About

About Northwest Repertory Singers

To lift voices in song: creating art and fostering community through choral music.

Established in Fall 2001 by Dr. Paul Schultz, Northwest Repertory Singers (NWRS) is a premier volunteer choral ensemble based in Tacoma, Washington.  In 2018 Kyle Haugen was named the second Artistic Director of the ensemble upon Dr. Schultz’s retirement after a career spanning more than six decades.

“… a jewel among chamber choruses…”

—morten lauridsen

 

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Audio and Video

“Shenandoah”

JUNE 2021: Our online “virtual choir” offerings conclude with a poignant setting of the folk song, “Shenandoah.” Thank you for supporting us this season as we continued to bring you music online during the pandemic. All of our 20th season videos may be found at our YouTube channel.

Two Contrasting Pieces from Our Online 20th Season

MAY 2021: As we continue to offer music while separated from each other and from our audiences, we hope you’ll enjoy our two most recent choral videos. We publicize premieres on Facebook and all videos may be found at our YouTube channel.

“Meet Me at the Green Glen” features live audio from the 2018 farewell concert of our late founder and former artistic director, Paul Schultz, as he conducts the world premiere of a poignant piece written for the occasion by his wife, composer Donna Gartman Schultz. Videos and photos of green glens from around the world give new dimension to the poetry by John Clare.

“The Wellerman” is our celebration of the sea shanty! Each singer recorded audio and video separately on a mobile device, and the parts were painstakingly edited together to make a “virtual” choir. We bet you’ll find yourself singing the chorus of this traditional sea shanty from New Zealand with us: “Soon may the Wellerman come / to bring us sugar and tea and rum!”

DECEMBER 2020: This 40-minute program, hosted by Artistic Director Kyle Haugen, features new “virtual choir” presentations and archival recordings set to beautiful imagery. Video elements include landscape aerials, NASA footage, and even a computer-generated animation of the ethereal sounds of “Snowforms.” And, to help us celebrate our twentieth season, NWRS Founder and Artistic Director Emeritus Paul Schultz joins via a recorded Zoom interview. From our choir family to yours, we wish you peace and joy this holiday. Season’s Greetings! https://youtu.be/RIqa1rDiN0k
FALL 2020: Welcome to the start of our 20th Season!
During this season we are making the most of what we have to offer and delivering a first time online experience to represent our music this season.
We hope you enjoy!

Special Presentation from Our Archives

MAY 2019: We wish we could share our May 2 and 3 concerts with you. From our musical family to yours, we hope you are staying safe and well. In place of our concerts, we’re offering this online audio presentation of one of our milestone performances: Ein deutsches Requiem, by Johannes Brahms. Watch and listen below or cast to your device via YouTube. May the poignancy and power of this music inspire you during this time. Ein deutsches Requiem, Op. 45, Johannes Brahms (1833–1897) Northwest Repertory Singers with Rainier Symphony Conducted by Paul W. Schultz, Founder and Artistic Director Emeritus, Northwest Repertory Singers Charles Robert Stephens, baritone Janeanne Houston, soprano Live performance, May 2014 Text and translation here.
You can always see and hear more of NWRS at our YouTube Video Channel

NWRS Halloween 2022
Subscribe and share with friends and loved ones! 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐠: http://nwrs.org/donate ​𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞: http://nwrs.org Northwest Repertory Singers concludes the 2020-2021 online season with the beloved SHENENDOAH, beautifully capturing a longing for reunion. Thank you for supporting us during our 20th season while we have been apart due to COVID-19. We hope to see our singers and audiences in person soon! 𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐠: 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐰𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝟐𝟎𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟎–𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏 "Shenandoah" Traditional American Folk Song Arranged by Kevin A. Memley Copyright © 2018 by Woodland Hills Music Press Administered worldwide by Fred Bock Music Company Used by permission All Rights Reserved Images licensed by Adobe Stock
Shenandoah (arr. Kevin A. Memley)
Subscribe and share with friends and loved ones! 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐠: http://nwrs.org/donate ​𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞: http://nwrs.org NWRS dives into sea shanties with "The Wellerman," a traditional New Zealand folk song about whalers who wrestle their catch and wait expectantly for "sugar and tea and rum" to arrive with supply ships owned by a "Wellerman," or one of the Weller brothers. Here's the Wikipedia article with more background: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wellerman. Enjoy! 𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐠: 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐰𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝟐𝟎𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟎–𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏 "The Wellerman" Traditional New Zealand folk song (sea shanty) Arranged by Jacob Narverud Copyright © 2021 by JN Music Used by permission All Rights Reserved Stock video licensed by Envato Elements
The Wellerman (arr. Jacob Narverud)
Subscribe and share with friends and loved ones! 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐠: http://nwrs.org/donate ​𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞: http://nwrs.org "Meet Me in the Green Glen," by composer Donna Gartman Schultz, sets the poetry of John Clare (1793–1864) as an evocative exploration of love and the beauty of nature. The piece is scored for SATB choir, violin, viola, and piano. Northwest Repertory Singers is conducted by Donna's husband, the late Paul Schultz, as part of his farewell concert with the ensemble in June 2018. The live recording features Paul and Donna's son, David Schultz, on viola, with daughter-in-law Emily Sportsman on violin. The video includes scenes from the Olympic National Park in Washington State—a few hours' drive from where Donna, Paul, and David lived for many years—as well as other "green glens." This video is dedicated in loving memory of Dr. Paul W. Schultz (1938–2021), who founded Northwest Repertory Singers in 2001 and served as Artistic Director until his retirement in 2018. 𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐠: 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐰𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝟐𝟎𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟎–𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏 "Meet Me in the Green Glen" Words by John Clare (1793–1864) Music by Donna Gartman Schultz (b. 1948) Copyright © 2018 Donna Gartman Schultz Stock video and images licensed by Envato Elements and Adobe Stock
Meet Me in the Green Glen (Donna Gartman Schultz)
Hope in Our Song: Northwest Repertory Singers 20th Season Join Northwest Repertory Singers for a 2020 alternative to our annual holiday performances! This online mini-concert is our gift to you as we find ways to connect through music even while we are apart during COVID-19. Hosted by Artistic Director Kyle Haugen, the program features traditional carols and less common gems for the season, including "virtual" choir presentations of the all-time classic "Ding Dong! Merrily on High" (with NWRS accompanist Margie Skreen "virtually" providing four-hand piano accompaniment) and a poignant modern song in a popular style, "The World for Christmas." As part of our 20th season celebration, we include a re-release of our professionally produced video of John Gardner's "Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day" from 2010, conducted by NWRS Founder and Artistic Director Emeritus Paul Schultz, who makes a recorded appearance via Zoom. Archival concert recordings are set to video imagery; highlights include a lush tenor/bass arrangement of "I Wonder As I Wander" with cello and piano set to winter landscape aerial photography, and the mesmerizing "Snowforms" for a capella soprano/alto voices paired with a striking computer-generated waveform animation. (Duration: Approx. 38 minutes) Subscribe to our channel and share with friends and loved ones! 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐠: http://nwrs.org/donate 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞: http://nwrs.org Program and acknowledgments: Northwest Repertory Singers Artistic Director: Kyle S. Haugen Accompanist: Marjorie Skreen Artistic Director Emeritus: Paul W. Schultz 01:07 "Ding Dong! Merrily on High!" Words: George Ratcliffe Woodward, 1848–1934 Melody: Jehan Tabourot, 1519–1593 Setting: Ryan Murphy, b. 1971 Walton Music Corporation/GIA Publications 04:42 "This Little Light" Words: African American spiritual Music: Moses Hogan, 1957–2003 Hal Leonard Corporation 10:36 "I Wonder As I Wander" Words and melody: John Jacob Niles, 1892–1980 Setting: Kyle S. Haugen, b. 1973 Augsburg Fortress/G. Schirmer 18:01 "Snowforms" Words: Eskimo-Aleut terms for snow Music: R. Murray Schafer, b. 1933 Arcana Editions (14:59 introductory interview with Paul Schultz and view of the nontraditional music notation) 27:44 "Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day" Words: Traditional English carol Music: John Gardner, 1917–2011 Oxford University Press/C.F. Peters (26:17 introductory comments with Paul Schultz) 31:28 "The World for Christmas" Words and music: Anders Edenroth, b. 1963 Walton Music Corporation/GIA Publications 36:37 "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" Words and melody: Traditional English carol Setting: Kyle S. Haugen, b. 1973 Manuscript NWRS photo by Ross Mulhausen Stock image by Gerd Altmann/Pixabay Stock video licensed by Envato Elements and Adobe Stock Public domain audio and video from NASA online
NWRS December 2020 Online Mini-Concert
Join Northwest Repertory Singers for an online mini-concert, including newly-recorded "virtual" pieces and favorites from our archives. Premiering on YouTube Saturday, December 12, 2020 at 7 p.m. (PST). https://youtu.be/RIqa1rDiN0k 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐠: http://nwrs.org/donate 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞: http://nwrs.org
December 2020 Online Mini-Concert Preview
Subscribe and share with friends and loved ones! 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐠: http://nwrs.org/donate 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞: http://nwrs.org Even with all the challenges and burdens of 2020, we look forward to the Thanksgiving holiday. Northwest Repertory Singers presents a 2019 archival concert recording of “The Road Home” by Stephen Paulus (1949–2014), together with beautiful photographs of our home city of Tacoma, Washington and nearby Mount Rainier. In the words of the composer, “The most powerful and beautiful message is often a simple one.” Read more from the composer and librettist at https://stephenpaulus.com/blogs/news/17806884-work-story-the-road-home "The Road Home" Words by Michael Dennis Browne (b. 1940) Music by Stephen Paulus (1949–2014), from an American melody (The Southern Harmony, 1835) https://stephenpaulus.com/products/the-road-home Hope in Our Song: Northwest Repertory Singers 20th Season 2020–2021 * * * Images in this video: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mt_Rainier_Autumn_(235251127).jpeg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Grand_Staircase_(Tacoma,_Washington).jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Washington_State_History_Museum_Arch_(Tacoma,_Washington).jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Union_Station_1_(Tacoma,_Washington).jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wright_Park_(Tacoma,_Washington).jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Point_Defiance_Forest.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_sun_always_teases_me_on_Point_Defiance._-_panoramio.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Autumn_in_Paradise_(6997791959).jpg https://www.pikrepo.com/fczyf/houses-in-the-south-j-street-historic-district-in-tacoma-washington https://pixy.org/src/3/32888.jpg
The Road Home (arr. Stephen Paulus)
Subscribe and share with friends and loved ones! 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐠: http://nwrs.org/donate 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞: http://nwrs.org Kyle Haugen, NWRS Artistic Director, brings you greetings from our neighborhood in the Proctor District of Tacoma, Washington. We had hoped to invite Dr. Paul Schultz, Founder and Artistic Director Emeritus, as guest conductor this season, but this isn't possible due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Join us in sending warm wishes to our friend and mentor, who recently moved across the country. And, revisit our 2018 behind-the-scenes home movie of Mack Wilberg's inspiring "Anthem of Peace," recorded just before Paul's last concert with NWRS. 𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐠: 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐰𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝟐𝟎𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟎–𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏 Acknowledgements ”Anthem of Peace” Based on “The Power of Song” (Estonian Folk Song) and “We Shall Walk Together in the Valley of Peace” (American Spiritual) Arranged by Mack Wilberg Licensed by Hinshaw Music, Inc.
Anthem of Peace (arr. Mack Wilberg)
Northwest Repertory Singers shares a live concert recording of 𝐸𝑖𝑛 𝑑𝑒𝑢𝑡𝑠𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠 𝑅𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑒𝑚 by Johannes Brahms as May 2020 concerts are canceled due to the novel coronavirus. (𝑀𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑤) 𝐸𝑖𝑛 𝑑𝑒𝑢𝑡𝑠𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠 𝑅𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑒𝑚, Op. 45, Johannes Brahms (1833–1897) Conducted by Paul W. Schultz Founder and Artistic Director Emeritus, Northwest Repertory Singers 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ Rainier Symphony Charles Robert Stephens, baritone Janeanne Houston, soprano Live performance, May 2014 0:00:37 1. Selig sind, die da Leid tragen (Chorus) 0:10:53 2. Denn alles Fleisch es ist wie Gras (Chorus) 0:25:46 3. Herr, lehre doch mich, daß ein Ende mit mir haben muß (Baritone and Chorus) 0:35:44 4. Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen, Herr Zebaoth (Chorus) 0:42:21 5. Ihr habt nun Traurigkeit (Soprano and Chorus) 0:49:14 6. Denn haben wir hie keine blebende Statt (Baritone and Chorus) 1:00:51 7. Selig sind die Toten (Baritone and Chorus) http://www.nwrs.org Text and translation: http://www.classical-music.com/article/brahmss-german-requiem-text
NWRS Archive: Brahms Requiem
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