Established in 1968, the Northwest Chamber Chorus under the direction of Mark Kloepper, has long been recognized as one of the finest choirs in the Pacific Northwest. The 40-voice ensemble of men and women is critically acclaimed for its compelling performances of the best classical choral music. The group's extensive repertoire ranges from Medieval and Renaissance music to 21st century compositions.
Celebrating its 48th year of bringing great choral music to audiences in the Puget Sound region, the Northwest Chamber Chorus enjoys large, enthusiastic audiences and extensive support and praise from the arts community. The group is a member of the Greater Seattle Choral Consortium, and is featured often on Classical KING FM as part of the Northwest Focus program. The NWCC offers four commercial CDs including the 40th Anniversary Live!, Songs of the Americas, Handel Coronation Anthems and A Ceremony of Carols and the new Northwest Chamber Chorus Sings Folk Songs, Hymns and Spirituals CD.
The Northwest Chamber Chorus has performed with the Seattle Symphony, the Northwest Chamber Orchestra, Seattle Youth Symphony, Cascadia Brass, Spectrum Dance Company, ACT Theatre, Philharmonia Northwest, Baroque Northwest, and the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra as part of their annual Duke Ellington Sacred Concert. The Northwest Chamber Chorus receives financial support from a variety of sources including individual donors, local businesses, an annual Spring Benefit and Auction, and grants from the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture and 4Culture of King County.
Mark Kloepper Music Director of the Northwest Chamber Chorus since 2006, began his life-long love of choral music at age 7 as a boy-soprano in his church choir. He earned a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Washington, where he studied under Joan Conlon, Geoffrey Boers, and Peter Eros. He has also received training from Rod Eichenberger, Helmut Rilling, Alice Parker, Robert Shaw, Paul Hillier, Moses Hogan, Anton Armstrong and Peter Philips and has conducted internationally in Europe, Cuba, Canada, and the USA. Having directed musical theatre, opera choruses, church choir and school choirs, Mark now directs the vocal music program at the prestigious Tacoma School of the Arts.
Under his leadership, the NWCC went on tour to Slovakia and Hungary, participated in the Seattle Sings Festival, American Masterpieces Choral Festival with Dale Warland and Morten Lauridsen, appeared in the St. John Concert series in Olympia, Seattle Presents series at Seattle City Hall, in ACT Theatre productions, and as guest artists at the Northwest Gold Choir Festival. He has directed the Chamber Chorus for ten years in the annual Duke Ellington Sacred Concert presented by Earshot Jazz. In addition, he premiered Carpe Deum by Northwest composer Joan Szymko, commissioned for the NWCC in honor of the 40th Anniversary Season.
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