In the 1926-1927 academic year, the Pacific Lutheran College Dean of Music, Joseph Edwards, recruited an a cappella choir to sing in the style of the St. Olaf choir, his alma mater. The group found early success, performing at local churches and being broadcast on the radio during their first year in existence. Edwards led the choir on regional tours, into Canada, and most notably to Chicago in 1931. By the end of his tenure, Edwards and his choir had built a national profile, earning the moniker “The Choir of the West.”
From these beginnings, the Choir of the West would grow into a renowned ensemble touring the world and performing for presidents and kings. Click the buttons to explore the tenures of each of its seven directors in more detail, or follow the group’s history via a timeline linked below.
Directors
Click below to follow the history of the Choir of the West through the careers of each of its seven directors in detail.
Or, click the timeline to view the highlights of the Choir’s first one hundred years.
Joseph Edwards era (1927-1937)
Explore the Joseph Edwards era of the Choir of the West (1927-1937)
Gunnar Malmin era (1937-1964)
Explore the Gunnar Malmin era of the Choir of the West (1937-1964)
Maurice Skones era (1964-1983)
Explore the Maurice Skones era of the Choir of the West (1964-1983)
Richard Sparks era (1983-2001)
Explore the Richard Sparks era of the Choir of the West (1983-2001)
Kathryn Lehmann era (2001-2006)
Explore the Kathryn Lehmann era of the Choir of the West (2001-2006)
Richard Nance era (2006-2022)
Explore the Richard Nance era of the Choir of the West (2006-2022)
Brian Galante era (2022-present)
Explore the Brian Galante era of the Choir of the West (2022-present)
Timeline (1927-2026)
A brief tour through the Choir of the West’s history (1927-2026)