Bellevue Chamber Chorus

Bellevue Chamber Chorus, founded in 1984, performs three major concerts each season, encompassing a variety of choral literature from the classical standards and contemporary works to "world music", Broadway hits, and vocal jazz. The Chorus often joins other ensembles in performances of major choral/orchestral works, such as Mozart's Vespers and Requiem, Faure's Requiem, Verdi's Requiem, Handel's Messiah, Orff's Carmina Burana, Brahms' Requiem, Rutter's Mass of the Children, and Ariel Ramirez' Misa por la Paz y la Justicia. The ensemble has premiered works by regional composers, including commissioned works for the Washington State Centennial Celebration, the grand opening of the Theatre at Meydenbauer Center, a special 20th anniversary season commissioned piece, That Music Always Round Me, by Seattle composer John Muehleisen, and co-commissions of pieces by Andre Thomas, Eric Whitacre and Ola Gjeilo. The Chorus has released three CDs: "Timeframes", "Retrospective", and "Christmas Visions, Winter Dreams".

Bellevue Chamber Chorus tours often and has performed in Carnegie Hall, various locations in Europe, the International Music Festival (2000) in Sydney, Australia, and twice at the invitational Kathaumixw International Choral Festival in Powell River, British Columbia, where they won first place in 2008 in the adult mixed chorus category. Other performances include the Leavenworth International Choral Festival, the international Rolling Requiem in memory of September 11th, as one of the regional choruses in the NEA sponsored American Masterpieces Choral Festival in Seattle, and in Kelowna, B.C. as part of the Okanogan Choral Society Series. The Chorus toured the south of France in the summer of 2017 and participated in the 22nd International Choir Festival in Provence, and the 9th International Choir Festival in Aveyron. The Chorus was selected as one of six choirs to perform in a special GSCC event "Welcome Home Morten Lauridsen" in October 2019. During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic (2020-2022), the Chorus released ten virtual choir pieces on YouTube, including Roots, a special commission by Ola Gjeilo. In 2020 the Chorus started a new biannual emerging composer competition, premiering the first two winners in May 2022. Bellevue Chamber Chorus will visit Auckland, NZ this July (2024) to compete in the World Choir Games.

Bellevue Chamber Chorus is a non-profit organization, which receives its support from the generous donations of people interested in fine musical experiences on the Eastside.