About Whatcom Chorale

The Whatcom Chorale is a community chorus based in Bellingham Washington. The chorus has over 100 members from Whatcom and Skagit Counties in Northwest Washington. The Chorale is dedicated to presenting concerts of highest quality and to providing opportunities for people in the community to experience the joy of singing fine a cappella and accompanied choral music.


About Whatcom Chorale Sinfonia
Spring 2004 marked the debut of the Whatcom Chorale Sinfonia, a new chamber orchestra started by the Chorale and their director Allan Cline to serve as the accompaning orchestra for the Chorale and to present concerts of chamber orchestral music to the community. In their debut concert they performed the Mozart Grand Mass in c minor with the Chorale. The audience responded with an instant standing ovation to the combined expertise of the orchestra and the Chorale - a fitting beginning to a new musical relationship between singers and instrumentalists.


CHARLES PETERSON, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR and CONDUCTOR

Charles Peterson has an active career as a choral conductor and teacher of singing. He has conducted choirs at university and high school levels, as well as churches and community choruses. He has also conducted operas and musical theater productions.

As a teacher of singing, Mr. Peterson taught on the voice faculties of Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Western Washington University (Adjunct Faculty) in Bellingham, and St. Cloud State University in Minnesota. He not only directed the Concert Choir there, but was director of Opera Theater and served as chair of the voice department. At present, he has a private studio of voice in Seattle.

Educational training includes a Diploma in Sacred Music, Voice – Choral, from Moody Bible Institute; a B.M.E., Indiana University School of Music; and an M.A., Western Washington University – Voice – Music History. Mr. Peterson has also had graduate studies at Roosevelt University in Chicago, the University of Washington, and Voice Apprenticeship studies in Hanover, Germany.

Mr. Peterson is a frequent adjudicator and clinician for the National Association of Teachers of Singing, Metropolitan Opera District Auditions, American choral Directors Association, and the Music Teachers National Association.

He has been an active long standing member of the American Choral Conductors Association, the National Association of Teachers of Singing, and the Music Teachers National Association.