MISSION: Northwest Associated Arts provides performances that enliven, enrich, entertain and educate members and audiences alike while appealing to a variety of musical tastes. Members are energized by an environment that fosters bonds of community, serving and respecting people of all ages, cultures and ethnic groups.
VISION: NWAA offers both musical education as well as performance opportunities for a broad range of musicians, from grade three through adulthood. We believe that the discipline, camaraderie and pride instilled through music are valuable for people at any stage of their lives. We know that offering choral experience and education to singers of all skill levels creates a fertile environment for personal growth and for professional level performances, while fostering a healthy community among our membership and audience.
ABOUT: Northwest Associated Arts, Inc. is an IRS-registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, and is governed by an elected Board of Directors. Donations to CSN are fully tax-deductible.
HISTORY: Northwest Associated Arts was founded in 1984 as Highline Civic Chorale in response to the need for a vibrant, diverse south-end (Seattle) chorus that would bring quality choral music into the community while challenging experienced singers. In 1986, the Chorale changed its name to ChoralSounds Northwest (CSN) and co-founder Mark A. Adrian was engaged to conduct the ensemble. In 2000 Cantaré Vocal Ensemble was added to the organization in part to provide CSN singers with an opportunity to sing and perform classical choral repertoire in intimate settings. In 2003 as school districts in our community continued to cut music programs, our leadership saw a tremendous need for a way to involve our youngest citizens in the choral arts, and founded the Youth Choral Education Program (YCEP) under the direction of Paula Hawkins. The first ensemble in YCEP was the CSN Children’s Chorus for singers in grades 3-5. Within a year the tremendous success of the Children’s Chorus led to the formation of the CSN Youth Chorus, for singers in grades 6-8.
In 2005 CSN created Northwest Associated Arts as an umbrella organization to better encompass the range of performing groups now operating in our organization. As part of this reorganization, the Children’s Chorus became KidSounds Northwest and the Youth Chorus was re-named YouthSounds Northwest. Mark A. Adrian resigned as conductor of ChoralSounds Northwest in 2006, leading to five years of change in the artistic leadership of CSN, culminating in the engagement of new Artistic Director Brian J. Winnie in 2011.
In 2007 the continued success of the YCEP led NWAA to form yet another chorus, TeenSounds Northwest. Inspired by the many young people and their parents who asked for singing opportunities for older singers, TeenSounds welcomes singers in grades 9-12.
In 2009 Cantaré Vocal Ensemble, under the baton of Mark Adrian, spun off from NWAA and is now an independent chorus based in North Seattle.
In 2011 NWAA formed a new chorus, SilverSounds Northwest, under the direction of Paula Hawkins, providing a musical home to the retired members of the South King County area. Their annual mainstage concerts prove that you really are, “Never too old to rock-and-roll!”
In 2013, Artistic Director Dr. Brian J. Winnie created VocalSounds Northwest, a 16-voice ensemble designed for those more experienced singers in CSN who were committed to singing more advanced repertoire associated with a chamber ensemble.
In 2014, Dr. Winnie accepted a professorship in Kansas, and CSN engaged Ryan Ellis as its new Artistic Director, continuing the renewed focus on musical excellence and quality performances by the ensemble. In addition, Paula Hawkins stepped down as conductor of the Youth choruses, and the NWAA engaged two new Artistic Directors: Colleen Thomas-Reitsma to conduct KidSounds and YouthSounds, and Kerstin Shaffer as the new conductor for TeenSounds.