History of the Chorale

	EVERETT CHORALE HISTORY The Everett Chorale was founded by Dr. David Andre' in the Fall of 1965 with approximately thirty 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 where they still take place. 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 Brahm's performance, the Chorlae was enhanced with the addition of area high school choirs for a chorus of about 200 voices. 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. Bring 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. Pat Castro of Snohomish took over the baton from his former vocal techer 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 this vocal jazz arrangements and compositions. The tradition of singing with the Everett Symphony continued. The performance of Mozart's Requiem in April, 1992 under the direction of Paul Cobbs. After diligently rehearsing us for this major work, Pat, a gifted tenor, took this opportunity to share his voice with us as he joined the ranks of the choral members for this performance. 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 our December, 1993 concert. Lee Mathews, the Music Director and Conductor of the Everett Chorale for the past nine years, develops a series of concerts each year to delight and entertain audiences. A graduate of the University of Montana, Mr. Mathews has advanced work towards the DMA at the University of Northern Colorado. During his fourteen years of college teaching, he founded the Montana Youth Choir and has made six European tours with this fine ensemble. He is a retired Snohomish School District music teacher. Lee is currently the Choral Director at Our Savior Lutheran, Everett.

EVERETT CHORALE HISTORY

The Everett Chorale was founded by Dr. David Andre' in the Fall of 1965 with approximately thirty 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 where they still take place. 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 Brahm's performance, the Chorlae was enhanced with the addition of area high school choirs for a chorus of about 200 voices.

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. Bring 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.

Pat Castro of Snohomish took over the baton from his former vocal techer 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 this vocal jazz arrangements and compositions. The tradition of singing with the Everett Symphony continued. The performance of Mozart's Requiem in April, 1992 under the direction of Paul Cobbs. After diligently rehearsing us for this major work, Pat, a gifted tenor, took this opportunity to share his voice with us as he joined the ranks of the choral members for this performance.

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 our December, 1993 concert.

Lee Mathews, the Music Director and Conductor of the Everett Chorale for the past nine years, develops a series of concerts each year to delight and entertain audiences. A graduate of the University of Montana, Mr. Mathews has advanced work towards the DMA at the University of Northern Colorado. During his fourteen years of college teaching, he founded the Montana Youth Choir and has made six European tours with this fine ensemble. He is a retired Snohomish School District music teacher. Lee is currently the Choral Director at Our Savior Lutheran, Everett.