History of the Everett Chorale

1965 – 1968

The Everett Chorale was founded by Dr. David André in the fall of 1965 with approximately 30 singers from the Everett area. It was set up originally as a community service class partially funded by student fees and partially subsidized by Everett Community College. The membership of the Chorale consisted of volunteer singers of all ages and occupations, as well as retired people and a few students from the college.

Rehearsals were held weekly on Monday evenings in a college portable and eventually, as the group grew, moved to Baker Hall on the EvCC campus. Three concerts were scheduled each year to coincide with the completion of the college quarters, and were held initially in the Student Union/Cafeteria and later in what is now the Jackson Conference Center.

Notable performances during the Andre' years were Menotti's "The Unicorn, The Gorgon and the Manticore" and, in his third and final year, Brahm's "Requiem" with the Everett Symphony. For the Brahms performance, the Chorale was enhanced with the addition of area high school choirs for a chorus of about 200 voices.

1968 – 1988

In 1968 the Chorale came under the direction of Ted Wahlstrom who had recently been added to the college music staff from Everett's Cascade High School. In the early seventies Ted Walstrom prepared the Chorale for an ambitious and favorably received performance of Mendelssohn's "Elijah," with the Everett Symphony, bringing together the current director and founding director, as the symphony was now under the direction of Dr. David Andre. A forte of Mr. Wahlstrom's during the twenty years he led the Everett Chorale were the Christmas performances of the "Messiah" which helped to attract new singers to the group and slowly increase its membership.

1988 – 1993

Pat Castro of Snohomish took over the baton from his former vocal teacher when Ted Wahlstrom retired from the Chorale in 1988. Pat directed for five years. These were years of more rapid growth and brought significant changes to the group. By far, the most important of these was the creation of a board of directors to handle the business of the Chorale. This helped the Chorale become autonomous in determining its direction and operation.

Several highlights from the Pat Castro years included the commissioning of a composition by Everett musician, teacher and administrator, Ken Kraints, well known for his vocal jazz arrangements and compositions. The tradition of singing with the Everett Symphony continued with the performance of Mozart's Requiem in April, 1992 under the direction of Dr. Paul Cobbs.

The Castro years ended with the future looking bright, a large enrollment and well attended concerts with the possibility of the Chorale being a tenant in the almost complete Everett Performing Arts Center (then Everett Community Theater) beginning with the December, 1993 concert.

1993 – 2018

Lee Mathews conducted the Everett Chorale for 25 years. During Mr. Mathews tenure the "International Choral Festival" was hosted by the Everett Chorale in 2002 with five choirs from the Puget Sound and Canada providing three days of free concerts throughout the community. In July 2007 the Everett Chorale represented the State of Washington and performed at the 2007 International Choral Festival in Beijing, China. The Chorale has participated in the Advent Sing in Vienna, Austria, sent an ensemble to perform at Carnegie Hall under the direction of John Rutter on two occasions, as well as performing on a regular basis such pieces as Orff's "Carmina Burana," "A German Requiem" by Brahms and Beethoven's "Ninth Symphony" with the Everett Symphony. Lee retired in 2018.

2018 – 2019

Jennifer Rodgers was the fifth Artistic Director and Conductor of the Everett Chorale, and the first woman to hold this position.

While Directing, Jennifer pursued a Doctor of Musical Arts in choral conducting at the University of Washington. Prior to coming West, Jennifer worked in the Washington, DC area as the conductor of two large choruses and as a freelance singer and voice teacher. Her doctoral research is focused on adult avocational singers and lifelong singing pedagogy. Jennifer is the founder and executive director of Plunge! Cabaret, a non-profit theater that works to creatively unite higher education and community service organizations. She holds a Bachelor of Music in vocal performance from Ithaca College and a Masters or Music in Opera Theater from the University of Maryland.

2019 – Present

Heather has a Bachelor of Music Education - Choral and General Music, a Master of Music in Choral Conducting, and a DMA in Choral Conducting. She is an Affiliate Assistant Professor at the University of Washington. Heather is the founder and Artistic Director of the Mägi Ensemble, a professional women’s ensemble that performs and records Baltic music and the conductor of the Finnish Choral Society. In addition to being a choral conductor, she is also an orchestral conductor acting as Music Director/Conductor for over 70 musical theatre productions. Heather is a member of St. Mark’s Cathedral Choir where she is a soprano soloist, cantor, and sectional leader in St Mark’s Cathedral choir. She is also the Past President of the Greater Seattle Choral Consortium.

As the Chorale moves forward to gathering and singing together again, we know Heather will help us rebuild and find our way - making beautiful music as we go.