By Daniel Buckwalter

Children took center stage June 30 at the Oregon Bach Festival, and the sound was glorious.

This was a well-spent afternoon, and the standing ovation was genuine for the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus after its Young Men’s Ensemble, the Concert Choir and Chamber Singers — and, finally, the combined choirs — shared choral spirituals, folk music, selections from musicals, movies and more in the sanctuary of Central Lutheran Church.

All of it was free, part of OBF’s On the House series, and for those able to attend the Tuesday afternoon concert, the gift of song — fluid, strong and technically spot-on from children ages 6 to 18 years — was something to behold.

The 90-minute concert opened with the Young Men’s Ensemble, under the direction of Eric Lifland, and immediately it was the choral arrangements of old spirituals that were captivating.

This included Hush! Somebody’s Calling My Name (arranged by Brazeal W. Dennard) and Joshua Fit de Battle of Jericho (arranged by Jeffrey L. Ames).

As if  that weren’t moving enough, then there was the Concert Choir and Chambers Singers together, under the direction of LACC artistic director Fernando Malvar-Ruiz, singing a soulful version of This Little Light of Mine (arranged by Moses Hogan). Near the end of the concert, the combined ensembles teamed up with the OBF’s children’s choir, Stangeland, to sing the gospel hymn Praise His Holy Name under the direction of Stangeland leader Anton Armstrong.

Los Angeles Children’s Chorus, based in Pasadena, California, was founded in 1986 and, according to its website, now features seven choirs that sing a challenging, multi-lingual repertoire of fine choral music in the bel canto (literally beautiful singing, in Italian) style.

The chorus has performed frequently with such august musicians as the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Calder Quartet, and the Pasadena Symphony.

Timing is everything, and it was fortunate that LACC’s six-city West Coast tour perfectly lined up with the Oregon Bach Festival’s schedule. I hope —and I’m sure that everyone in attendance Tuesday afternoon felt the same way — that LACC will swing by Eugene again in future years.

The Oregon Bach Festival continues through July 12. Ticket and concert information is available at OregonBachFestival.org. More information about the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus is online at lachildrenschorus.org.