Our Mission
Begun in 1988 with only eight voices, Kirkland Choral Society today is one of the premier symphonic adult choral groups in the Puget Sound region, featuring approximately 100 highly skilled, auditioned singers. We celebrate a love of choral music, connecting diverse voices in song to create outstanding musical experiences for both our members and our audiences. We perform three concerts per season at venues such as Bastyr University Chapel, Edmonds Performing Arts Center, St. Mark's Cathedral, and Benaroya Hall.
At KCS, our mission is to create and sustain a community where the power of choral music uplifts and unites all people and voices. Our concert repertoire emphasizes the great classical masterworks for chorus and orchestra while also featuring exciting works from a wide variety of other musical eras and genres, including by thought-provoking contemporary composers. In recent years, KCS has commissioned and performed the world premiere of new works by Kirke Mechem, Ola Gjeilo, Carol Barnett, Donald Skirvin, John Muehleisen, and Dale Trumbore.
At KCS, our mission is to create and sustain a community where the power of choral music uplifts and unites all people and voices. Our concert repertoire emphasizes the great classical masterworks for chorus and orchestra while also featuring exciting works from a wide variety of other musical eras and genres, including by thought-provoking contemporary composers. In recent years, KCS has commissioned and performed the world premiere of new works by Kirke Mechem, Ola Gjeilo, Carol Barnett, Donald Skirvin, John Muehleisen, and Dale Trumbore.
Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
We strive to make classical choral music accessible and appealing to everyone, of all backgrounds, both inside and outside our organization. We reach out broadly across the Eastside to attract as many qualified singers as possible from all walks of life, with a core KCS value being that anyone with a successful audition can join us, no matter their economic circumstances. We make free or reduced-cost concert tickets available for children, students, seniors, and groups, and we keep the cost of full-price tickets as low as possible.
KCS’s programming reflects our commitment to cultural and musical diversity and inclusion as well. Our programs regularly feature numerous compositions by women, and we align our February “love” concerts with Black History Month, showcasing composers of color and Black perspectives. Our December concerts joyfully reflect the multicultural history of the season, celebrating Hanukkah, the winter solstice, and secular holiday traditions alongside Christmas music from many times and countries.
KCS’s programming reflects our commitment to cultural and musical diversity and inclusion as well. Our programs regularly feature numerous compositions by women, and we align our February “love” concerts with Black History Month, showcasing composers of color and Black perspectives. Our December concerts joyfully reflect the multicultural history of the season, celebrating Hanukkah, the winter solstice, and secular holiday traditions alongside Christmas music from many times and countries.
Partnerships & Community Engagement
Kirkland Choral Society has maintained a performance partnership since 2011 with one of the Seattle area’s finest community orchestras, Philharmonia Northwest, and also collaborates regularly with Lake Washington High School choir students, local youth choirs, professional guest musicians, and acclaimed regional and national soloists. The KCS Chamber Singers, an ensemble drawn from the larger chorus, performs smaller-scale works, often a cappella, at smaller venues and community events.
A KCS ensemble may be available to perform at your civic or corporate event! Email inquiries to [email protected].
A KCS ensemble may be available to perform at your civic or corporate event! Email inquiries to [email protected].
Artistic Director Emeritus Dr. Glenn R. Gregg
An engaging personality, accomplished musician, and inspiring conductor, Glenn R. Gregg has been a professional in the field of choral conducting for more than 30 years.
Dr. Gregg holds a doctoral degree in choral conducting from the University of Washington, where he studied with Abraham Kaplan and Joan Conlon, and a Master of Music degree (with distinction) in conducting from California State University, Northridge, where he studied with Pacific Chorale director John Alexander and was the graduate teaching assistant.
Dr. Gregg has also worked with renowned choral conductors Charles Hirt and Howard Swan and has prepared choruses for performance with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. In addition to his choral conducting degrees, he holds a Bachelor’s degree in piano performance from California State University.
Dr. Gregg was a guest conductor with Kirkland Choral Society in 1997 and became permanent conductor and artistic director in 1999. His deep musical scholarship, professionalism, and positive, outgoing demeanor are at the heart of the choir’s growth in size and performance level, so that today KCS is considered by many arts patrons to be the Eastside’s premier community chorale.
Dr. Gregg holds a doctoral degree in choral conducting from the University of Washington, where he studied with Abraham Kaplan and Joan Conlon, and a Master of Music degree (with distinction) in conducting from California State University, Northridge, where he studied with Pacific Chorale director John Alexander and was the graduate teaching assistant.
Dr. Gregg has also worked with renowned choral conductors Charles Hirt and Howard Swan and has prepared choruses for performance with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. In addition to his choral conducting degrees, he holds a Bachelor’s degree in piano performance from California State University.
Dr. Gregg was a guest conductor with Kirkland Choral Society in 1997 and became permanent conductor and artistic director in 1999. His deep musical scholarship, professionalism, and positive, outgoing demeanor are at the heart of the choir’s growth in size and performance level, so that today KCS is considered by many arts patrons to be the Eastside’s premier community chorale.
Associate Artistic Director Seiko Inada Werts
Associate Artistic Director Seiko Inada Werts, a native of Hiroshima, Japan, graduated from Hiroshima Jogakuin University with a Bachelor of Arts in American and English Literature. During her 22 years teaching high school English in Hiroshima, she loved to write and direct musicals for her students, as well as directing her choir for adult women, Choir Iris. Seiko began singing during college and now is a soloist in great demand, performing in church, house, and solo concerts in Japan and the United States.
In 2010 Seiko moved to the Pacific Northwest where she joined Kirkland Choral Society as a soprano and quickly assumed more responsibility as occasional accompanist. She is also an accomplished arranger and a member of ASCAP. In 2015 Seiko was asked by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to give a concert in Tokyo for female United Nations Ambassadors and spouses of ambassadors.
Seiko is a multi-talented musician who thrives when working in collaboration with others. During the KCS 2020-21 season when rehearsing in person due to the pandemic was not possible, Seiko was invited to use her technological skill, warm inspiring personality, and impeccable musical sensibility to direct, mix, edit, and produce two KCS virtual concerts. Seiko considered it an honor to be able to work so closely in encouraging, supporting, and working with the KCS artists during a difficult time. The virtual concerts are mini-masterpieces that brought joy to the participants and viewers alike. Excerpts are available on the front page of this website.
In 2010 Seiko moved to the Pacific Northwest where she joined Kirkland Choral Society as a soprano and quickly assumed more responsibility as occasional accompanist. She is also an accomplished arranger and a member of ASCAP. In 2015 Seiko was asked by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to give a concert in Tokyo for female United Nations Ambassadors and spouses of ambassadors.
Seiko is a multi-talented musician who thrives when working in collaboration with others. During the KCS 2020-21 season when rehearsing in person due to the pandemic was not possible, Seiko was invited to use her technological skill, warm inspiring personality, and impeccable musical sensibility to direct, mix, edit, and produce two KCS virtual concerts. Seiko considered it an honor to be able to work so closely in encouraging, supporting, and working with the KCS artists during a difficult time. The virtual concerts are mini-masterpieces that brought joy to the participants and viewers alike. Excerpts are available on the front page of this website.