Our Mission Statement
The Cannon Beach Chorus is a north Oregon coast Community Chorus,
offering the gift of vocal music to delight our audiences,
providing joy and challenge for participants,
and expanding awareness and appreciation of the choral arts.
History of the Chorus
The Cannon Beach Chorus was founded in 1988 under the direction of Danny Lawson, owner of New Star Recording Studio. Mr. Lawson was the director from 1988-1991. The first performance was in August, 1988, featuring popular tunes from 60s and 70s with the Coast Youth Electric Symphony. The IRS granted not-for-profit status to the Chorus on October 16, 1990. In 1992 Chuck Hamilton, Seaside High School teacher and choir director became our second director. From the fall of 1992-2010 Dorene Horn (Dunlap) was our third director. From 2010-2022, Dr. John Buehler was the fourth conductor of the Chorus. In the Fall of 2022, Roy Sieber took over the baton.
Pianists accompanying the chorus have been Marguerite Ely, BJ Phillips, Adriene Lorraine, David Carlson, Paula Kliewer, Dr. Susan Buehler, and Barbara Richmond.
The Chorus has performed along the coast from Oysterville, WA to Tillamook, OR. In 2000 the Chorus traveled to New York City to perform at Carnegie Hall. Significant choral classics such as Vivaldi’s Gloria, Rutter’s Requiem and Magnificat, Handel’s Messiah, Puccini’s Messa di Gloria, Saint Saën’s Christmas Oratorio, and Faure’s Requiem are among our repertoire, in addition to a wide variety of classical choral masterpieces and choral arrangements of popular, folk and show tunes.
In 2003, the Chorus established and began awarding the Carol Homme Memorial Scholarship, named after a deceased longtime member. It is offered to promising young voice students for advanced choral study. Since its founding, the Cannon Beach Chorus has shared a love of music and a commitment to excellence in choral singing.
