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2026 ACDA Western Region Conference March 4-7, 2026 San Jose, California

Performing Choirs

California State University-Fullerton Cantabella Children’s Chorus
Concert Choir

Cantabella Children’s Chorus was founded in 1992
by Bee Chow in her Livermore living room with elev-
en young singers. Inspired by Zoltán Kodály’s philos-
ophy that the voice should be every child’s first instru-
The California State University Fullerton Concert ment, Bee aimed to create a local choral community
Choir is a fifty-five-voice auditioned, mixed ensemble for her own children, then ages six and eight. With an
comprising primarily students studying voice in the MME from the University of Iowa and certifications
School of Music. The ensemble gives a number of per- in Kodály and Suzuki methods, she built Cantabella
formances in Southern California every year and has into an award-winning program serving over 250 sing-
also toured in Canada, Europe, and the United States. ers from kindergarten through high school. Under her
The choir has had the privilege of performing under leadership, the chorus has performed internationally
the batons of John Williams and Gustavo Dudamel at and earned accolades such as the Grand Prix at the
the Hollywood Bowl, performing numerous times with 2019 World Youth Choral Festival in South Korea. Bee
Andrea Bocelli, and singing other professional engage- Chow now serves as director emeritus, continuing to
ments across the region. inspire the next generation of musicians.

Christopher Peterson teaches at Cal State Clement Cano holds a BM (voice) from
Fullerton. He is a conductor, author, and San José State University and is pursuing
arranger of music and books published an MME. With over twenty years of ex-
in the United States and globally. In his perience, he has served as choir manag-
over thirty-five years as a music educator, er, pit musician, accompanist, baritone,
he has taught in public school, church, community, and and musical theater director. He began singing in 1991
collegiate settings. He earned a BME at the University with Saringhimig and joined the SJSU Choraliers in
of Southern Maine, the MM in choral conducting at 1995 under Dr. Charlene Archibeque, later serving as
the University of Maine, and a PhD in music education section leader and assistant conductor. Cano has per-
and choral conducting at The Florida State University. formed at festivals worldwide. He is currently director
He has been invited to teach, judge, and conduct choirs of musical arts at Hillbrook School and music director
in more than thirty US states, five Canadian provinces, at St. Joseph’s Cathedral. He conducted Elaine Hagen-
and nine countries and has conducted all-state choirs berg’s Illuminare at Carnegie Hall in June 2025. Out-
across the nation. His textbook Resonance: The Art of the side of music, he loves video games, anything Disney,
Choral Music Educator is used across the United States to and cooking videos; as a longtime hockey player, he is
train future choral music teachers and conductors. proud to still have all his teeth.

CHORAL JOURNAL January 2026 Volume 66 Number 5 179