McMinnville Women's Choir
MCMINNVILLE WOMENS CHOIR
Our Mission
Our mission is to provide a strong singing community of self-identifying women of all ages and orientations, who sing for self-expression, camaraderie, and social justice. We are open to people of all skill levels and experiences. Our music encompasses a broad repertoire representing diverse languages, musical styles, spiritualities and social content.
Our Choir
We value a diverse, supportive, and inclusive singing community that enjoys an eclectic repertoire of songs including classical,
international, sacred music from many traditions and the music of social justice. No auditions are necessary to become a choir member. Singers of all levels and musical experience are welcomed. Members come from McMinnville and nearby towns including Newberg, Dundee, Lafayette, Gaston, Carlton, Sheridan, Amity, Dayton, and other surrounding areas.
We meet on Tuesday evenings, from 7:00 to 8:30 pm at the First Baptist Church Sanctuary, 125 SE Cowls Street, McMinnville, Oregon.
Our Performances
We perform two concerts each year, one in December and one in May. We frequently sing at special community events such as the McMinnville city celebration, Earth Day, Wine Country Pride, and other private and public venues.
Artistic Director
Bethany Lee is a pianist, choral accompanist, harpist, poet, singer, and songwriter.
You can find Bethany's poetry collections from Fernwood Press or wherever you buy books. The Breath Between: An Invitation to Mystery and Joy was released in May 2019, and Etude for Belonging: Poems for Practicing Courage and Hope came out in May 2021. Bethany is a Recorded Quaker minister and Certified Music Practitioner
She regularly collaborates with vocalist, Erin McCarthy, performing as Harmonic Arc. The two perform existing works as well as new, original pieces at the intersection of music and transformation.
Founder,
McMinnville Womens Choir
Betty Busch is the founder and former artistic director and conductor for McMinnville Women’s Choir. She continues to provide consultation and mentoring to the McMinnville choir, and remains the Artistic Director of Jubilate! our sister choir in Corvallis, OR. Betty believes that "Musical expression is necessary for a whole life. There's nothing like the joy shared in singing together." In 2002, she was awarded a Woman of Achievement Award from Oregon State University to honor her work with Jubilate! Betty has served as the Director of Music at United Methodist Church in Corvallis. As a performer, Betty played French horn professionally, sang with the Portland based Choral Cross Ties, performed with the Corvallis Repertory Singers and appeared in Into the Woods at the McMinnville Gallery Theater.
