Laguna Beach Chamber Singers

The Laguna Beach Chambers Singers’ mission is to serve as a conduit of joy, enriching the lives of our community through artistic excellence and creative programming. We engage and inspire a broad audience through captivating and impactful choral performances.

Founded in 2008 by conductor Christin Cornell, the Laguna Beach Chamber Singers (LBCS) started as a dedicated group of musicians with a shared passion for choral music. As we grew in talent and numbers, we officially became a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in 2014, governed by a committed board of directors. Under the leadership of past directors Cory Winter and Victor De La Cruz, we expanded our reach and repertoire.

With Dr. Ryan R. Brown as our Artistic Director, LBCS is thriving, bringing together a diverse membership from Orange and Los Angeles counties. We continue to deliver eclectic and engaging performances, aiming to connect with a wider audience and enrich our community through the power of music.

The Laguna Beach Chamber Singers (LBCS) is committed to delivering inspiring choral music performed with elite artistry. As a change agent in the arts, we provide high-level performance opportunities while leveraging a vast increase in digital reach to ensure the rich traditions of classical music remain vibrant, solvent, and accessible to a rapidly diversifying community.

Impact on Performers: LBCS provides a disciplined, professional environment that fosters both artistic excellence and intergenerational mentorship. By integrating 50+ high school students into our rehearsals and offering specialized Conducting Scholarships, we have transformed our ensemble into a professional pipeline. For our singers, the process of collaborative growth is as significant as the performance, bridging the gap between established vocalists and the next generation of talent.

Impact on the Community: LBCS enhances Laguna Beach’s identity as a “music city,” complementing its historical reputation for excellence in the visual arts. Our impact is quantifiable: we achieved a 300% surge in new patron acquisition this season, with over half of our digital engagement coming from the 25–34 demographic. Our work, performed without electronic amplification or enhancement, showcases true vocal artistry and contributes significantly to the cultural richness of both Laguna Beach and Orange County.

Our Vision for the Future: For those who believe classical music is a thing of the past, LBCS invites you to witness our transformation. Our data proves that we are changing minds and building new audiences. Though our core ensemble is specialized, our passion and professionalized infrastructure allow us to deliver high-impact programs that have earned LBCS recognition as a cornerstone of the regional arts ecosystem.

The Laguna Beach Chamber Singers is currently at a transformative juncture. In the 2025–2026 season, we achieved a 300% surge in new patron acquisition, a 91% increase in quarterly ticket revenue, and a 5,000% expansion in digital reach. To sustain this momentum and fulfill our mission as an intergenerational "change-maker," we have identified the following critical needs:

Administrative Capacity: LBCS operates on a volunteer-dependent model. However, our rapid growth, including the integration of 50+ high school students into our performance roster, has exceeded our current volunteer capacity. We have an immediate need for professional administrative support to manage the complex logistics of school district partnerships, student mentorship programs, and organizational compliance. This infrastructure is vital to ensure our Artistic Director can focus exclusively on musical excellence and youth instruction.

System Integration & Donor Stewardship: While we utilize efficient digital tools (SquareSpace and Ticket Tailor), we lack the administrative man-hours to integrate these into a cohesive donor-tracking system. With 82% of our recent audience being new to the organization, our need is to move beyond simple transactions. We must invest in the labor and workflows required to nurture these new patrons, especially student families, and convert them into long-term sustaining donors through professional stewardship.

Sustainable Outreach & Educational Access: Our modern outreach strategy currently delivers a $5.40 return for every $1 spent, proving that our model is highly efficient. To reach our goal of becoming a fully intergenerational ensemble, we need bridge funding to maintain this digital visibility. This support ensures we can continue to offer professional-level master classes and choral mentorship to local youth at no cost to the students, removing socioeconomic barriers to quality arts education.

Orange County

As a founding member of the Laguna Beach Chamber Singers, I have had the privilege of watching this ensemble grow from a small group of passionate musicians into a cornerstone of the Orange County arts community for over a decade. My goal as President is to ensure that our organizational infrastructure is as refined and professional as the music we perform on stage.

We are currently focused on three strategic pillars: Artistic Excellence, Digital Transformation, and Community Accessibility. By leveraging modern systems and maintaining a tech-forward approach to our operations, we are building a sustainable foundation that allows our singers and Artistic Director, Dr. Ryan R. Brown, to focus on what they do best: creating transformative musical experiences. We aren't just performing concerts; we are preserving the heritage of choral music while innovating for a new generation of listeners in Laguna Beach and beyond.

We are currently in a period of exciting growth, welcoming fresh talent and expanding our reach across Southern California. By blending modern operational systems with the timeless beauty of the human voice, we are ensuring that the Laguna Beach Chamber Singers remains a vibrant, innovative, and accessible resource for our community for years to come.

Warm regards,

Jacoby Hickerson
President
Laguna Beach Chamber Singers