SMC & SWC Welcomes Paul Caldwell for 2016-2017 Season

This October marks Paul Caldwell's very first concert as the new artistic director for Seattle Men's Chorus (SMC) and Seattle Women's Chorus (SWC). SWC kicks off the 2016-2017 season with Unveiled, a five performance run from October 21-29, inside Capitol Hill's historic Saint Mark's Cathedral. SMC continues the season with their highly anticipated holiday concert, Silver & Soul, at Benaroya Hall from December 4-22, 2016.

The season continues in 2017 with SWC's A Woman's World in March and SMC's Born This Way in April. Paul's first season closes with SMC's Diva-licious Pride-month celebration, Bette, Babs, & Beyoncé.

Executive director, Steve Smith, is thrilled to work with Paul, "Since his selection as artistic director designate this spring, our team has been worked closely with Paul for a seamless transition. Paul has planned a fantastic season of programs that demonstrate his creative vision and will certainly enhance our deep reputation entertaining and inspiring concerts."

Paul Caldwell is available for phone interviews starting August 24, 2016 and in person interviews starting September 15, 2016. Details on all concerts in the 2016-2017 season are listed below.

Previously Paul served as the artistic director for Windy City Performing Arts in Chicago. As such, he provided renewed leadership and vision for both the Windy City Gay Chorus and Windy City Treble Quire. He also served as artistic director for the Youth Choral Theater of Chicago, a community-based after-school program enrolling 200 young people in Chicago's northern suburbs. Paul's work with youth garnered national recognition, receiving the Chorus America/ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming.

Paul composes and arranges music collaboratively with Sean Ivory. Their choral works have been telecast on PBS and A&E and performed at Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, and throughout Europe, Asia and Africa. Legendary guitarist Steve Vai recently collaborated with Caldwell and Ivory to create a choral-rock fusion song, "Book of the Seven Seals." Paul made his Carnegie Hall conducting debut in 2014, leading concerts comprised entirely of music he composed. He has also been artistic director for the ¡Canta! Costa Rica festival in San Jose. Paul is a member of the board of directors for Chorus America and his efforts on behalf of the choral field were honored in 2008, when he received the Michael J. Korn Founders Award for Philanthropic Contribution to the Arts.

SEATTLE WOMEN'S CHORUS

Unveiled

Paul Caldwell makes his highly anticipated debut leading SWC into a new era for the choruses. Saint Mark's Cathedral will reverberate with dynamic sounds and bold spirits in a concert that explores our universal need to be seen and heard for who we really are. Alluring choral harmonies influenced by China, Brazil, and Ireland are juxtaposed against pop anthems by Christina Aguilera, Cher, and Lady Gaga for an exciting program that reveals the heart and awakens the soul.

Dates: 10/21/16 - 10/29/16

10/21- 8:00pm

10/22- 8:00pm

10/28- 8:00pm

10/29- 2:00pm and 8:00pm *family performance. $15 tickets for kids under age 12

Seattle, Saint Mark's Cathedral

Seattle Men's Chorus

Silver & Soul

SMC's signature Holiday concert shimmers with the sounds of beloved carols and shakes with a fresh and soulful celebration of the season. All the ingredients are here for Seattle's biggest holiday extravaganza. Start with 250 joyful voices singing favorites like "Sleigh Ride" and "O Come, All Ye Faithful." Add a tender David Bowie tribute, mix in a clever karaoke sing-along, heat things up with gospel harmonies and top it off with a disco Santa finale.

Dates: 12/4/16 - 12/22/16

12/4- 2:00pm; 12/4, 12/11, 12/18, 12/21, 12/22-8:00pm

Seattle, Benaroya Hall

SEATTLE WOMEN'S CHORUS

A Woman's World

In cultures around the globe, women are the unsung heroes of ingenuity, creativity, and social justice. SWC tells the inspiring stories of women and girls who are transforming our world from Rwanda all the way to North America. Paul's original composition "Beneath the African Sky" anchors a captivating and stirring fusion of world music. In the second half of the program, the lives of trailblazing women come to life in an entertaining and unpredictable new musical by Eric Lane Barnes. From Nobel winning activist Malala Yousafzai to television innovator Lucille Ball, women are leaving indelible marks on our world and how we live in it.

Dates: 3/17/17 - 3/19/17

3/17- 8:00 pm;

3/18- 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm

3/19-2:00PM

Seattle, Cornish Playhouse at Seattle Center

Seattle Men's Chorus

Born this Way

Lady Gaga sings, "there's nothing wrong with loving who you are!" SMC goes beyond the labels and rejoices in the stories, challenges, and dreams of a diverse generation of LGBTQ youth. This innovative multimedia concert features a world premiere song from transgender composer Mari Esabel Valverde, as well as pop favorites such as the titular, "Born This Way." Join SMC in celebrating the many unique and talented individuals who are building the future of our community.

Dates: 4/1/17 & 4/2/17

4/1/17, 8:00pm; 4/2/17, 2:00pm

Seattle, McCaw Hall

Seattle Men's Chorus

Bette, Babs & Beyoncè

This divalicious playlist highlights the iconic performers whose powerhouse vocals and outsized personas have thrilled us for decades from the concert stage to the dance floor. Revel in the timeless hits from the Divine Miss M and our favorite Funny Girl, plus get (Sasha) fierce with Beyoncé, Adele, and today's most sensational female superstars. Celebrate Pride like the diva you are! (or want to be)!

Dates: 6/23/17 & 6/24/17- 8:00pm

Seattle, McCaw Hall

Tickets on sale to the General Public 9/6/2016: $25 - $78 and are avaiable by calling the box Office: 206.388.1400, Mon-Fri, Noon-5:00PM

About the Seattle Men's Chorus/Seattle Women's Chorus

The internationally renowned Seattle Men's Chorus (founded 1979) and Seattle Women's Chorus (founded 2002) comprise the largest community chorus organization in North America. Both choruses stand out as the largest LGBT-identified men's and women's choruses in the world. Along with the small ensembles, Captain Smartypants and Sensible Shoes, SWC and SMC, is among the Pacific Northwest's largest, most vibrant and successful music organizations, performing in Seattle's most prestigious venues for an annual audience of more than 30,000 patrons. Flying House Productions is the not-for-profit organization that governs and manages the Choruses. Collectively there are 600+ singing members and base of over 80 staff, volunteers and associate members who support both Choruses. They are a leading voice for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community and offers 30 outreach events and 20 main stage concert performances annually.

Our Mission is to entertain, enlighten, unify and heal our audience and members, using the power of words and music to recognize the value of gay and straight people and their relationships.

Our Vision: A world that accepts and values its gay and lesbian citizens