Our History and Organization.
The Performing Choirs:
The Chamber Singers, The Ensemble,
The Treble Choir, and The Children's Chorus.
 

Founded in 1993, the Pacifica Choirs have grown to include four performing levels. Enrollment has grown from the original 38 to over 70 singers.

The choir presents a magic blend of music, dance, poetry, prose and drama to highlight at least one of our concerts. Pacifica currently produces two or three concerts each year, performing all types of music (folk, classical, jazz and contemporary), while remaining chiefly devoted to a repertoire of world folk music. Regions represented in past concerts include Brazil, Eastern Europe (Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia and Bulgaria), Canada, Hawai'I, Hungary, Israel, France, Mexico, Newfoundland, Sweden, Peru, Argentina, Chile, Japan, Germany, Africa, the United States, Spain, Portugal, Russia, Greece, England and more.

Past musical guest teachers have included Mary Sherhart with music of the Balkans, Eduardo Mendonca with music from Brazil (both can be heard on our CD.) and Deneen Grant who introduced gospel music to the choir. The Treble Ensemble and Chamber Singers have also performed traditional Javanese with Gamelan Pacifica an Indonesian orchestra.

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We offer young singers a choral experience based on the approach fostered by Zoltan Kodály, which has produced tremendous success with children's choirs.

The program consists of four separate levels: the Children's Choir includes the first two auditioned performing levels (Children's Chorus and Treble Choir). The upper levels consist of The Ensemble and Chamber Singers.

All levels are treble choirs except the Chamber Singers, which is an soprano, alto, tenor, bass choir, offering boys with changed voices the opportunity to continue singing and learning in the Pacifica environment.

Each level is dedicated to excellence of musicianship by developing the skills available at different levels of the child's musical learning experience. The Ensemble and Chamber Singers include those students who have demonstrated a high degree of vocal and musicianship ability, along with a love of singing.

All performing levels emphasize note reading, vocal training and performance skills and meet once per week.

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The Children's Chorus is the beginning choir and the first performing level. An audition is required for entry.

The children at this level have demonstrated an ability to match pitch and sing a song reasonably in tune. Children's Chorus singers will improve their unison singing skills and may begin singing in two parts. Includes grades K to 2nd grade.

Singers are expected to practice for 10 minutes daily.

The beginning choir meets on Wednesdays from 5:30 through 6:20 and is directed by Sarah Bartolome.

The Children's Chorus rehearses at the Maple Leaf Lutheran Church in North Seattle.

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The Chamber Singers are one of our main performing choirs. They have performed at the 2000 Organization of American Kodály Educators, Benaroya Hall, Fred Hutchinsons Cancer Center and the Festival of Trees in Tacoma as well as many local music festivals.

Chamber Singer members include singers who have established good vocal technique, are good sight-readers, have ability to leap in vocally wider and more dissonant intervals and can hear dissonant harmonization. The Chamber Singers is the only non-treble voiced choir, taking male singers whose voices have changed. An audition is required for entry.

This choir sings almost solely in three- and four-part harmony. A much greater emphasis is placed on the performance of foreign language as well as advanced choral technique and accelerated reading readiness. Advanced sight-singing and written theory continue in this level.

The importance of each members responsibilities, particularly in their individual preparation for each rehearsal and performance is stressed. Singers are also encouraged to contribute to the ensemble through instrumental, compositional and other artistic venues.

Singers at this level are expected to practice their music at home daily for 20-30 minutes and work on theory at least once a week between rehearsals. Additionally the Chamber Singer girls may meet with the Treble Ensemble from time to time.

The Chamber Singers meet for 2.25 hours on Mondays from 5:30 - 7:45. The Chamber Singers are directed by Susan Senft.

The Chamber Singers rehearse at the Maple Leaf Lutheran Church in North Seattle.

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The Ensemble is one of our main performing choirs. They have performed at the 2000 Organization of American Kodály Educators, Benaroya Hall, Fred Hutchinsons Cancer Center and the Festival of Trees in Tacoma as well as many local music festivals.

When a child can sing independently in parts and demonstrates a healthy accurate vocal tone, he or she is ready for placement in this choir. An audition is required for entry.

Treble Ensemble members will learn three- and four-part singing as well as more advanced sight-reading skills. Singers receive instruction in language studies and the written theory program is continued. This level includes children in the 6th through 10th grade range.

The importance of each members responsibilities, particularly in their individual preparation for each rehearsal and performance is stressed. Singers are also encouraged to contribute to the ensemble through instrumental, compositional and other artistic venues.

Singers at this level are expected to practice their music at home daily for 20-30 minutes and work on theory at least once a week between rehearsals.

The Ensemble meets on Wednesdays from 5:30 through 7:15 and is directed by Amanda Baldwin.

The Treble Ensemble rehearse at the Maple Leaf Lutheran Church in North Seattle.

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The Treble Choir is the intermediate choir and is a performing choir. An audition is required for entry.

Children with no previous choir experience are accepted into this level. They will sing with other children who have progressed through the younger levels and who have already demonstrated a readiness to sing in parts. Intermediate level singers will continue to develop their Part-singing skills with vocal techniques and pentatonic sight singing being emphasized. The children will also begin a written music theory program. Includes children in the 3rd to 5th grade range.

Singers at this level are expected to practice their music at home daily for 15 minutes and work on theory at least once a week between rehearsals.

The intermediate choir meets on Wednesdays from 5:30 through 7:00 and is directed by Sarah Bartolome.

The Treble Choir rehearse at the Maple Leaf Lutheran Church in North Seattle.

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