ChoralSounds Northwest will host two open community "Sings" on Tuesday, Aug. 17 and Tuesday, Aug. 24, 7 - 8:30 p.m. at St. Bernadette's Catholic Church, Southwest 128th Street and Ambaum Boulevard Southwest.

These fun evenings are designed for ChoralSounds members past and present to reconnect with friends, get singing voices going again, and to meet new Artistic Director Cathy Bleecker.

But these "Sings" aren't only for members. Friends, associates, family members and any other singers who might like to come out for an evening of fun singing are welcome.

Each "Sing" will begin with a warm-up and practice of one or two pieces from one of the upcoming season's shows. There will be time for some socializing before the evening ends with participants "performing" the rehearsed songs.

ChoralSounds' new Artistic Director, Cathy Bleecker has an extensive background in choral music and musical theatre. In the early 90s, she served as an assistant professor of music at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, where she directed the University Chorale, University Singers and the "Park Avenue" vocal jazz ensembles.

She left PLU to return to teaching high school (Central Kitsap and Bellevue) and then took a short break in her teaching career to study psychology (traditional, transpersonal and organizational) at Antioch University.

She has served as a guest conductor and adjudicator for music festivals across the U.S. and Canada, working with traditional choral and vocal jazz groups alike, and currently is also the director of music activities at The Evergreen School in Shoreline.

Bleeker's theatre experience includes serving as director/music director for more than 30 full-scale musicals; writing, directing, and producing numerous staged choral revues; as well as acting, singing, and dancing.

She served as music director for the highly acclaimed Woodinville High School theatre department for six years and was nominated twice as "Outstanding Music Director" by the 5th Avenue Theatre High School Musical Awards judges.

Recently, she has served as music director for the Second Story Repertory Theatre in Redmond, and is currently in production with the new, north Seattle-based youth theatre group, CORE Theatrics.
More information is available at www.nwassociatedarts.org or by calling 206-246-6040.