
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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