Intuitively captivating his audience at the La Verne Church of the Brethren with his deft rendition of both classical and contemporary masters, Shawn Kirchner offers a dramatic and passionate musical delivery that leaves his listeners mesmerized. / photo by Courtney Droke

by Jaclyn Mittman
photography by Courtney Droke

The city of La Verne is home to the music man: Shawn Kirchner. His piano playing resembles a modern day Mozart, but to those who know him, he is simply a versatile composer.

As an organist, pianist, composer, singer and songwriter, Shawn has developed an impressive list of musical abilities. His gift of improvisation, interpretation, playing by ear and sight-reading places him among the most talented musicians in the Los Angeles area.

Trained in classical music, he continues to expand his musical talent to new styles such as folk, gospel, jazz and pop. Shawn has also developed what he calls “bluegrass piano,” which integrates the “virtuosity of a bluegrass band and the piano.” Another interesting ability: his use of improvisation by imitating particular playing styles of many classical composers.

Even though Shawn can imitate the styles of many composers, he still aspires to be like Mozart. He shares that Mozart was always enjoying his music and having fun. Shawn says he wants the singers and musicians to enjoy their experience when he writes music for them, similar to the way Mozart had enjoyed sharing his music. “[Mozart’s] music was always about beauty,” Shawn says. “He has always been a huge hero to me.”

Shawn delivers concert level music Sunday after Sunday for the La Verne Church of the Brethren. But aside from serving as pipe organist and pianist, he also performs with the Los Angeles Master Chorale as a tenor at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, directs his own jazz quartet and works as a freelance pianist. He also offers voice teaching and music coaching. He is a musician’s, musician. Music is Shawn Kirchner’s life. “Shawn is a patient teacher, and he inspires perfection in his students,” says Steve Biondo, ULV music department coordinator.

Shawn has always had music in his veins since his Iowa birth in 1970. He played the melodeon at age 5 and wrote his first song at 8. “It just made sense how to put the notes together,” he says.

The Church of the Brethren nurtured his musical upbringing. As a 4-year-old triplet, he sang at the church with his brother and sister. Piano lessons followed from a neighborhood woman, whom Shawn claims as his major musical inspiration, along with a junior high teacher. “I would not have a career today without that neighbor,” Shawn says. “I am a strong believer in teachers and how they influence their students.”

Other influences came from radio. He describes himself as “a sponge” when it comes to any music or style. His dad listened to country, and his mom listened to classical music, which may have triggered his love for bluegrass. Shawn lives in these musical worlds and has an open respect for others. He even went through an opera phase, which he laughs at now because while he tolerates it, he does not particularly enjoy it. Surprisingly, when Shawn matriculated at Manchester College in Indiana, he did not pursue his musical abilities, but instead majored in peace studies. He later found his way back into music, or as Shawn explains, “I had taken a detour.” Graduate school found him pursuing choral directing. Following, he was a vocal coach and pianist in Chicago. There, he played for Neil Rosenshein’s studio at the Lyric Opera’s Center for American Arts. He also worked as an accompanist in the voice studio of Elsa Charlston and Catherine Malfitano.

The University of La Verne originally brought Shawn west. With his Brethren heritage, he jumped at the opportunity and become the new choral director in 1999. He remained in the position until 2001, he says, because his love for performing made him feel stifled, and he wanted more time to write, compose and perform. Shawn won many friends at ULV. “He is a fabulous pianist, a world-class composer, particularly of choral music and songs, and, though incredibly gifted, remains humble and completely caring of others,” says Reed Gratz, chair of the ULV music department.

He joined the Los Angeles Master Chorale in spring of 2001. Since then Shawn has found the Chorale to be life changing. “The Chorale has wonderful singers and musicians who can read a level of musicianship that is challenging and inspiring,” shares Shawn. “It really is a privilege to make wonderful music.”

Shawn and the Master Chorale performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Hollywood Bowl. Under the Master Chorale’s music director Grant Gershon, he has sung in several collaborations with Steve Reich, including two recordings for Nonesuch Records and in a performance at the New York City Lincoln Center, in honor of the composer’s 70th birthday.

Recently, Shawn has put most of his musical focus into songwriting. “Meet Me on the Mountain,” his latest, prompted critic Meryl Ann Butler, writer for OpEd News, to say it brings an “added dimension of emotional depth to the scenes and characters that inspired them.” Shawn says it took about five months of song writing, two days of recording and three to four months of “fine tuning” in order to complete “Meet Me on the Mountain.” The fiddler/violinist from the ‘Brokeback Mountain’ soundtrack also played on his album. “I loved the ['Brokeback Mountain'] soundtrack,” he says. “I was really inspired by the music. The movie was also very gripping, and every character had a gripping role. It was like the songs were there, just waiting to be written.”

Shawn’s work can also be heard on many soundtracks such as “Lady in the Water,” “License to Wed,” “Horton Hears a Who,” “National Treasure II: Book of Secrets,” “Race to Witch Mountain,” “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” and the upcoming “Sex in the City II.” He has been able to participate on these soundtracks because of his work with the Chorale. “You have to be involved in all aspects of music,” Shawn says regarding the Chorale. “They do all different things, and you have to be able to read music on site, so the Chorale is well set up to do movie soundtracks.”

Some of Shawn’s compositions and arrangements are performed worldwide in concert halls, churches, schools and on radio and television. “Tu Voz,” a sonnet choral setting by Pablo Neruda, premiered at the Walt Disney Concert Hall May 2007 and was commissioned by the Los Angeles Master Chorale. In Spring 2010, there will be a recording with the Los Angeles Master Chorale for a Christmas album, one-third of which will be Shawn’s arrangements.

His biggest highlights? “The honor of having the L.A. Master Chorale perform my choral pieces in various concerts.” Shawn often performs as a duo with Ryan Harrison, a tenor soloist and performing artist, in bluegrass, folk, country and gospel renditions. Ryan adds an interesting vocal dynamic to the duo, while Shawn combines his incredible talent as a pianist and a songwriter, using recreated jazz masterpieces. Ryan performed the lead vocals for “Meet Me on the Mountain.” There, Butler describes Harrison’s voice as “numinous and evocative; rich, strong and captivating.”

The duo began to further explore jazz and expand their repertoire when the jazz club Hip Kitty opened at the Packing House in the city of Claremont. Shawn’s jazz quartet is a frequent performer there, with Ryan, Robbie Davis on bass and Biondo on drums. The quartet plays classical and original jazz tunes to entertain the Hip Kitty guests. They also periodically play at the Pop Champagne and Dessert Bar in Pasadena, Calif.

“Shawn is a great musician and a rare talent as a composer and a performer,” Biondo says. “It’s always fun to play music with him because you just know it will be special. [He] is one of the finest musicians I know,” Biondo shares. “He is a great pianist as well as a soulful singer. He is a perfectionist about his own original music and very specific with regards to how any composition is performed and interpreted.”

All this praise rolls off Shawn. For him, as La Verne’s designated “Music Man,” it is all about sharing the music in you, enjoying the musical moment and living a life that only Mozart could play.

Shawn’s notable recordings

Recently, Shawn Kirchner has put his musical focus into songwriting. His impressive list of recordings include: “Enter the Light of Life,” a CBS nationally broadcast Christmas Eve special; “Glimpses of Freedom,” a fund-raising CD for the organization On Earth Peace; “Kindling Live!” and “Spark the Fire,” with the folk group Kindling; “A Choral Christmas: the Juniata College Concert Choir”; “Holy World,” original material; and, most recently, “Meet Me on the Mountain,” a mix of bluegrass, country and folk inspired by the film, “Brokeback Mountain.”

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Jon Blickenstaff, the former mayor of La Verne, restored a 1930s Ford Woody after buying it as a pile of parts. The maple siding of the car was a custom installation by Blickenstaff’s friend, a carpenter. / photo by Rhiannon Mim

by Jaclyn Mittman
photography by Rhiannon Mim

Stepping into the garage of Jim Thomas makes you feel like you are in the 1950s. Three hot rods in a row fill the garage, but against the walls are shelves filled with jars, cans, trophies, plaques, vintage oil cans, old tools, coffee mugs, light-up Budweiser signs, posters, framed articles, soda bottles, carburetors, thermometers and magnets. Old lanterns hang from the ceiling in a row. It is almost impossible to keep your eyes from wandering with so many nostalgic items on display. There is even an antique milkshake mixer. This is the ultimate hot rod garage.

Thomas, a retiree from the General Telephone Company and a La Verne resident, is a collector of everything antique. There are old boat and car motors on the floor along the walls. Thomas tells stories of his travels and everything he’s collected along the way.

He takes the cover off each car, and the garage begins to glisten as the sun hits the mirror-like paint. Thomas owns a blue 1941 Graham Hollywood, which he jokingly refers to as “the gangster car,” a burgundy 1932 Ford Roadster, and an heirloom that has been in the family since 1950: a purple 1939 Ford Coupe.

“I actually drove this car in high school,” Thomas said, referring to the 1939 Coupe. “I even had my first date with my wife in this car.”

It’s not uncommon, cruising the streets of La Verne, to catch a peek of a beautiful classic car sitting in a driveway. There is something about these classic beauties that draws your attention. The beautiful, shiny coat of paint or the details in the car can leave one breathless. Classic cars, or hot rods, are quite popular in La Verne.

The expensive and time-consuming hobby of collecting and restoring classic cars has become a passionate hobby for many La Verne residents. Many people who are into classic cars either keep cars through generations as heirlooms, such as Thomas’ Ford Coupe, or they get into it later on as a hobby.

California is well known for its classic car culture and is a haven for many car sports and car enthusiasts. Pomona plays a huge part in the cars and automotive sports, so it is no surprise that La Verne would follow along with this trend. Classic cars are popular nationwide, but Southern California is the heart of the car culture, and La Verne is a big part of that.

Former La Verne mayor and vintage car enthusiast Jon Blickenstaff says it may also have to do with the large number of people more than 50 years old living in La Verne. Blickenstaff, a classic car collector himself, also says the California weather plays a part.

The car culture in La Verne starts as early as high school. La Verne’s Bonita High School has always had auto shop and a strong automotive program.

Blickenstaff also recognizes the importance that neighboring Pomona plays in the car culture in La Verne. He says that being so close not only to the Pomona drag race facility but also to the NASCAR track in Ontario are advantages for the local car culture. The National Hot Rod Association Motorsports Museum is conveniently located in Pomona. This museum houses many vintage and historical hot rods, customs and race cars. This is also the location of one of the largest classic car swap meets in Pomona, which draws thousands of people from near and far.

Blickenstaff told La Verne Magazine in a 1994 interview that he didn’t get enough time to restore antique cars, and that if he were not working or serving as mayor, he would be spending a lot more time doing so. Fifteen years later, that time has come, with the retirement of Blickenstaff as mayor in spring 2009.

The former mayor owns four classic cars: a black 1934 Ford Woody station wagon, a red 1940 Ford Woody station wagon, a red 1952 Ford pickup, and a 1965 Chevy El Camino which, according to Blickenstaff, is still under construction.

“I’m always looking for the next car. It is a passion that I have never outgrown,” Blickenstaff says.

Another major part of classic cars in La Verne is the Cool Cruise Car Show that is put on annually by L.D. Johnson, former maintenance operations superintendent for La Verne. According to Johnson, this event is huge and is one of the biggest events the city has to offer. The car show brings together many car collectors. Johnson said there have even been participants that come to the show from as far away as Louisiana.

Johnson, who grew up in California, says being from California meant you grew up cruising around in cars “looking for chicks.”

He got into car shows several years ago. The first car show put on in La Verne, according to Johnson, had only 124 cars and had very limited time and a small budget. The purpose of the show was to boost downtown La Verne business through the car shows and to bring all the car enthusiasts in the area together.

Johnson said he is now busier than ever with his 13th Cool Cruise show and is expecting to have 800 or 900 cars participating.

“A lot of people have discovered La Verne through the years by coming to these car shows,” Johnson says. “This show has helped put La Verne on the map.”

Johnson told about an incident that made him realize the impact the car show has had on the La Verne community.

About six years ago, he received a call from a woman who was clearly not a “hot rod person.” She assumed that “downtown La Verne” was somewhere around Foothill Boulevard and was concerned about how traffic would be affected, since they close down the streets. Johnson said he wanted to meet her after speaking with her because it was clear she had no idea where downtown La Verne was located, even though she had lived in La Verne for four years. Her son was even a student at Bonita High School. Johnson met with her at the car show, and she finally discovered where downtown La Verne was located. If not for the car show, Johnson says, she might never have discovered where downtown was.

The car show also does wonders for the downtown businesses. The restaurants get busy because people who come to the event need to eat, and the stores receive much more traffic than usual. Johnson says one man, who was not from the area, actually went into Segal Diamonds and purchased $20,000 worth of jewelry. The barbershop also gets much traffic during the show because there are usually a lot of men who do a lot of sitting around during the day of the show – a perfect time to get a haircut.

“Many merchants would say [the car show] is the biggest event of the year,” Blickenstaff says. “It is a very positive, strongly supportive event.”

Blickenstaff has attended every Cool Cruise car show, and has even had his cars featured in a few of the shows. Blickenstaff adds that, as time allows, he would like to be more involved in these events. “It’s fun to mingle, talk about the good ol’ days and reminisce.”
The show has even inspired some people to move to La Verne. One family purchased a home in La Verne after visiting the area for the car show. This means that it also has an impact on the La Verne real estate market.

“People come and enjoy the show, discover the community and [buy] homes,” Johnson says. “The intent of the show is working.”

The La Verne community not only has a popular hot rod culture, it also relies on these enthusiasts to bring business to the city. Whether it is based on the history, geographical influence, or a passionate hobby, classic cars are here to stay in La Verne.

Jim Thomas finished restoring his 1932 Ford Roadster two years ago and has built most of the parts by hand and purchased other parts at both the Pomona and Long Beach swap meets. Aside from his two 1930s Fords, Thomas also owns a rare 1941 blue Graham Hollywood. Only 900 of these cars were made because the manufacturer was only in business for nine months. / photo by Rhiannon Mim

photo by Rhiannon Mim

photo by Rhiannon Mim

photo by Rhiannon Mim

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