to his work as Cal Lutheran's Campus Organist since 2019, Dr. Fernández has an extensive and accomplished background as a choral conductor.
Learn more about Dr. Fernández here: https://www.callutheran.edu/faculty/profile.html?id=aafernandez

Congratulations, Dr. Fernández!

The Music Department will be conducting a search this year for a permanent Director of Choral Activities to begin in Fall 2027 to replace Dr. Basili, who has decided to move closer to his family.

04/30/2026

Senior Choir Concert this Friday, 7:00 pm. at Ascension Lutheran Church! Don't miss our seniors' farewell concert! It will be a very special evening of choral singing.

04/29/2026

We did not want to miss the opportunity to share with all of you some pictures of last evening's First Annual Choir Invitational: "Voices of the Valley."

The evening began with Los Cerritos Middle School, directed by Grant Goldstein, continued with Chaminade College Preparatory High School, directed by Lauren Suchy, was followed by the Los Robles Children’s Choir, directed by Emma Rouch, and concluded with our own CLU choir, directed by Franco Basili, and the Kingsmen Quartet.

Don't miss our second edition next year!

Our CLU choir student, Pablo Sandoval, took the pictures! (Thank you, Pablo).

03/06/2026

What are you doing on Sunday at 2:00 pm? Come and listen to our Cal Lutheran students performing at the Samuelson Chapel! Rheinberger's Stabat Mater is a jewel!
Also, Adan Alejandro Fernandez will be playing the new harpsichord donated by Carol Bartell! It is beautiful.

02/06/2026

The reknown Swedich choral conductor, Cecilia Rydinger, is coming to Southern California and is visiting us at California Lutheran University 😃!! We are very excited to welcome her and see her working with our students.

If you are in the area on February 27 and want to see her in action, feel free to register for free! Choir teachers and singers are more than welcome!

The community is invited to watch Cecilia Rydinger, renowned choral and orchestral conductor, work with our university choirs and conducting students, leading rehearsals and masterclasses in the Music Department.

10/06/2025

🎶 Congratulations to our student musicians!
We’re so proud of Graciela Herrera (violin), Ava Watanabe (violin), and Julian Perez (double bass) for performing with the New West Symphony over the weekend in their “Best of Beethoven” concerts!

Students from across Ventura County were invited to join the orchestra for this special collaboration, and our CLU musicians represented the university beautifully. 💜🎻

09/25/2025

Tonight: Monetizing Your Craft!

Don’t forget — Monetizing Your Craft: How to Make Money as a Songwriter with Tracey & Vance Marino is tonight, Thursday, Sept. 25 at 6 PM in Overton Hall (HUM 133)!

Tracey & Vance have placed over 3,000 tracks in TV, film, commercials, and more! Come learn their insider tips on sync licensing and turning your music into income.

Light snacks provided.
If you haven’t already, please RSVP by emailing [email protected].

See you there!