Katherine L. White Invitational Choral Festival

Katherine L. White Invitational Choral Festival (or Kay White Choral Fest) showcases six of the Northwest’s finest and most diverse choral ensembles. The Kay White Choral Fest is a non-competitive event that seeks to support and celebrate the musical excellence and individuality of each invited ensemble. Ensembles are given their own evening or matinee performance slot to perform a full program that sings of their uniqueness, echoes their musical influences and legacies, and resonates with their community. Groups participating in the inaugural Kay White Choral Fest include:

• Emerald Ensemble—Tue. 4/23, 7:30 pm
  The Emerald Ensemble is a professional chamber choir featuring the finest voices in the Seattle area conducted by Gary D. Cannon. The Emerald Ensemble enlightens the mind, uplifts the heart, and enriches the soul through great choral music presented with passion and skill. We envision a world made better through great choral music.  

• STANCE (Seattle Trans and Nonbinary Choral Ensemble)— Wed. 4/24 •?7:30 pm
  STANCE is Seattle’s first choir by and for gender-diverse singers. Our mission is to provide a vocal community free of gendered expectations where we can express and explore ourselves through music. Cantes, our outreach ensemble, is proud to present a preview selection of our upcoming June concert material at the Katherine L. White Choral Festival 

• Ancora Choir — Thu. 4/25 • 7:30 pm
  Ancora is a nonprofit educational organization composed of treble (soprano and alto, regardless of gender) singers who endeavor to improve and develop their vocal talents and music education. Members continue their commitment to musical excellence while building friendships and support among singers. Ancora performs outstanding choral music through a challenging program of rehearsals and concerts, and enriches the arts community by sharing exquisite music for treble voices with the public. 

• African American Cultural Ensemble (AACE)— Fri. 4/26 • 7:30 pm
  The Northwest African American Museum’s President & CEO LaNesha DeBardelaben envisioned and created Sounds of Light Ensemble, formerly the African American Cultural Ensemble, during the racial reckoning of 2020 and early 2021. The deep hurt, pain, and trauma moved NAAM, an institution that is committed to justice and equity. These recent times have collectively brought us all as a society pain, sorrow, fatigue, anger, and bewilderment. However, meeting these feelings with heart-stirring inspirational music can give way to a determined and forward-facing resolve to “never allow despair to have the last word.” 

• The Sound of the Northwest — Sat. 4/27 • 4 pm (matinee)
  The Sound of the Northwest is a community choir founded in 1987 by Juan Huey-Ray for the purpose of preserving and presenting the music of the Black American heritage, particularly the Negro Spiritual. It is one of a small number of choirs nationwide that focus on a repertoire of African American Spirituals, and the only such choir in the Seattle area.  

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  Vashon Island Chorale — Sat. 4/27 • 7:30 pm –&– Sun. 4/28 • 3 pm (matinee)
  The Vashon Island Chorale was established in 1989 and is dedicated to the promotion of fine choral music in the Vashon community. The repertoire of the Vashon Island Chorale focuses on major masterworks from the past four centuries. Highlights of recent seasons include the Orff’s Carmina Burana, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Christ lag in Todesbanden by J.S. Bach, the Mozart Requiem, Saint-Saëns’s Christmas Oratorio, the Brahms Requiem, Kodály’s Missa Brevis, Dona Nobis Pacem by Vaughan Williams, Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, and Morten Lauridsen’s Lux aeterna. The Chorale also regularly presents works by local composers, including residents of Vashon Island and the greater Seattle area. Artistic partners have included members of Vashon Opera, the Vashon-Maury Chamber Orchestra, the Portage Fill Big Band, and the Signature Brass Quintet. Gary D. Cannon has led the Chorale as Artistic Director since 2008.