A non-profit choral organization made up of 3 choirs - ChoralSounds Northwest (with VocalSounds Northwest & Smamblettes ensembles), SilverSounds Northwest, an all senior choir, & TeenSounds Northwest, for ages 12-18 years old Northwest Associated Arts was founded in 1984 as Highline Civic Chorale in response to the need for a vibrant, diverse south-end (Seattle) chorus that would bring quality choral music into the community while challenging experienced singers. In 2000 Cantaré Vocal Ensemble was added to the organization in part to provide CSN singers with an opportunity to sing and perform classical choral repertoire in intimate settings. Cantaré separated from NWAA in 2010, and is now an independent chorus in the north end of Seattle. In 2003, as school districts in our community continued to cut music programs, our leadership saw a tremendous need for a way to involve our youngest citizens in the choral arts, and founded the Youth Choral Education Program (YCEP) under the direction of Paula Hawkins. The first ensemble in YCEP was the CSN Children’s Chorus for singers in grades 3-5. Within a year the tremendous success of the Children’s Chorus led to the formation of the CSN Youth Chorus, for singers in grades 6-9. In 2005, CSN created Northwest Associated Arts as an umbrella organization to better encompass the range of performing groups now operating in our organization. As part of this reorganization, the Children’s Chorus became KidSounds Northwest and the Youth Chorus was re-named YouthSounds Northwest. Adrian resigned as conductor of ChoralSounds Northwest in 2006, leading to five years of change in the artistic leadership of CSN, leading to the engagement new Artistic Director Brian J. In 2007, the continued success of the YCEP let NWAA to form yet another chorus, TeenSounds Northwest. Inspired by the many young people and their parents who asked for singing opportunities for older singers, TeenSounds welcomes singers in grades 10-12. In 2009, Cantaré Vocal Ensemble, under the baton of Mark Adrian, spun off from NWAA and is now an independent chorus based in the North End of Seattle. In 2011, NWAA formed a new chorus, SilverSounds Northwest, providing a musical home to the retired members of the South King County area. Their first concert, in May, was a great success and they are hard at work preparing for their second season.
