History
The Columbia Chorale was formally organized in 1983 by Patsy Ford and Chris Jeffris, and directed by Dick Lapo, then professor of music at Wenatchee Valley College. In its early years, the group of about 30 singers was affiliated with the North Central Washington Museum and held concerts there. Mr. Lapo was joined and then succeeded as director by Brad Miller. Other former directors include Dan Jackson and Dr. Margaret Licon.
Dr. Mike Hibbett was appointed director in 1999 and served until 2023. Under his leadership the group has grown to a membership of around 70 singers who perform three completely different concert repertoires each year.
The Columbia Chorale has performed major works including Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, Karl Orff’s Carmina Burana, Mozart’s Requiem, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Handel’s Messiah and John Rutter’s Magnificat with the Wenatchee Valley Symphony. They have also performed the Rutter and Poulenc Glorias, Haydn’s Creation, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Bach’s Magnificat, Mozart’s Mass in C and Solemn Vespers, and requiem masses by Schubert, Fauré, and Rutter, all with orchestras comprised of musicians from the greater Wenatchee area.