{"id":18,"date":"2015-12-20T22:58:24","date_gmt":"2015-12-20T22:58:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rainshadowchorale.org\/?page_id=18"},"modified":"2026-04-29T20:21:51","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T20:21:51","slug":"who-are-we","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/rainshadowchorale.org\/?page_id=18","title":{"rendered":"Our Story"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"On a cold rainy night in early 1997, a handful of determined and talented musicians got together to talk about creating a small ensemble to sing serious choral arrangements. The idea was to have a hand-picked, top notch ensemble that would tackle tough music, and with this spark of a notion, the group invited others to join. They pulled out music they’d collected and in that moment created something wonderful.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Small concerts sprouted up out of this, and for the next few years directing was shared by various singers of the small fledging group and it began to grow in numbers and passion becoming the foundation of RainShadow Chorale.<\/strong><\/p>\n

By 2001, the group numbered fifteen that gathered weekly and continued to expand, offering a variety of performances at local churches, retirement centers and private clubs. Encouraged by a growing and appreciative audience, the concerts were well attended and with enlarging repertoire and fine tuning, this passionate bunch was taking its place on the Olympic Peninsula as a premiere chorale.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

2002 – 2021: Rebecca Rottsolk<\/strong>, newly retired from two decades of conducting the Northwest Girl Choir in Seattle, had just moved to Port Townsend. Pianist Lisa Lanza<\/strong> was hired to play for rehearsals and with her exceptional piano skills, opened up extraordinary opportunities for the group. The shift from primarily a cappella<\/em> to having a dynamic director\/pianist team provided a dazzling array of performance possibilities.<\/p>\n

More auditions followed and by 2010 there were enough members to take on some thrilling choral pieces, and so with Ms. Rottsolk’s extraordinary artistic direction produced a major work \u2013 Mozart\u2019s Requiem<\/em>, with a chamber orchestra and 45 singers.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The performance of one major work prepared the way for another. \u00a0In 2014 we \u00a0gave three thrilling performances of Mozart\u2019s Grand Mass in C Minor<\/em> for St. Mary\u2019s Star of the Sea Jubilee Celebration.<\/p>\n

In November 2019, composer Jake Runestad was a guest conductor and led RainShadow Chorale<\/strong> in two of his pieces. \u00a0A brilliant piano solo of \u201cTroubled Water\u201d by Margaret Bonds was performed by Lisa Lanza.<\/strong><\/p>\n

2021: We were able to perform, fully masked to a masked audience, a concert entitled “The Promise of Living.”<\/strong><\/em> \u00a0This was the farewell concert for Rebecca Rottsolk, who retired as RainShadow Chorale\u2019s Artistic Director and moved back to Seattle with her husband.<\/p>\n

2022:\u00a0Jolene Dalton Gailey<\/strong> was our guest conductor for Spring in a concert entitled, “The Illumination of my Soul” in May 2022.<\/p>\n

\"\"Laurie de Leonne<\/strong> A New Chapter
\nIn 2022, Laurie de Leonne became the new artistic director of RainShadow Chorale. Under her leadership, RainShadow has revisited some past favorites (of ours and hers), such as the Vivaldi Gloria Morten Lauridsen\u2019s \u201cSure on this Shining Night,\u201d Eric Whitacre\u2019s \u201cSeal Lullaby,\u201d and Frostiana by Randall Thompson.<\/p>\n

De Leonne\u2019s programs are varied: America Folk Tradition, British choral works featuring the organ at First Presbyterian Church, songs about the prairies and the American heartland, and classical works from a variety of composers and traditions, such as Rachmaninoff, Vivaldi, Bach, Brahms and Mozart. Laurie is also a composer and arranger, and the choir has performed her arrangement of \u201cAcres of Clams\u201d as well as an original setting of Emily Dickinson\u2019s poem, \u201cFragile.\u201d<\/p>\n

Learning the repertoire for each new program with Laurie de Leonne is a master class
\nin choral tradition. She includes new learning about complex rhythms, meters and key
\nchanges as well as background about the composers and arrangers, both in a historical and musical context. Our audiences are also given these insights from her thoughtful program notes. Laurie also includes a sing-along for the audience in most programs. Come prepared to stand and sing!<\/p>\n

RainShadow Chorale<\/strong> is here to stay with your continued support. THANK YOU to all of our friends, family and audience members and to our donors who make this all possible.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

CONCERTS<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Between 1997 and 2001<\/strong>, RainShadow Chorale performed in a variety of venues. First Presbyterian Church, the Bay Club in Port Ludlow, Discovery View Apartments and others were our concert halls, \u00a0with free admission.<\/p>\n

Oct 2001<\/strong> \u2013 Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship –\u00a0Bach \u201cBourr\u00e9e,\u201d Byrd \u201cMass for Five Voices,\u201d Lauridsen\u2019s \u201cLes Chansons des Roses\u201d<\/p>\n

Feb 2002<\/strong>\u2013 QUUF and Trinity United Methodist Church, Sequim –\u00a0Program: Bach \u201cJesu, Meine Freude\u201d and Faure Requiem<\/p>\n

Nov 2002<\/strong>\u2013 QUUF and Trinity, Sequim –\u00a0\u201cSing Me to Heaven\u201d \u2013 and \u201cMissa Kenya\u201d<\/p>\n

Nov 2003<\/strong> \u2013 First Presbyterian, PT –\u00a0\u201cCeremony of Carols\u201d and \u201cCarols and Lullabies, Christmas\u00a0In the Southwest\u201d<\/p>\n

Apr 2004<\/strong> \u2013 The Beach Club, Port Ludlow, and Grace Lutheran Church, PT –\u00a0\u201cA Concert of Choral Songs and Dances\u201d<\/p>\n

Nov 2004<\/strong> \u2013 Grace Lutheran Church –\u00a0\u201cStars I Shall Find\u201d<\/p>\n

Apr 2005<\/strong> \u2013 Trinity Methodist Church, \u201cSing\u00a0Joyfully!\u201d<\/p>\n

Mar 2006<\/strong> \u2013 Trinity United Methodist –\u00a0\u201cMostly Mozart\u201d<\/p>\n

Mar 2007<\/strong> \u2013 First Presbyterian Church –\u00a0\u201cI Dream a World\u201d<\/p>\n

Feb 2008<\/strong> \u2013 QUUF –\u00a0\u201cViva Italia\u201d<\/p>\n

Jan 2009<\/strong> \u2013 St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church and QUUF –\u00a0\u201cBaroque Treasures\u201d<\/p>\n

Dec 2009<\/strong> \u2013 Chimacum HS Auditorium for Christmas concert with PT Community Orchestra, C Chorus, and RainShadow Chorale.<\/p>\n

Jan 2010<\/strong> \u2013 St. Mary Star of the Sea –\u00a0\u201cWolfgang Amadeus Mozart Requiem\u201d<\/p>\n

Feb 2011<\/strong> \u2013 St. Mary Star of the Sea –\u00a0\u201cHail Britannia!\u201d<\/p>\n

Nov 2011<\/strong> \u2013 St. Mary Star of the Sea –\u00a0\u201cBach\u2019s Magnificat and Cantata No. 140″<\/p>\n

Nov 2012<\/strong> \u2013 QUUF –\u00a0\u201cMainly Mozart\u201d<\/p>\n

Mar 2013<\/strong> \u2013 First Presbyterian and QUUF –\u00a0\u201cMusic for the Heart & Soul\u201d<\/p>\n

Nov 2013<\/strong> \u2013 QUUF –\u00a0\u201cThis Shining Night\u201d<\/p>\n

Jan 2014<\/strong> \u2013 Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, PA –\u00a0\u201cThis Shining Night\u201d with NorthWest Women\u2019s Chorale<\/p>\n

Jun 2014<\/strong> \u2013 St. Mary Star of the Sea\u00a0\u201cThe Jubilee Celebration Concert: Mozart Exultate Jubilate\u00a0Motet and Grand Mass in C Minor\u201d \u00a0Jubilee Singers and RainShadow Chorale & Friends<\/p>\n

Nov 2014<\/strong> \u2013 Trinity Lutheran Church, PA and QUUF –\u00a0\u201cBreaths\u2026when the fire\u2019s voice is heard\u2026”<\/p>\n

May 2015<\/strong> \u2013 Trinity United Methodist Church, PT and Holy Trinity Lutheran\u00a0Church, PA –\u00a0\u201cFor the Love of\u2026\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 NorthWest Women\u2019s Chorale and RainShadow Chorale<\/p>\n

Dec 2015<\/strong> \u2013 Chimacum HS –\u00a0\u201cHandel\u2019s Messiah\u201d with The Community Chorus<\/p>\n

Jan 2016<\/strong> \u2013 Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, PA and QUUF –\u00a0\u201cI dreamed of rain\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Apr 2016<\/strong> \u2013 Trinity United Methodist Church, PT –\u00a0\u201cFour Pastorales\u201d with Guest Conductor, Gil Seeley.<\/p>\n

Nov 2016<\/strong> \u2013 Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Chimacum; Trinity United –\u00a0Methodist, PT; Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, PA –\u00a0\u201cA Heaven Full of Stars<\/p>\n

May 2017<\/strong> \u2013 Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Chimacum and Trinity – \u201cLet My Love Be Heard\u201d<\/p>\n

Nov 2017<\/strong> \u2013 Chimacum HS –\u00a0\u201cLuminous Night<\/p>\n

of the Soul\u201d and Mozart Requiem<\/p>\n

Apr 2018<\/strong> \u2013 Old Alcohol Plant –\u00a0\u201cAt the Movies\u201d<\/p>\n

Nov 2018<\/strong> \u2013 Trinity Methodist and Lutheran, Chimacum\u00a0\u201cAll sounds became music\u201d<\/p>\n

May 2019<\/strong> \u2013 Old Alcohol Plant –\u00a0\u201cOn Broadway\u201d<\/p>\n

Nov 2019<\/strong> \u2013 Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Chimacum \u201cThe Secret of the Sea\u201d\u00a0with Guest Conductor Jake Runestad<\/p>\n

May 2020 –<\/strong> Cancelled Concert, “Old Devil Moon” due to the Pandemic<\/p>\n

Nov 2021<\/strong> \u2014 Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Chimacum –\u00a0\u201cThe Promise of Living with Hope and Thanksgiving”<\/p>\n

May 2022 – <\/strong>Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Chimacum – “The Illumination of my Soul”<\/p>\n

Nov 2022<\/strong> – Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Chimacum – “Songs of Shakespeare”<\/p>\n

Jun 2023<\/strong> – Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Chimacum & First Presbyterian Church, Port Townsend ~ “The Seal Lullaby”<\/p>\n

Nov 2023<\/strong> – First Presbyterian Church PT – “Choose Something like a Star”<\/p>\n

Jun 2024<\/strong> – First Presbyterian Church PT – “Voices and Strings”<\/p>\n

Nov 2024<\/strong> – First Presbyterian Church PT – “All Night Vigil”\"\"<\/p>\n

Jun 2025<\/strong> – First Presbyterian Church PT – “American Folk”<\/p>\n

Nov 2025<\/strong> – First Presbyterian Church PT – “England’s Green & Pleasant Land – Crown Jewels with Organ”<\/p>\n

Jun 2026<\/strong> – First Presbyterian Church PT – “Wide Open Spaces”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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