Choral Arts Northwest

What Choral Arts Northwest does

Choral Arts Northwest is a Seattle-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional-level choral ensemble founded in 1993 by Richard Sparks. The organization fields a volunteer choir of auditioned singers from across the Puget Sound region, presenting four concert series per season at venues including St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral, Plymouth Church, First United Methodist Church (Queen Anne), and Trinity Lutheran (Lynnwood). Under Artistic Director Timothy Westerhaus (appointed 2021) and Managing Director Philip Tschopp, the ensemble operates a season-based concert model with annual July auditions for the following season's roster. Programming emphasizes music by BIPOC, female, and LGBTQIA+ composers, with themed concerts that integrate social causes including housing justice (Solid Ground), environmental stewardship (ECOSS, Birds Connect Seattle), and civic engagement (Washington Voting Justice Coalition).

The organization monetizes through a hybrid revenue model combining individual concert tickets ($27 presale for seniors to $65 benefactor tier), season subscriptions, livestream access (global), group rates for community partners ($10-$20), corporate sponsorships with tiered benefits, individual donations via a dedicated portal, and annual fundraising events such as the Warm Winter Gala. A supplementary educational revenue stream comes from the High School Choral Leadership Academy, a one-day workshop priced at $10 per student with financial assistance available. Marketing and distribution are conducted through the choralartsnw.org website, email newsletters, social media, community partnership cross-promotion, and a ticketing integration with neoncrm.com. The organization has no technology product surface; its competitive position rests on artistic reputation (2009 American Prize, 2010 Margaret Hillis Award, 2015 White House performance) and a deep community partnership network rather than proprietary platforms or data assets. Operations are supported by a lean staff of six key personnel, with revenue undisclosed and a 2023 capital infusion of $10,000 from ArtsFund and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation.

Name

Choral Arts Northwest

Legal name

Choral Arts Northwest

Website

https://choralartsnw.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Choral Arts Northwest is a Seattle-based nonprofit professional-level choral ensemble founded in 1993, presenting four concert series per season with a volunteer auditioned choir serving Puget Sound audiences, community partners, and donors through accessible ticketing, education programs, and cause-themed programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts

NAICS

Musical Groups and Artists (71113)

SIC

Musical Instruments (3931)

akta.pro primary industry

Musical Theatre (Non-Broadway/Fringe) (MPAGABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Private Voice Lessons (Vocal) (EDAMANAB), Session Musicians & Vocalists (MPAIAHAC)

Keywords

• Choral music performances
• Community chorus
• Choral education programs
• Live concert series
• Arts nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Concert Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from individual concert tickets, season tickets, livestream tickets, and group rates. Pricing ranges from free for students to $65 for benefactor-level reserved seating.
2. Donations and Sponsorships: Individual donations through their donation portal, corporate sponsorships, and gala fundraiser events. The Warm Winter Gala includes Raise the Paddle fundraising.
3. Educational Programs: The High School Choral Leadership Academy charges $10 per student with financial assistance available, providing youth leadership training in choral music.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Choral Arts Northwest is a professional-level choral ensemble of volunteer singers from the Puget Sound region that presents four seasonal concert series per year featuring classical, contemporary, and multicultural repertoire. The organization also operates an annual audition process for new members, runs the High School Choral Leadership Academy, offers livestream concert access, and accepts donations and corporate sponsorships to support its mission of inspiring, educating, and enriching the community through choral music.

Product overview

Choral Arts Northwest is a professional-level choral ensemble comprised of volunteer singers from the Puget Sound region, performing four concert series per season. The organization offers choral performances as its core product, supplemented by the High School Choral Leadership Academy, audition programs, livestream performances, and sponsorship/donation opportunities. The ensemble particularly focuses on diverse programming, commissions from BIPOC and female composers, and collaborations with community partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Annual Concert Season Four concert series per season featuring classical, contemporary, and multicultural choral repertoire performed by volunteer singers, including collaborations with guest artists, composers, and community partners. Tickets sold individually, by season package, and via livestream.
• Annual Auditions Annual audition process held in July for singers to join the ensemble for the following season, open to volunteer singers from the Puget Sound region.
• High School Choral Leadership Academy One-day workshop for high school student leaders developing skills in leading choral sectionals, warm-ups, substitute conducting, and the artistic and interpersonal aspects of choral leadership.
• Donor Support Programs Donation and financial support options enabling community members to contribute to the organization's mission through individual giving, recurring gifts, gala fundraisers, and the Raise the Paddle campaign.
• Corporate Sponsorship Opportunities Corporate sponsorship packages offering reserved seating, invitations to socials and special events, and on-program recognition in support of the organization's concert season.

Quantifiable outcome

• Six CD recordings produced, including American Prize-winning 'Mornings Like This' (2009)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Solid GroundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership for housing and anti-poverty initiatives. Collaborated on 'This Place, Our Home' concert exploring housing and belonging themes, featuring world premiere commission by Alex Nguyen celebrating Solid Ground's Housing First initiatives.
• Seattle Bach Festival OrchestracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on 'This Love Between Us' concert pairing Bach's Magnificat with Reena Esmail's work, featuring Tekla Cunningham as founder and concertmaster.
• ECOSScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental partnership for 'This Sacred Earth' concert celebrating land and place through Indigenous composers' music and nature poetry.
• Youth Speaks SeattlecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on 'Hold Fast to Dreams' featuring Margaret Bonds's Credo, with youth poets providing 'I believe' responses and original poetry performances.
• Birds Connect SeattleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation partnership for 'The Lost Birds' concert raising awareness about bird protection and expanding tree canopy.
• The Boeing Employees ChoirminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on 'Earthrise' concert celebrating Artemis II mission to the moon, with conductor Suzanne Anderson.
• Washington Voting Justice CoalitionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOn-site voter education, information, and registration at 'Hold Fast to Dreams' concert.
• The Filipino Community of SeattleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSpecial group ticket rate for 'Far From Sight, Near At Heart' concert celebrating Filipino and Austronesian music.
• Pacific School of Indian MusicminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSpecial group ticket rate for concerts featuring Indian classical music collaborations.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Seattle Pro Musica: Seattle-based professional-level choral ensemble founded in 1973 by the same Richard Sparks who later founded Choral Arts Northwest. Operates a similar concert-season model and competes for the same regional audience, donor, and sponsor pool.
• Cascadian Chorale: Pacific Northwest choral ensemble previously led by Philip Tschopp (now Managing Director of Choral Arts Northwest) from 1994-2007. Operates an analogous professional-community chorus model in the same regional market.
• Seattle Symphony Chorale: Choral ensemble affiliated with the Seattle Symphony, conducted by Richard Sparks from 1990-1994. Professional volunteer chorus model directly comparable to Choral Arts Northwest, drawing from the same regional singer base.

Regional players

• Cappella Romana: Portland-based professional choral ensemble specializing in Byzantine and Slavic music and contemporary classical repertoire. Comparable professional-volunteer hybrid model in the Pacific Northwest with similar commissioning and recording activity.
• Pro Coro Canada: Edmonton-based professional choir led for 12 years by Richard Sparks (Founding Artistic Director of Choral Arts Northwest). Same artistic lineage and professional-chorus model in a different national market.
• Tacoma Choral Society: Long-standing community choral organization serving the South Puget Sound region. Comparable volunteer chorus model, distinct geography within the broader Pacific Northwest choral ecosystem.

Others

• Pacific MusicWorks: Seattle-based early-music and vocal ensemble whose Managing Director is Philip Tschopp (also Managing Director of Choral Arts Northwest). Closely affiliated leadership with overlapping regional donor and audience networks.
• Northwest Sinfonietta: Tacoma-based regional chamber orchestra. Comparable nonprofit performing-arts structure, regional donor base, and Pacific Northwest venue footprint, though different art form.

Emerging players

• Spokane Kantorei: Professional-level chamber chorus founded and conducted by Timothy Westerhaus (current Artistic Director of Choral Arts Northwest) in Spokane, WA. Shares Westerhaus's artistic vision and programming aesthetic, creating direct artistic leadership overlap.
• Master Chorale of Flagstaff: Arizona community chorus for which Timothy Westerhaus is Artistic-Director Designate. Comparable volunteer-ensemble model in a smaller market; reflects Westerhaus's distributed artistic commitments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ChoralArtsNW

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Choral Arts Northwest