A Holiday Homecoming: Marleena Barber ’03 Records Album at Whittier

Marleena Barber ’03 returned to campus this fall to record a holiday album, “Once Upon a December,” in the Music Building’s Chowdry Recording Studio, collaborating with faculty and staff on a project connected to her time as a Whittier College student. 

Barber, who graduated with a degree in music - vocal performance, worked on the album over about six months with Danilo Lozano, Cesar Mejia, and Edward Sywulka. It is inclusive of various faith traditions, with Christmas, Hanukkah and New Years songs. The track “Purple Snowflakes,” which features Lozano on flute, pays subtle tribute to Whittier’s signature colors, purple and gold. Recording took place on campus, and the album was released on Dec. 1.

“I am grateful to have remained connected to my alma mater over the years,” said Barber, who has performed at events such as Whittier College—Past, Present and Future, John Greenleaf Whittier’s Birthday Celebration, the Shannon Center’s 20th Anniversary Celebration, and Club Cabaret at the Shannon Center.

“What I am most grateful for is remaining connected to the teachers who helped shape me and support me in my early career—Dr. Teresa LeVelle and Dr. Danilo Lozano. Recording this collection of songs under Danny’s guidance, and being back at Whittier College, has been truly special.”

A celebratory album release concert took place on Nov. 30 at the Muckenthaler Cultural Center in Fullerton. Barber also performed two songs from the album at the Poet Musicale during this year’s Homecoming.

In addition to her work as a musician, Barber is a disability rights advocate and serves on the boards of Californians for the Arts and Arts Advocates, as well as Arts Orange County. She is executive director of Orange County Arts and Disability and is a disability consutant for the Orange Couny Department of Education. In 2011, she received an Oustanding Young Alumni Award as part of Whittier’s Poet Awards. 

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