Who We Are


Photograph by William Stickney

Northwest Chorale is a group of civic-minded individuals who enjoy gathering to rehearse and perform great works of music. The Chorale averages over 60 singers from the greater Seattle area. Members come from all walks of life, but have one thing in common — a love of music.

Northwest Chorale presents concerts during the Christmas season and in late spring. For Christmas, the chorale offers a concert of varied seasonal choral works and rotating performances of Handel's Messiah. Spring concerts include choral masterworks by composers such as Bach, Handel, Haydn and Mendelssohn. In Spring of 2019 we were proud to world premiere pieces composed by two of our talented members:

From its inception, the mission of Northwest Chorale has been to use music to feed those in need. With a twist on an old saying, "we sing for their supper", the Chorale uses its concerts to help feed the hungry in Seattle and the greater metropolitan area.

If you would like to receive an occasional (4-5 times/year) newsletter about what the chorale is up to, please send an email to .

Friends of Northwest Chorale

Friends of Northwest Chorale assist us in our mission, playing a key role in a variety of ways such as sponsoring orchestra costs, program printing, venue costs, etc. It's easy ... just notify us via email at nwchoraleinfo@gmail.com and we’ll coordinate your sponsorship request. (Northwest Chorale is a registered 501c3 organization. Your generous donations are tax deductible.)

* * * * *

Our Conductor - Lynn Hall

Mr. Hall was awarded his Masters of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Washington in 1984. He also holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting (DMA, ABD - all but dissertation) degree from the University of Washington. He has studied Choral Conducting under Rodney Eichenberger and Abraham Kaplan, and Orchestral Conducting under Robert Feist, Samuel Crockmalnick, Wilhelm Sokol, and Michael Singer.

Over the years, Mr. Hall has directed both large and small ensembles, some semi-professional, including the University of Washington University Singers, the Esperance Baptist Church Choir, the Seattle Area Lutheran Chorale and Orchestra, the Christ Church Choir and Orchestra, UW Vocal Jazz Ensemble, the Manna Singers, the Raretones, and Sing Noel. He was also Assistant Conductor of both the University Oratorio Chorus and the University Chorale.

Throughout all aspects of his career, Mr. Hall has combined his deep faith with his great passion for music. He has also served as Music Director for several Seattle area churches, including St. Josephs Parish (Seattle), Trinity Lutheran Church (Lynnwood), Bethany Lutheran Church (Seattle), Woodinville Community United Methodist Church (Woodinville), and Messiah Lutheran Church (Seattle).

Mr. Hall is a member of the American Choral Directors' Association, the Puget Sound Choral Conductors' Guild, and the Washington State Teachers' Association.

Accompanist - Carol Buschmann

The chorale's long time accompanist, Carol Buschmann, passed away on July 23, 2020. In addition to accompanying the Northwest Chorale, Carol was an accompanist for Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle. Please keep in your thoughts Carol’s mother, Gerd Jones, her sister Noreen and Noreen’s husband Jon, Carol’s friend Ellen, and all her friends and colleagues at Northwest Chorale and PNB.

Carol's mother has asked that instead of flowers, to send memorials in Carol’s honor to Pacific Northwest Ballet School, 301 Mercer Street, Seattle WA 98109. In the memo line, please say "in memory of Carol Buschmann."

Thank you Carol for all you have done for the chorale. We will all miss you.

History

The Northwest Chorale was founded in 1978 by Director Lynn Hall under the name "A Musical Offering." The name was changed to "Messiah for Relief" after the Chorale began performing Handel's Messiah to raise money for those in need in the Seattle area.

Handel himself set the example of giving back to the community by conducting Messiah 54 times in his lifetime to benefit the Children's Foundling Hospital of London. In this same spirit, the Chorale decided to present its concerts to help feed the hungry in Seattle.

As the chorale grew and its repertoire expanded beyond Messiah, the name was changed, first to Northwest Community Chorale, and then to simply Northwest Chorale.


100% of your generous gifts go to benefit Northwest Harvest!