Led by new Artistic Director Timothy Westerhaus, Choral Arts Northwest has garnered national recognition and critical acclaim for exquisite performances and creative, diverse programming. CANW won the Margaret Hillis Award for Choral Excellence (2010); and the American Prize for choral performance (community division) twice, placing first in 2010 and second in 2013. CANW has also been awarded coveted performing slots at the 2018 ACDA NW Regional Conference in Portland, the 2015 ACDA National Conference in Salt Lake City, and the 2013 Chorus America National Conference held in Seattle. In December of 2015, Choral Arts Northwest accepted an invitation to perform at a White House Holiday reception and was selected to sing for a private audience with President and Mrs. Obama.

Made up of volunteer singers drawn almost exclusively from the Puget Sound region, CANW combines a deep sense of community with a passion for artistic excellence. While performing diverse repertoire from Renaissance polyphony through 20th century masterworks, CANW retains an abiding commitment to new music and has commissioned and premiered new choral compositions annually since 2007. Our Composer-In-Residence and Finding Your Voice programs have produced important collaborations with composers such as Shawn Kirchner, Rick Asher, John Muehleisen, Will Averitt, Eric Barnum, Jake Runestad, Melinda Bargreen, Dale Trumbore, Jessica French, and John David Earnest.

CANW has released eight studio recordings under the Gothic/Loft record label and one self-released recording available at CD Baby. CANW’s newest recording is a live concert production of John Muehleisen’s oratorio But Who Shall Return Us Our Children? A Kipling Passion, a commissioned work commemorating the centennial of WWI. This remarkable work delivers a powerful and meaningful message on the effects of war and loss, and how we might find healing in the face of tragedy.

CANW celebrates its 29th Season in 2022-2023!