Join us for a special choral performance that adds a dynamic new dimension to UC Irvine Langson IMCA’s current exhibition, Common Ground: Early 20th-Century Artist Communities in Southern California. Members of the UCI Chamber Singers will present an evocative selection of choral works inspired by the themes of artistic collaboration and the natural beauty that defined California’s early 20th-century plein air movement. As you enter the gallery, harmonies will resonate with the artworks, creating an immersive experience celebrating the pioneering spirit, community, and creativity that shaped Southern California’s artistic legacy. An exhibition curator, Dada Wang, will introduce the exhibition and the performance will be followed by a brief in-gallery discussion.
DATE: April 26, 2025
TIME: 11 am
VENUE: 18881 Von Karman Avenue, Irvine, CA 92612
PARKING: Airport Tower parking structure. Parking for two hours is free with validation.
This program is free and open to all. Advance registration is not required.
Gallery stools are available in the museum.
Please email imca@uci.edu with questions or requests for accommodations.
About the Performers
Under the direction of Irene Messoloras, the UCI Chamber Singers is the flagship ensemble of UC Irvine’s choral program. Comprising40 highly talented, auditioned singers from diverse academic disciplines—including vocal performance majors—the ensemble has earned recognition for its exceptional artistry. Recently, they secured second place in the American Prize in Choral Performance and were finalists for the Ernst Bacon Award for American Music.
Renowned for their collaborations with contemporary composers, the Chamber Singers have premiered works at iconic venues such as Walt Disney Concert Hall and Carnegie Hall. Their debut professional recordings with Signum Records were released in the fall of 2024, marking a significant milestone in a season that includes national and international tours. Recent performances have taken them to Portugal (2025), New York (2024), and Ireland (2023).
This performance features a subgroup of the Chamber Singers, led by their student conductor, Michael Balerite.
About the Presenter
Dada Wang has been a Graduate Student Researcher in Langson IMCA’s Curatorial Department since 2023. She is a third-year Ph.D. student in UC Irvine's Visual Studies program and holds an M.A. in Art History from UC Davis, as well as a B.A. in Art History and Critical Theory from Macalester College. Her research examines the rhetorics of abstraction in Modern Chinese and Asian American visual culture.
About UC Irvine Jack and Shanaz Langson Institute and Museum of California Art
UC Irvine Jack and Shanaz Langson Institute and Museum of California Art (Langson IMCA) is home to two foundational gifts of California Art from The Irvine Museum and Gerald E. Buck estate. In addition, the permanent collection of more than 4,700 works from the late 19th century and early 20th century through present day continues to grow, augmented by acquisitions and gifts. The university is planning to construct a permanent museum and research institute to serve as a global magnet for the presentation and study of California Art within its social, historical, environmental, and cultural frameworks. Langson IMCA is currently located in an interim museum space at 18881 Von Karman Avenue, Suite 100, in Irvine, CA. It is open to all Tuesday through Saturday 10 am to 4 pm. Admission and parking for up to two hours are free. Follow us on Instagram @langsonimca.