The Pasadena Chorale will celebrate the 10th anniversary of its student-mentor composition program, “Listening to the Future,” which runs from November 2025 through May 2026.

The program, which is open to Pasadena-area high school students in grades 9–12, pairs young composers with a professional mentor, culminating in a live concert and professional recording of their original choral works performed by the Pasadena Chorale.

This year’s program will feature David García Saldaña, who teaches composition and theory at Pasadena City College, Blair High School, and Pasadena High School, as composer mentor.

Selected students will meet with García Saldaña twice a month to study choral writing, receive feedback on their works-in-progress, and prepare two original compositions, including an arrangement of an existing melody and a new work for the Chorale. The completed pieces will debut at the 10th annual Listening to the Future concert on Saturday, June 20, 2026, with each composer receiving a professional audio and video recording.

“David is a passionate and enthusiastic composer and educator, and I know he’ll bring a tremendous amount to our program this year,” said Jeffrey Bernstein, Founding Artistic & Executive Director of the Pasadena Chorale, per an official press release. “Because he teaches at two local high schools and at Pasadena City College, David is deeply connected to the community. That will not only enrich the students’ experience, but also help us engage more young composers right here in Pasadena.”

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