About Whatcom Sound Jazz
Whatcom Sound Jazz is an organization dedicated to the study and performance of quality jazz literature and sharing it with the community. Our original ensemble, now known as the Vocal Jazz Ensemble, consists of 8 Soprano and Alto singers, three instrumentalists, and a conductor/director. The ensemble is a musical arts community of talented, non-professional singers.
Our new Mixed Jazz Choir is for anybody who can sing and wants to learn jazz in a fun and engaging environment.
Whatcom Sound Jazz also periodically offers improvisation workshops open to the broader community.
WSJ is a non-profit organization, formed exclusively for charitable and educational purposes. In 2019, Whatcom Sound Jazz became an IRS recognized 501 (c)(3) organization with tax ID 83-3334625.
Currently, our board of directors consists of:
Diane Leigh, President
Sarah Yates, Vice-President
Karen Goens, Treasurer
Marcia Osborne, Secretary
Nadene Gurulé, Member at Large
Donate to Whatcom Sound Jazz
Your support is encouraged and appreciated, to help keep this small but dynamic organization going. Please contact info.wsjs@gmail.com, if you would like to make a donation.
Get Involved
Whatcom Sound Jazz is looking for committed community members to help administer the group and plan our events. Contact info.wsjs@gmail.com if interested in serving on our board of directors or in volunteering at our concerts or behind the scenes. We'd love to hear from you!
A Brief History
The Whatcom Sound Jazz Singers was directed from 2008 to 2016 by its talented founder, Ann MacDonald, under the umbrella of Bellingham Sings, sponsored by Allied Arts of WA. Ann's passion for choirs shaped the group and gave inspiration to its singers, several of whom are still singing with us now. Noted jazz vocalist and pianist Cheryl Hodge led the singers during an interim period in 2016-17.
Since September 2017, the group has been led by our current Artistic Director, Michael-Paul Gurulé. The group formalized its structure as a a non-profit in 2019, at that time shortening its name to Whatcom Sound Jazz. WSJ kept on singing through the Covid-19 pandemic by making recordings together and rehearsing in our cars, connected by wires. In 2022, WSJ began meeting and performing in-person again, now one-on-a mic. WSJ's new mixed Jazz Choir began in September 2022 to give a greater community of singers the opportunity to engage with singing jazz.