About Chorale Coeur d'Alene

Our Mission

Chorale Coeur d'Alene brings great choral music to life. The Chorale pursues excellence in the tradition of performing sacred and secular works, involves young people in choral participation, and contributes to vibrant community life.


Our Leaders

Dr. Joshua Chism

Artistic Director

Joshua Chism (b. 1987) is currently the Associate Director of Choral Studies and Coordinator of Music Education at Whitworth University in Spokane, WA. At Whitworth, Joshua advises music education students, teaches choral music education and music history courses, and conducts the Ponderosa Tenor/Bass Choir. He is also the faculty advisor for the local C-NAfME chapter, leads a student Life Group, and serves on various faculty committees. Visit https://www.whitworth.edu/music for more information.
 
Joshua holds a PhD in Music Education with an emphasis in Conducting and Choral Pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma in Norman (2022). At OU Joshua was a teaching assistant for the music department and the Experiencing Music curriculum coordinator and instructor. There he studied music education research methodology with Dr. Melissa Baughman. Joshua was also the Assistant Conductor for the Norman Singers, a community-based choral society. He earned a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Missouri–Columbia, graduating in 2019. At MU, he served as a teaching/rehearsal assistant for Dr. Brandon Boyd, assistant conductor for the MU Men’s Chorale and Concert Chorale, conductor of the MU Outreach Choir, and director of the Ars Nova Vocal Ensemble. There he studied conducting under Dr. R. Paul Crabb. Joshua holds Bachelor of Music Education degree and a Bachelor of Music Composition degree from Missouri State University in Springfield, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2010. Additionally, he holds Kodály Level I, II, and III certification.
 
Joshua also has a passion for music ministry. He currently serves as the Director of Traditional Worship at Whitworth Presbyterian Church where he conducts the adult choir and handbell choir. There he coordinates a service-learning internship between the church and Whitworth University for pre-service music teachers. He served as Director of Youth and Children's Choirs at McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church in Norman, OK where he directed the K-5 children's choir program, 6-12 youth choir, and two of the church's six handbell ensembles. He has served as director and minister of music in churches since Fall 2012. During his music ministry career Joshua has directed handbell ensembles, vocal ensembles at all levels, and contemporary worship bands in addition to serving as congregational song leader and worship minister.

From 2010–2017, Joshua taught in the Missouri public school system. During these seven years, he taught a wide variety of music courses and led numerous ensembles ranging from kindergarten to high school, both choral and instrumental. During this time, he led community choirs in various capacities and locations. Joshua has also served as guest clinician/conductor for various regional and district honor choirs at both the elementary and secondary levels. 

His research interests include the impact of service-learning internships, music assessment, MUED curriculum content, and community music. Joshua has recently presented research at the Collegiate Musicological Society, NAfME, ACDA, and SMTE conferences. Joshua performs as a Choral Artist with Prometheus, a professional vocal consort based in Columbia, MO.

In his spare time, Joshua likes to compose, travel, garden, eat sushi, and play board games. Joshua, his wife Natalie, and their young son Jacob reside in Spokane, WA. For more information, visit www.joshuachism.com
 


David Brewster

Collaborative Pianist


David Brewster enjoys an active career as a pianist, music director and conductor in the greater Spokane area. He holds the degrees of Master of Arts in Music (Washington State University, 2008) and Bachelor of Arts in Music (Whitworth University, 2006) and in 2007 participated in the Bösendorfer International Piano Academy in Vienna, Austria.

In addition to his work as a collaborative pianist with Chorale Coeur d’Alene, David has also appeared with the Spokane Symphony Chorale, Spokane Chorale Artists, and Spokane Kantorei Choir. David is on the Advisory Council for the Idaho Central Spokane Valley Performing Arts Center, scheduled to open in summer 2024, and serves as music director and conductor for Spokane Valley Summer Theatre’s summer programming as well as its Big Band Christmas shows. As a pianist, David has toured throughout the United States and Canada with Irish tenor Michael Londra as part of his Celtic Fire and Ireland with Michael tours. Aside from his career as a musician, David enjoys skiing, cycling, cooking, and being Liberty’s husband and “Dada” to Fiona and Rowan.

 



Our History

In the summer of 2001, Cynthia Haberman Marlette assembled a small, dedicated group of vocalists who recognized a lack of choral opportunities for adult singers in the Coeur d’Alene area, and decided to form a new chorale called The Northwest Sacred Music Chorale.  After many successful years, the chorale has grown to over 80 members and the increasing quality has been recognized by many.  Most recently, the chorale was honored to be invited as the headline ensemble at the Chewelah Christmas Festival.

The chorale has always felt a need to support youth in music education.  The Young Artist Competition has recognized many outstanding youth in the past 14 years and will continue to encourage youth to further their music education though larger scholarships and corporate sponsorships.

In 2017, the chorale’s name was changed to Chorale Coeur d’Alene to match the chorale’s broader community and cultural arts mission and to give the chorale a home of record.  While the name has changed, the chorale membership still draws from all over the Inland Northwest, serving Kootenai, Spokane, Bonner and Latah counties.   

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Our Organization

 Chorale Coeur d'Alene is a non-profit organization under IRS 501(c)(3). Your contribution may be tax deductible. Please contact your tax advisor for details.

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