for your GRAMMY® consideration
best contemporary classical composition
record of the year
“One Wish” - Music by Charles-Henri Avelange (feat. The Los Angeles Children’s Chorus). Art Design by Make-A-Wish® of Alaska & Washington
Listen to “One Wish”
Full SONG:
It all started when…
In 2022, Charles-Henri Avelange met with Melissa S. Arias—President and CEO of the Make-A-Wish® Alaska & Washington Chapter—to discuss the idea of creating a music theme for the foundation for the first time in its 40-year history.
Avelange’s recent nomination at the 2022 Hollywood Music in Media Awards at the time, and subsequent win in November, 16th 2022 in best Neo-Classical category for his latest album “The Oeuvre of Leon Oury” cemented the idea that he was the right fit for the big task of writing a piece of music that will define for years to come an organization that has such an impact not only in the United States, but around the world.
Ms. Arias gave a tour to Charles-Henri of their Seattle, WA headquarter and told him all about the wishes that were granted. When Avelange submitted his first rendition or “mock up” of the music to Ms. Arias and her staff, he knew he had a winner when he saw everyone was brought to tears by the theme.
The meaning of the theme
The story behind the composition begins with the idea of an individual child’s wish coming true.
Every instrument represents a member of the Foundation’s team, a member of the community, or of the child’s family. At the beginning, the orchestra is predominant. The choir gently hums, representing the one child, timid, uncertain. A graceful introduction features solo violin and ‘cello, guiding with love as the child grows in confidence.
The full orchestra introduces the theme. The choir joins in and together the entire ensemble faces the challenges ahead with patience and tenderness.
The choir builds and the child’s voice rings out joyfully singing the words, “Make a Wish.” All the voices come together in a triumphant finale, celebration of the child’s One Wish coming true.
The making of “one wish”
When it came time to create the theme, I had very specific musicians in mind when I composed the music, and so these parts were written for them ~ says Avelange
Working with some of the top musicians in Los Angeles such as Ambroise Aubrun at the Violin, Cecilia Tsan at the Cello, Sara Andon at the Flutes and Chris Tedesco at the Trumpets just to name a few… each of theme were handpicked to perform the complex melody lines that were written knowing that these particular musicians had the talent and musicianship to perform them. For instance, Avelange wrote lines for the Trumpets that go beyond the “concert C” knowing Tedesco was one of the few Trumpet player in the business that could perform it. “Something only composers such as John Williams permit themselves to do these days” says Tedesco. The Violin and Cello solos were composed especially for Ambroise Aubrun and Cecilia Tsan, just as much as the lush Clarinet and Flute solos were composed for Jonathan Sacdalan and Sara Andon.
Once all the orchestra parts were recorded, it was time to add the final touch: a Children Choir.
Avelange had here the opportunity to collaborate with GRAMMY® Award-winning Los Angeles Children’s Chorus conducted by Fernando Malvar-Ruiz. A Chorus widely recognized as one of the best Children Chorus in the world! Charles-Henri and Fernando collaborated closely to make sure that every single notes performed by the choir were a perfect fit for 17 of the best singers from the chorus that were handpicked especially for the occasion by conductor Fernando Malvar-Ruiz.
The chorus was recorded under Avelange’s direction with veteran recording engineer and co-owner of the Hollywood Scoring stage Adam Michalak, in Los Angeles, CA.
MIXING & MASTERING
After all was recorded, Avelange proceeded to mix and master all the instruments together, a process that took several weeks as all musicians and ensemble were recorded separately. Because of deadlines and conflicting orchestra availabilities, Avelange had to think once again out of the box to make this project happen the way it was intended to be and within the constraint imposed upon him. He applied the same skills that lead to winning big last year at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards and Global Music Awards for his album “The Oeuvre of Leon Oury.” Most musicians were recorded at Avelange’s studio. They not only performed their respective solos, but also layered—sometimes up to 10 takes— the strings, brass and woodwinds parts as to create the illusion that a full orchestra was recorded.
When Ambroise came in the studio that day, we spent 4 hours having him performing his solos, but also every single violin parts of the orchestra. The result was a 16 violin I & II section of “Ambroises!” ~ Says Avelange
The same technic was then applied to violas (Virginie d’Avezac) and Celli (Cecilia Tsan) . Tedesco performed all 3 trumpet parts of the theme for instance. The challenge of producing the music this way is to make sure all musicians perform in such a way that it seems like they all played together. And to achieve this, one has to consider the particular order in which they will be recorded, so that each musicians end up performing against the live performance of the musicians recorded prior to them.
The result of all this is a project session with a gargantuan 500 audio tracks that then all had to be mixed together.
The music was finalized and mastered as a Stereo and 5.1 Surround Immersive Experience.
VIDEO GALLERY
make-a-wish® Special recognition
“I am so deeply grateful to Charles-Henri and all the musicians who brought ONE WISH to life. The experience of giving and receiving a wish sparks hope and joy most importantly in a child facing a critical illness, but also in the family supporting that child and in the community who has come around them to ensure the wish is delivered. This theme, captures in music that life changing experience and furthers the understanding of the impact of a wish.” – Melissa Arias, CEO & President, Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington”
the musicians
