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Timelines

Founded in 1964, Cascadian Chorale has several interesting facts along its 60 years of development.

Directors'  Tenure and Important Events

(1973-1988) 'Brumbaughtic'
Harley Brumbaugh
(1994-2007) ‘Tschoppish’
Philip Tschopp
2008-present ‘Cannonesque’
Gary D. Cannon

(1968-1970)

Karen R. Hutchison

1972
Brenner
(1988-1992) 
Dorothy Harwood
(1992-1994)
Nelson Enns
1966
Jack Kunz

60

th Birthday!

1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
2020
Click on the colored dots to see more information.
Year

<Event Description>

Directors'  Tenure

1966

Jack Kunz

1968-1970

Karen R. Hutchison

1972

Brenner

1973 - 1988

Harley Brumbaugh ("Brumbaughtic")

1988 - 1992

Dorothy Harwood

1992 - 1994

Nelson Enns

1992 - 2007

Philip Tschopp ("Tschoppish")

2008 - present

Gary D. Cannon ("Cannonesque")

Important Events

1965

The Washington state legislature authorizes a two-year college for Bellevue.

1966

Bellevue Community College opens; Jack Kunz is founding director for the college choir.

1976

BCC holds its 10th anniversary celebration, for which the college choir premieres a piece by director Harley Brumbaugh.

1981

Choir first referred to as “Cascadian Chorale”.

1981

BCC holds its 15th anniversary celebration, which includes the choir performing Brumbaugh’s Alma Mater.

1994

Cascadian Chorale performs Bern Herbolsheimer's In the bleak midwinter, beginning a twenty-year relationship with the prominent Seattle composer.

1994

The Cascadian Singers chamber ensemble is established as part of Cascadian Chorale and holds its own concerts through the ’90’s

1996

Cascadian Chorale premieres Comrades and Lovers by Troy Peters, establishing a tradition of premiering at least one new work by a Northwest composer almost every year.

2000

The Cascadian Chorale Foundation, which for several years funded regular voice lessons for Chorale singers, is established.

2000

The Cascadian/Cornish Prize is established to encourage student compositions. The contest is later opened to all composers.

2001

Bern Herbolsheimer is named as Cascadian's first-ever Composer-in-Residence.

2001

Cascadian Chorale becomes independent of BCC.

2002

The Cascadian Prize Composition Contest is initiated

2003

Cascadian Singers records Premiere, an album of new works by David White, Bern Herbolsheimer and Troy Peters.

2008

Gary D. Cannon begins his tenure as Cascadian's longest-serving conductor.

2010

Cascadian Chorale performs the Mozart Requiem at Benaroya Hall in Seattle.

2010

Ingrid Verhulsdonk begins her long-standing tenure as Cascadian's collaborative pianist.

2011

Cascadian Chorale premieres Missa brevis, the first of several new works by Cascadian singer Christopher Lee Fraley.

2013

Cascadian Chorale collaborates with Sine Nomine to present Tallis's 40-part motet, Spem in alium.

2015

To commemorate its 50th anniversary, Cascadian Chorale records Welcome Home, an album of music by William Billings, Randall Thompson, and five local composers.

2017

Cascadian Chorale tours to Vancouver, British Columbia, with Sacramento Master Singers.

2020 - 2021

Performances are canceled due to global COVID-19 pandemic. Cascadian Chorale continues to rehearse online and in public parks.

2025

As part of its 60th anniversary celebrations, Cascadian Chorale presents the Requiem by Cascadian singer Jeremy Kings, marking Cascadian's 47th premiere in 30 years.

Concerts with Premiere Performances

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Cascadian Chorale

Box 53292, Bellevue, WA 98015

425-202-5112

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© 2025 by Cascadian Chorale

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