Rainier
Chorale was founded in the fall of 1982 when Marilee Plaks
and Ken Duley formed a community chorus to perform Handel's
Messiah with Rainier Symphony. The Chorale became an independent
organization in 1983, incorporating with the state and receiving
tax-exempt status in October of 1983. The first performance
under the direction of Mrs. Plaks, Haydn's The Creation,
was presented on May 1, 1983 at Kentwood High School. The
following year, Mendelssohn's Elijah was presented.
In July of 1986
Patricia Butler was hired as Artistic
Director. Under Pat's direction, the Chorale
performed musical selections ranging from works by Beethoven,
Handel, Haydn, and Mozart, to contemporary music by Gershwin
and other American composers. The group performed in many
venues, including the Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery and the
Nippon Kan Theatre in Seattle's International District.
In May
of 1990 Cindy Busler was hired as Artistic Director after
serving as Associate Conductor. Cindy introduced the group
to the works of Washington women composers. Works by well-established
composers and other 20th Century composers were performed
as well. Under Cindy's direction the Chorale participated
in the Good Will Games Welcoming Ceremonies; the dedication
of the new Highline Performing Arts Center with a performance
of Carl Orff's Carmina Burana as guests of Choral
Sounds Northwest; and, a highlight for the Chorale, an appearance
at Carnegie Hall for a performance of Mozart's Requiem
with other community choruses from across the United States.
In July
of 1996 Ron Bayer was hired as Artistic Director. Under
Ron's direction the Chorale has expanded its repertoire with
works of many old masters as well as up-and-coming 20th Century
composers, including a revisit to Carmina Burana.
Our concert season now begins with a Holiday concert of both
serious and more light-hearted works, continues with a Masterworks
concert in March or April, and ends with a favorite of our
public, an annual Pops concert in June.
In April of 2004 the Chorale celebrated
its 20th anniversary with a big gala, a dinner party with dancing
at Emerald Downs in Auburn. It was so much fun that the party was
repeated the following year, except an auction was included.
That first auction proved so successful that an annual auction
was established as the Chorale's primary fundraiser.
In 2006 the ante was upped a bit and an annual $1,000 scholarship
was announced, to be paid for from the proceeds of the auction;
the scholarship is awarded annually to a high school senior who
is planning to major or minor in vocal or choral music, or an undergraduate
college student who is majoring or minoring in vocal or choral music.
Also in 2006, the auction was moved to the Doubletree Inn at Southcenter,
as the space at Emerald Downs proved insufficient. In recent years, the
auction has been held on a more sporadic basis; the last one was in
October of 2011, at Green River Community College.
In June of 2007 the Chorale had
an opportunity to do something terrific for the community and
establish a group of youth choirs. Leora Schwitters agreed to
be the organizer and Artistic Director, and a group of parents
who were thrilled to have their children participate agreed to
roll up their sleeves and help with the work. In order to keep
both groups under one roof, an umbrella organization was created,
Rainier Choral Arts. September of 2007 marked the beginning of
Rainier Youth Choirs; the community has enthusiastically embraced
them, and they in turn enhance the commuinity by providing the
children with music education, including the study of music theory.
Their website is here.
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