Burien’s ChoralSounds Northwest will host two open community “Sings” on Tuesday, Aug. 17th and Tuesday, Aug. 24th, from 7pm – 8:30pm at St. Bernadette’s, located at 1028 SW 128th.

ChoralSounds is also introducing their new Artistic Director, Cathy Bleecker, who has an extensive background in choral music and musical theatre. In the early 90s, she served as an assistant professor of music at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, where she directed the University Chorale, University Singers and the “Park Avenue” vocal jazz ensembles. She left PLU to return to teaching high school (Central Kitsap and Bellevue) and then took a short break in her teaching career to study psychology (traditional, transpersonal and organizational) at Antioch University… just for fun! She has served as a guest conductor and adjudicator for music festivals across the U.S. and Canada, working with traditional choral and vocal jazz groups alike, and currently is also the director of music activities at The Evergreen School in Shoreline.

Here’s more from an email:

These fun evenings are designed for ChoralSounds members past and present to reconnect with friends, get singing voices going again, and to meet our new Artistic Director Cathy Bleecker.

But these “Sings” aren’t only for members. Friends, associates, family members and any other singers who might like to come out for an evening of fun singing are welcome! Come for one or come for both…but please join us for some no-pressure, no-cost, no-commitment — but definitely FUN — music-making!!

New Artistic Director Cathy Bleecker.

We will start each “Sing” with a warm-up, spend about an hour learning one or two pieces from one of the upcoming season’s shows. There will be time for some socializing — and we will end each evening “performing” the songs we have rehearsed!

ChoralSounds’ dynamic new Artistic Director, Cathy Bleecker has an extensive background in choral music and musical theatre. In the early 90s, she served as an assistant professor of music at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, where she directed the University Chorale, University Singers and the “Park Avenue” vocal jazz ensembles. She left PLU to return to teaching high school (Central Kitsap and Bellevue) and then took a short break in her teaching career to study psychology (traditional, transpersonal and organizational) at Antioch University… just for fun! She has served as a guest conductor and adjudicator for music festivals across the U.S. and Canada, working with traditional choral and vocal jazz groups alike, and currently is also the director of music activities at The Evergreen School in Shoreline.

Cathy’s theatre experience includes serving as director/music director for more than 30 full-scale musicals; writing, directing, and producing numerous staged choral revues; as well as acting, singing, and dancing. She served as music director for the highly acclaimed Woodinville High School theatre department for six years and was nominated twice as “Outstanding Music Director” by the 5th Avenue Theatre High School Musical Awards judges. Recently, she has served as music director for the Second Story Repertory Theatre in Redmond, and is currently in production with the new, north Seattle-based youth theatre group, CORE Theatrics.

Come meet Cathy at one of two CSN community “Sings” on August 17th and August 24th, from 7 until 8:30pm at St. Bernadette’s, and see for yourself why we are so thrilled about her leading ChoralSounds Northwest! More information available at www.nwassociatedarts.org or by calling 206.246.6040.

Total Experience Gospel Choir with President-Elect Barack Obama during the Summer of 2007.

Seattle’s internationally-famous Total Experience Gospel Choir is bringing its collective spiritual voice to Burien on Sunday, Dec. 7th at 9:30am, when they sing at Lake Burien Presbyterian Church.

Here’s a video to prep you for this experience, which is truly impressive:

Click here to view the embedded video.

WHAT: Total Experience Gospel Choir performs

WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 7 at 9:30am

WHERE: Lake Burien Presbyterian Church, located at 15003 14th Avenue SW in Burien (map below)

INFO: The Messenger’s Perspective Seattle’s legendary Total Experience Gospel Choir will lead worship at Lake Burien Presbyterian with infectiously joyful selections from their Intiman Theatre show, Black Nativity. A popular Northwest holiday tradition, Black Nativity is a mix of gospel music, dance, poetry and a re-telling of the Christmas story like you’ve never seen before. Don’t miss this chance to preview musical portions of the 2008 show right here at Lake Burien Presbyterian!

From the Total Experience Gospel Choir website:

The Total Experience Gospel Choir bursts with love, joy and enthusiasm – humanity! It is hailed as one of the Pacific Northwest’s finest soulful ensembles. Pastor Patrinell Staten Wright started the group as a gospel music class at Seattle’s Franklin High School in 1973. Since then the choir has grown to become a nationally and internationally known gospel singing group.

Another interesting anecdote about Total Experience Gospel Choir is that in January they teamed up with Pearl Jam’s Matt Cameron and a host of other talented musicians to record this song called “Fired Up, Ready To Go”:

Click here to view the embedded video.

To learn more about Total Experience Gospel Choir:

http://www.totalexperiencegospelchoir.org/

For tickets and information on the Intiman Theatre’s Black Nativity:

http://www.intiman.org/2008Season/bn.html

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