2024 was a fabulous year of new music and celebration for Columbia Choirs – including our 40th Anniversary!
In total, we produced:
- 17 Performances
- 8 Collaborations
- 1 Commissioned World Premiere
- 1 International Tour
- 2 Summer Camps
- 5 Outreach programs in local schools
- 1 Showcase + Fundraiser
None of this could have been possible without the Columbia Choirs Community, including:
- 4,000+ Audience Members
- 300+ Singers
- 17 Staff Members
- 13 Guest Artists
- 11 Board Members
- 100s of Volunteers, Donors, and Supporters!
We want thank everyone who was a part of filling 2024 with singing. We can’t wait for an incredible 2025!
We kicked off the year with our 2nd annual Showcase + Fundraiser. It was a great night with our community gathered to support the work we do.
Concord joined the University of Washington Choirs (Chorale and Chamber Singers) on the steps of the UW Quad to perform music in celebration of the annual cherry blossom bloom.
We hosted composer and vocalist Moira Smiley in Redmond to workshop her commissioned work with our choirs ahead of our 40th Anniversary Concert.
Our “Celebrate Spring” Concert Series kicked off with our Adult Choirs performing in the beautiful Bastyr University Chapel with guest choir University of Washington Chorale.
Our Children’s Choirs reached new heights during their “Celebrate Spring” concert.
Our Youth Choirs performed a impressive selection of music from around the world in their “Celebrate Spring” concert.
Cantabile joined Bothell High School as guests on the Choral Arts Northwest concert “Malhaar” where they got to work with composer Reena Esmail.
We celebrated the conclusion of our spring Enrichment Choir in partnership with Global Idea School in Redmond.
We hosted our 40th Anniversary Concert at Meany Hall on June 15, 2024 featuring all of our choirs with guests artists. This is a snapshot of the finale, a world premiere of “Together We Sing”, featuring 300 intergenerational singers.
At intermission of our celebratory concert, singers joined composer Moira Smiley for final circle sing to prepare for the premiere of her piece.
Our 40th Anniversary Concert also featured an Alumni Choir with 60 alumni singers from across the choir’s four decades, conducted by Founder-Artistic Director Emeritus Steve Stevens.
Singers from Bel Canto and Cantabile traveled halfway around the world to explore Australia and participate in collaborative rehearsals and performances with Sydney Children’s Choir, Voices of Birralee, and Emmanuel College Gold Coast, our gracious hosts for a week in Queensland. This photo is outside of the Sydney Opera House – a tour highlight for many!
We held our Summer Day Camp for singers 5-10 in partnership with the City of Redmond.
Singers played Choir Olympics, took movement classes with Mija Trimble from Flight Feathers Ballet, did arts and crafts, and presented a closing performance for friends and family.
We held an expanded Summer Overnight Choir Camp. Singers traveled to Warm Beach Camp in Stanwood, WA.
Singers enjoyed a week of learning new music, developing their singing technique, and connecting through activities like swimming and canoeing.
In November, we welcomed guest artist Arreon Harley-Emerson for our first ever Residency Week. While in Seattle, Arreon worked with all of our choir levels, held strategic sessions with our board and staff, and offered free workshops for local music educators.
To close out the Residency Week, all of our choirs combined to present a program of music from the Black diaspora, culminating with a finale performance featuring all singers together.
Our Adult Choirs performed to a full house for their “A Moment to Reflect” concert, featuring a World Premiere composition by Giselle Wyers, a West Coast Premiere of a Timothy Takach piece, and a 10-year anniversary celebration of Dori Baunsgard and Genevieve Peaslee, conductor and accompanist of Con Brio.
Our Children’s Choirs presented their “A Moment to Reflect” concert, including a joint performance of Rollo Dilworth’s “Shine On Me” that they workshopped with Arreon Harley-Emerson during his residency.
Our Youth Choirs concluded the “A Moment to Reflect” concert series with a varied program, including a performance of “Better is One Day” that invited the audience to sing along.
Melodia and Harmonia thrilled the residents of Fairwinds Assisted Living in Redmond.
Lyrica and Bel Canto shared festive music with visitors of the Garden d’Lights at the Bellevue Botanical Gardens.
A group of Columbia Choirs alumni gathered to socialize and sing carols and revisit holiday songs from their time in the choirs, including Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols.