Our Mission:

Emerald City Women’s Chorus is a non-audition chorus in North Seattle that provides an easy-going, fun, and welcoming community for all women who love to sing simply for the joy of it.

We Value:

  • Inclusion

  • Excellent sound

  • Variety of music

  • Manageable time commitment

Join Emerald City Women’s Chorus

We invite women of all ages and all voice parts to join our chorus. All levels of musical experience and knowledge are welcome. We are a supportive community of singers who sing a mix of 3 and 4 part music and a variety of genres, including contemporary, classical, folk and rock ‘n roll. Besides having fun, we continually strive for an excellent sound.

Location:

Woodland Park United Methodist Church - 302 N 78th Street, Seattle WA 98103. Parking entrance on N 78th Street.

Streaming also available in addition to live sessions.

When:

Fall 2024 Term: Monday, September 16th - December 2nd, 7:30 - 9:00 pm (sectionals October 21st, no rehearsal November 4th)

Chorus Performance: Sunday, December 8th at 2:30 pm @ Music Center of the Northwest

Spring 2025 Term: Monday, January 13th - March 31st, 7:30 - 9:00 pm
(sectionals February 3rd, no rehearsal February 17th)

Chorus Performance: Sunday, April 6th at 2:30 pm @ Music Center of the Northwest

Cost:

$125.00 per term

Expectations:

We expect members to attend rehearsals and be personally responsible for learning the music. Proof of vaccination is required for those attending in person.  Wearing masks is optional and at the member's choice for all in-person rehearsals and performances.

Full COVID-19 Policy and Vaccination Self-Attestation Form documents are found under Member Guidelines on the members only page.

Fall Term Registration Now Closed!

Spring Term Registration Opens
December 9th

Register for Spring Term Here!

Other Payment Options:

By Phone: (206) 526 - 8443
By Check: To “Music Center”
P.O. Box 30757, Seattle, WA 98113

Not Sure Yet? Try Us Out!

Send your questions to
emeraldcitywomenschorus@gmail.com

or call Music Center at
(206) 526 - 8443

Still Want to Know More?

Check us out on Facebook

View our Member Guidelines

Go to About Us

Support Emerald City Women’s Chorus

Make a donation directly to the Emerald City Women’s Chorus

About Us

Our History

The Emerald City Women’s Chorus was created from the Rain City Women’s Chorus. In Spring 2017, the founder and director of the Rain City Women’s Chorus, Jo-Ann Christen, retired. Upon her retirement, the chorus disbanded after 34 years of providing women who love to sing an opportunity to come together each week in North Seattle to learn new music, make friends, and share their passion for music with the Seattle community at quarterly concerts. Many of these chorus members wanted to continue singing together, so a small team worked together to make it happen. In partnership with the Music Center of the Northwest and our long-time Accompanist (now Music Director), Tom Hecker, the Emerald City Women’s Chorus was established in Fall 2017.

The chorus is managed by a team of five chorus members. Administrative services are provided by Music Center. Our musical year is typically September to June and is divided into three terms – Fall, Winter, and Spring.

We currently have about 30 members and would like to grow our membership to at least our pre-pandemic level of more than 60 members. New members are always welcome at the beginning of each term!

Tom Hecker

Casie Dietrich

Our Music Director
Tom Hecker holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Composition from the University of Montana and studied Accompaniment at the graduate level at Arizona State University. For many years he accompanied the Rain City Women’s Chorus and the Pacifica Children’s Choir. In 2017 he helped launch the Emerald City Women’s Chorus and was our Accompanist until January 2022 when he became our Music Director. He is also the Music Director at Woodland Park United Methodist Church and maintains a full piano studio.

Our Accompanist
Casie Dietrich earned a Bachelor'sdegree in Piano Performance from Bowling Green State University and studied Piano Performance at the graduate level at The University of Washington. She currently maintains a full piano studio in the Seattle area. Casie has accompanied choirs, vocalists, and instrumentalists for over 20 years. She is also the Music Director at All Saints’ Lutheran Church in Auburn, Washington. Casie became our Accompanist in 2022.

Why We Sing with the Emerald City Women’s Chorus

“Great Time! Beautiful Music!
Fun, friendly, and welcoming! Every practice is a joy! Great leadership from talented Music Director and Accompanist. Brings joy to yourself and others.”
- Carol

“The Emerald City Women’s Chorus started life as the Rain City Women’s Chorus as a class in the Nathan Hale Community Night School, a joint project of the Seattle Parks Department and the Seattle Public Schools. It was intended as a mixed chorus but not enough men joined so it became a women’s chorus. It was a fun, no audition chance to sing a variety of music across every genre with lots of fun gatherings beyond the singing and performing. The night school program only lasted a few years, so Jo-Ann Christen, our Music Director, hunted up space to rent for practices and continued the chorus as her personal project. When she retired, chorus members reconstituted the chorus as Emerald City Women’s Chorus with the same commitment to a wide variety of music, sung better than we thought we could sing for the joy of it, and new friendships. So here I am 30+ years later still enjoying the range of music and the friendships.”
- Nancy

“I joined Rain City Women’s Chorus in 2010 and kept going when it became Emerald City Women’s Chorus. I love the types of music we sing, my chorus friends, and the relaxed nature of the chorus. Plus, we have always had amazingly talented Music Directors and Accompanists who work hard every rehearsal to make it a fun learning experience for chorus members.”
- Sharon