Mission

Choral Arts Northwest’s mission is to inspire, educate, and enrich our community through the transformational power of choral music. We seek to foster a world that is just and empathetic and that values creativity and diversity. We commit to actively engage with members of our community who have been historically marginalized, and use our platform to intentionally support important social causes and highlight the music of diverse groups as well as that of composers who identify as BIPOC, female, or LGBTQIA+. We dedicate ourselves to ongoing learning and listening, and to invite others to join us on that journey through programming, engagement, and collaborations.

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Announcements

Annual Variety Show Fundraiser

Join us for the Choral Arts Northwest annual variety show Saturday, April 20th 7:00-10:00 pm at Rooftop Brewing Company! The evening will feature performances by our talented choristers, a chance to take home some delicious desserts, and a flowing selection of beer and wine.

More information and tickets HERE

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Composer Reena Esmail to join CANW in May 2024

We're thrilled to be bringing Los Angeles-based composer Reena Esmail to Seattle, May 10 - 12th for workshops with our Malhaar performance partners Bellevue, Bothell, and Newport High Schools and the Columbia Choirs as we prepare for Malhaar: A Requiem for Water

Learn More about Ms. Esmail HERE

Albums

Enjoy CANW's music any time!
Albums on CD and as MP3s for download are available now in our online store.

Staff

Timothy Westerhaus

Artistic Director

Reena Esmail

Composer-in-Residence, 2023-24

Hyo-Won Woo

Composer-in-Residence, 2022-23

Philip Tschopp

Managing Director

Miriam Anderson

Choir Manager

Robert Bode

Artistic Director Emeritus

Richard Sparks

Founding Artistic Director

About

"Above all, we hope to bring people together through the unmatched power of singing." -- Robert Bode, Artistic Director


Led by new Artistic Director Timothy Westerhaus, Choral Arts Northwest has garnered national recognition and critical acclaim for exquisite performances and creative, diverse programming. CANW won the Margaret Hillis Award for Choral Excellence (2010); and the American Prize for choral performance (community division) twice, placing first in 2010 and second in 2013. CANW has also been awarded coveted performing slots at the 2018 ACDA NW Regional Conference in Portland, the 2015 ACDA National Conference in Salt Lake City, and the 2013 Chorus America National Conference held in Seattle. In December of 2015, Choral Arts Northwest accepted an invitation to perform at a White House Holiday reception and was selected to sing for a private audience with President and Mrs. Obama.

Made up of volunteer singers drawn almost exclusively from the Puget Sound region, CANW combines a deep sense of community with a passion for artistic excellence. While performing diverse repertoire from Renaissance polyphony through 20th century masterworks, CANW retains an abiding commitment to new music and has commissioned and premiered new choral compositions annually since 2007. Our Composer-In-Residence and Finding Your Voice programs have produced important collaborations with composers such as Shawn Kirchner, Rick Asher, John Muehleisen, Will Averitt, Eric Barnum, Jake Runestad, Melinda Bargreen, Dale Trumbore, Jessica French, and John David Earnest.

CANW has released eight studio recordings under the Gothic/Loft record label and one self-released recording available at CD Baby. CANW’s newest recording is a live concert production of John Muehleisen’s oratorio But Who Shall Return Us Our Children? A Kipling Passion, a commissioned work commemorating the centennial of WWI. This remarkable work delivers a powerful and meaningful message on the effects of war and loss, and how we might find healing in the face of tragedy.

CANW celebrates its 29th Season in 2022-2023!



 
Support CANW

"....a hero, a treasure, a great advocate for new music." ~ Composer Chen Yi, recipient of the Ives Living Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, regarding CANW Artistic Director Robert Bode

Contact

Phone (voicemail): 601.627.5618
Mail: PO Box 94124, Seattle WA 98124-6424
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