Who We Are

Mission, Vision, and Values

Mission Statement:  The mission of the Palouse Choral Society is to promote a sense of community amongst the singers of the greater Palouse area through excellence in performance and to inspire creativity through outreach and collaboration with other organizations in the arts community.

Vision Statement:  The vision of the Palouse Choral Society is to foster a welcoming and inclusive community of singers, develop the musicianship of its members, provide music education in the community, and collaborate with performing arts organizations in the greater Inland Northwest.

Commitment to Equity:  Inclusion is how we unleash the power of diversity. The choral art relies on collaborating within an ensemble, and our ensemble only thrives with diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect.  We strive to foster belonging and empowerment in the performing arts and are committed to listening to and engaging with diverse communities.

Values:  The Palouse Choral Society is guided by the following values:

  • Fostering the art of choral musicWe are passionate about music making. We strive for excellence in choral music and the musical growth of our members. We celebrate the diversity of music and its roots as a timeless tradition of storytelling.
  • Teamwork and community buildingWe are stronger when working together—singing together as a choir, connecting with our audience, and engaging with a thriving arts community. We foster collaborations and contribute to the cultural vitality of our region.
  • Compassion and shared humanityMusic connects us with people from various backgrounds and allows us a glimpse into their cultures. We sing about emotions and experiences that matter in our lives and in the lives of our audiences. This celebration of shared humanity guides our interactions with each other. Our community will thrive with diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect for differences.
  • Creativity and impactWe strive for creative concert programming, and we honor the music of underrepresented communities while preserving the music of the established choral music canon. Our outreach programs instill passion for the art of singing in young musicians and contribute to the Inland Northwest arts community. We foster creativity through opportunities for composers, singers, and instrumentalists, and we seek out collaborations with other arts organizations.
  • Transparent management and fiscal strengthWe are committed to the fiscal health of our organization and strive for transparent management and communication. We ensure long-term financial stability through balanced budgets and investing in our endowment.

 

A non-profit choral organization serving the quad–city region, Palouse Choral Society is an auditioned body of community choirs celebrating choral music through masterful performances, educational outreach, and cultural enrichment with singers from the Palouse, Valley, Prairie, and Clearwater regions. PCS brings a wide variety of choral music to venues such as St. Boniface Catholic Church in Uniontown, University of Idaho Administration Auditorium, Pullman High School Auditorium, Moscow High School Auditorium, Lewis Clark State College Silverthorne Theatre, and Clarkston High School’s Concert Hall.

 

Children’s Choir

The PCS Children’s Choir, Stephanie Sant, Conductor, was established in 2015. The Choir includes 4th through 8th grade treble singers and draws on children from the greater Palouse and Valley regions. These students are provided cultural and artistic enrichment that is classically based, with a strong emphasis on healthy vocal production, music reading skills, and performance. The Children’s Choir performs with PCS Chorale and Chamber Choir and periodically offers its own “no charge” community concerts. When local health and safety allows, the choir enjoys singing for residents of area retirement and nursing homes.  If you’re lucky, you might even find yourself in the middle of their favorite activity, “flash mobbing”!

 

Our History

In the 1970s a group of friends gathered weekly in a living room to sing together.  Calling themselves “The Friends of Music”, the group of dedicated musicians grew in numbers and offered performances throughout the Palouse region.  By the early 1990s the group, then 70+ strong, had become a branch (The Chorale) of the Washington Idaho Symphony.  Economic strain would then be the impetus by which the singers found themselves in need of building their own organization, officially incorporated in the State of Idaho on February 14, 2000.  Through the overwhelming support of its patrons and dedication of its membership, the newly formed Idaho Washington Concert Chorale (changing to Palouse Choral Society in 2011) thrived and grew to include three choirs:  a chorale, a chamber choir, and a children’s choir.

Nearly fifty years after its humble start, a few founding members still sing with the choral entity now celebrating its 20th Anniversary as an independent organization.  Those friends created a community, a “graceful team of spirits made audible”, that continues to enjoy gathering weekly, singing   together for themselves AND for YOU.