It seems like just yesterday....

By Patty McKeehan, Alto, Magnolia Chorale since 2013

---

What a wonderful way to celebrate 35 years of challenging, fun, and poignant community choral experiences. On May 4 & 5, 2024 Magnolia Chorale celebrated that milestone with wonderful music, delectable food and drink, and fantastic company. Both the Saturday Gala and the Sunday matinee boasted packed houses of enthusiastic Chorale supporters from over the decades.

---

L to R: Former music directors Don Austin and Heather MacLaughlin Garbes, current music director Joseph To, and former music director Julia Tai.

​There were so many memorable highlights across the two concerts that it’s hard to narrow them down, but here are a few that stick in my memory:

• Seeing three former music directors—Don Austin, Heather MacLaughlin Garbes, and Julia Tai—plus our former long-time assistant director Evan Norberg, and past board presidents Jean Withers and Ann Macfarlane in the audience for one (and in some cases two) of the concerts. Our most recent former director—Jean-Marie Kent—would have been there but had her own set of concerts with the Seattle Children’s Chorus where she is Artistic Director. Ron Haight, who directed the Chorale from Spring 1997 to Spring 1999 ran the sound board for the Sunday matinee concert at Church of the Ascension.
• The chance to chat with several former members of the Chorale, who not only attended, but many of whom joined us on stage in singing a favorite contemporary arrangement of “Shenandoah” first performed by the Chorale in 2003.
• The premiere of “To Anyone Who Needs a Song”—a brand new piece commissioned for our 35th anniversary celebration from local composer Theresa Redmond. It was such fun to master the challenging rhythms and intriguing harmonies of a piece that captures the special energy and comradery of singing in a choir.
• The showstopping high notes of some of the sopranos in “She Loves You” and “Hey Jude” in The Beatles in Revue, which delighted the audiences (and the rest of the Chorale).
• A spectacular spread of small bites and luscious desserts—catered by Tuxedoes and Tennis Shoes—paired with Monte Ferro wine, Pike Brewing craft beer, and Café Appassionato coffee.
• Founding member Pat Gaffney’s heartfelt speech that provided some little-known details about the Chorale’s history and concluded with his announcement that he was retiring from the Chorale as a singing member.

 
This anniversary was actually a few years late as we first planned to celebrate our 30th year in Spring 2020. Those plans were of course put on hold by the Covid pandemic. However, under the strong leadership of our then Music Director Jean-Marie Kent and the board, as well as the loyal support of many long-time members, the Chorale survived until we could meet in person again in Spring 2022.
 
Since then, under the energetic direction of Music Director Joseph To and with the addition of many new singers and board members, the Chorale has a renewed enthusiasm that continues to draw people who love to sing as part of a diverse choral community. Our new semester starts in September 2024, so if you’d like to sing with us you can find more details here. We hope to see you either in the choir or in the audience as we embark on the next chapter of Magnolia Chorale. 

---