How It All Began
In 1989, a small group of like-minded folks founded the Island Singers. The name was officially changed to Vashon Island Chorale in the mid-1990s when the organization gained 501(c)(3) status. Some founding members are still singing with us today!
Past Board Presidents include Doug Dolstad, Jim Boulé, Dan Brown, Dick Paulsen, Kristen Peterson, and Marijke van Heeswijk.
Past Music Directors include Kendall Campbell, Jerry McGee, Marita Ericksen, Patricia Hudson, and David Kappy.
Notable Moments
2022 –16 chorale members joined Dr. Giselle Wyers’ UW Chorale and members of other Seattle-area choirs in New York for the East Coast premiere of And All Shall Be Well, a 7-movement work by Dr. Wyers, at Carnegie Hall. This piece was commissioned for the Chorale by Jo Ann Bardeen in memory of her parents.
2018 – the Chorale presented the world premiere of Wyers’ work And All Shall Be Well to a sold-out audience on Vashon.
2017 – the Chorale became the fiscal sponsor for Vashon Choral Boosters, a community organization promoting choral opportunities for young people in Vashon schools.
2016 – the Chorale presented Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana as the inaugural performance of the new Katherine L White theater at the Vashon Center for the Arts.
2014 – we celebrated our 25th Anniversary by presenting the world premiere of No Bridges, an 11-movement work about Vashon by West Seattle composer and Fauntleroy Church choir director Bronwyn Edwards. This piece was commissioned by the Chorale. The Chorale was also invited that year to perform Mozart’s Grand Mass in C Minor at Seattle’s Benaroya Hall in conjunction with several other choirs and a large orchestra.
2010 – the Chorale was invited to perform Mozart’s Requiem and other works at Benaroya Hall.
2005 – six members traveled to New York to join a large choir performing Jackson Berkey's American Journey at Carnegie Hall.