Anne Akiko Meyers: Beloved

Billy Childs: In the Arms of the Beloved (1923)
Eric Whitacre: Seal Lullaby (2023)
Ola Gjeilo: Serenity (2024)

Billy Childs’ In the Arms of the Beloved conveys a profound message of hope, eternal love and resilience, and is especially poignant in the wake of the devastation from the fires that decimated the beautiful communities of Altadena and the Palisades. That this work is rooted in the very land—Southern California—that endured such hardship adds an extra layer of emotional depth, making it not just an incredible composition, but a collective expression of grief and renewal.

The collaboration of such remarkable artists—Billy Childs, Dan Chmielinski, Christian Euman, Grant Gershon, Ola Gjeilo, Larry Koonse, Lyris Quartet, Carol Robbins, Luciana Souza, Eric Whitacre and the Los Angeles Master Chorale, truly speaks to the power of community. Each of these musicians brings their own unique voice, yet together create a harmonious blend that resonates beyond sound. The music is a balm for the soul, a way to honor the bravery of the firefighters and frontline workers, the many families who’ve been affected by the fires, helping them process their pain and find moments of peace amidst the chaos.