Westlake Voices
Westlake Voices is home to two outstanding vocal ensembles: Westlake Harmony, our audition-only a cappella group, and Westlake Chorus, our contemporary pop choir. Together, these ensembles provide singers with opportunities to develop their musicianship, build confidence, and form lasting friendships through the joy of making music.
Compete nationally. Record professionally.
Westlake Harmony
Westlake Music Academy’s Premier A Cappella Ensemble, "Westlake Harmony" will be starting it's second season as a group this fall! Westlake Harmony is an elite vocal group for students who want to perform at a high level, compete nationally, and be part of something truly special. This past spring was our first ever season as an a cappella group and it was outstanding!
Below is all the information for students auditioning and re-auditioning to be in this years group!
The group consists of 16-18 top-notch vocalists (High Schoolers, and exceptional Middle Schoolers).
This ensemble will meet every Monday from 7:15–8:45 PM at Living Oaks Church in Newbury Park (1033 Business Center Cir, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320), starting August 10 and running through November 30 (no rehearsal on Labor Day September 7).
Key Dates for 2026-27
• December 7th at 7pm - End of Fall Concert, Location TBD
• Potential Recording Dates November 14th, December 4th.
• The WMA 5th Anniversary Concert on November 21
Beginning in August 2026, this group will continue as a full-year competitive ensemble, performing throughout the season and competing in ICHSA (International Championship of High School A Cappella) — with the possibility of advancing to finals in New York City in April.
The group is directed by Westlake Music Academy's Founder & Owner, Marcus Klotz.
Marcus holds a Master's degree in Choral Conducting from CSU Long Beach and a dual Bachelor's Degrees in Vocal Performance and Music Education from Pepperdine University. He directs the a cappella group at Moorpark College, MoorHarmony, and has over 15 years of choral directing experience. He's excited to commit himself to making WMA's a cappella group the very best they can be and creating memorable experiences for the students involved.
Tuition: $89 per month
or $330 for August–November (save $26)
First round of auditions require two videos (returning singers only need to complete #2) :
1. A solo song of your choice. It doesn't have to be a full song, needs to be at least 45 seconds long. If you are auditioning as a vocal percussionist as well, please send a sample of you beatboxing.
2. Singer must sing the Chromatic scale on solfege, a cappella. They can do it in whichever key they would like. Here's a video to practice/learn the chromatic scale.
Along with accurate pitch, we are looking for rounded, taller vowels and warm and beautiful tone.
Callbacks:
Callbacks will take place on Monday August 3rd from 7-8pm, location TBD. A list of the singers invited for callbacks will be sent out on July 27th. All vocalists will have exactly one week to prepare a piece on their harmony part. During the callback on August 3rd, singers will be expected to sing their part on their own with a quartet or octet of other singers. We are looking for preparedness, confidence, blend, vowels and great warm and tall tone.
Audition materials for the first round of auditions are due by midnight on July 24th. We will be in contact with you about the callbacks on July 27th.
Westlake Chorus
A Westlake Music Academy Ensemble
Contemporary Pop Choir • Live Band • Professional Recording Experience
Fall 2026 Registration Now Open
We're excited to announce the launch of Westlake Music Academy's first-ever Westlake Chorus!
This contemporary vocal ensemble specializes in performing pop music arranged for choir, giving students the opportunity to perform exciting, modern repertoire while developing exceptional musicianship in a fun, collaborative environment.
This fall, the choir will perform professionally arranged choral versions of:
Man I Need – Olivia Dean
Superpowers – Daniel Caesar
Choosin' Texas – Ella Langley
More selections to come!
In addition to rehearsing and performing, students will have the unique opportunity to record music for Sony Music's professional sync catalog, where recordings may be licensed for use in film, television, commercials, and other media.
Who Can Join?
Grades: 7–12 (Ages 13–18)
Exceptional 6th-grade students may be accepted on a case-by-case basis.
Placement Audition Required
To ensure balanced vocal sections and an enjoyable experience for every singer, all students must complete a simple placement audition.
Applicants should submit a 30-second to 1½-minute video of themselves singing a solo song of their choice (a cappella or with accompaniment). The audition is used for vocal placement and to help determine each singer's part within the ensemble. Videos should be submitted via email to marcusandchristy@westlakemusicacademy.com
Rehearsals
Mondays
5:30–7:00 PM
Location: Living Oaks Church
1033 Business Center Cir, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
Semester: August 10 – November 30, 2026
No rehearsal on Labor Day (Monday, September 7).
Important Fall Dates
November 21 – Westlake Music Academy 5th Anniversary Concert
Date TBD – Sony Music Professional Recording Session
December 7 at 7:00 PM – End-of-Semester Concert (Location TBD)
A Professional Recording Experience
One of the most exciting aspects of this ensemble is the opportunity to participate in professional recording sessions for Sony Music.
Westlake Music Academy teacher Colton Russell is a professional producer, songwriter, and composer whose work is featured in Sony Music's sync catalog for film and television. His music has also been heard through collaborations with Hans Zimmer, multi-platinum recording artists, American Idol, Tom Ford, PepsiCo, the NFL, the U.S. Navy, and many other major productions.
Each semester, students in the Westlake Voices Chorus will collaborate with Colton to create professional-quality recordings that become part of Sony Music's production music catalog.
This is an extraordinary opportunity that very few high school vocal programs are able to offer.
Meet the Directors
The ensemble will be directed by Marcus Klotz, Founder and Owner of Westlake Music Academy.
Marcus holds a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from California State University, Long Beach, and dual bachelor's degrees in Vocal Performance and Music Education from Pepperdine University.
He currently directs MoorHarmony, the contemporary a cappella ensemble at Moorpark College, and has more than 15 years of experience directing choirs and vocal ensembles. He also is the director of WMA's premier a cappella ensemble, Westlake Harmony.
Marcus is passionate about helping young singers grow both musically and personally while creating unforgettable performance experiences in a positive, encouraging environment.
Grant Goldstein and Isabella Duran will also be serving as directors of this ensemble(their info and bios will be listed soon)! This will allow the students to gain way more training and knowledge as opposed to having just one director!
Tuition
$79 per month
OR
$290 for the full Fall semester (August–November)
Save $26 when you pay in full.