SAN DIMAS/LA VERNE – Rich harmonies and melodious joy echoed through the University of Redland’s Memorial Chapel in November, heralding the Southern California Vocal Association’s (SCVA) annual Southern California Regional Honor Choirs performances, which featured 31 Bonita Unified vocalists among the 250-member choirs – 29 from Bonita High School and two from San Dimas High School.

This is the second consecutive year that Bonita Unified singers have dominated the SCVA Honor Choirs, highlighting the success of the District’s Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) program, which encourages students to begin studying music in fourth grade, then provides them with top-level instruction throughout elementary, middle, and high school.

“Having so many students recognized at this level is a tremendous honor,” Bonita High Choir Director Ryan Yoder said. “The selections highlight the rising excellence of our choral program and our students. Their achievements shine a spotlight on the exceptional music education offered within Bonita Unified.”

The SCVA Regional Honor Choirs bring together the best and brightest talent from San Diego to Santa Barbara for three days of intense rehearsals and a series of elite showcase concerts. From audition to performance, it is a demanding process, but the opportunity to sharpen their skills, connect with their peers, and perform at historic venues makes the experience a memorable one for the students.

“I am excited about the diversity of our students’ musical interests and abilities,” San Dimas Choir Director Jared Pugh said. “That they are able to achieve success and recognition at these honor level ensembles really puts San Dimas High Choir on the choral cultural map.”

Bonita High senior Lizzie Navarro was selected for the Honor Choir for the second time. Navarro, a Soprano 1, has been singing since she was a young girl, inspired by her mother.

“My mom used to sing to me, so I joined her and stuck with it,” Navarro said. “Being in the Honor Choir is a great way to make friends. It’s more than just a vocal group; it’s a family of artists working together. That’s what I love the most about Honor Choir.”

For Bonita High senior Alexander Hill, a Bass singer also selected to Honor Choir for the second time, the rigor of rehearsals with new directors and unfamiliar faces makes the performances even more thrilling.

“Honor Choir is a full commitment, and it’s great to be part of a group where everybody is working so hard,” Hill said. “You’re given the music, which you must prepare for on your own, then you start the rehearsals and see how all the pieces build. This is the most exciting part for me, working with the entire group to make the music come alive.”

San Dimas High junior Leanne Flores was selected by the SCVA for the third straight year, and chosen for the Honor Jazz Choir for the second year in a row, performing at SCVA’s Honor Jazz Choir performance at Valencia High School on Nov. 14. Over the years Flores’ voice has increased its range, moving from Alto to Soprano 2. Flores loves making connections through the Honor Choir and learning new arrangements.

“You meet so many people, and they become your friends. You also meet new instructors and learn new techniques,” Flores said. “For Honor Jazz Choir I worked with vocal directors John Knutson and Christine Tavares-Mocha, who are amazing. We sang a version of ‘Sing Sing Sing’ that was inspired by an arrangement by the group NY Voices, which I loved.”

San Dimas High sophomore Christian Figueroa, a Tenor, was selected to the Honor Choir after singing an Italian aria during his audition. For Figueroa, his most memorable moments were experiencing Memorial Chapel for the first time and seeing the sheet music transformed into performance.

“The chapel was so beautiful, and the acoustics are amazing,” Figueroa said. “I joined the choir in sixth grade and really liked it. Honor Choir is great because everyone is so nice and it’s great to be able to share your passion for music with musicians at this level.”

PHOTOS

BUSD_SCVA_2025_1: Bonita Unified students are all smiles after performing with the Southern California Vocal Association’s (SCVA) Honor Choirs in November.

BUSD_SCVA_2025_2: San Dimas High School junior Leanne Flores performs with the SCVA Honor Jazz Choir. This is Flores’ third consecutive selection for SCVA’s Honor Choirs.