Frequently Asked Questions

The Olympia Peace Choir is open to any person who has a love for singing and working with others towards a more peaceful planet. We welcome all ages. Children under the age of 13 are admitted at the director’s discretion.

There is no audition to become a member of TOPC. To join, attend the two free orientation rehearsals offered in September to see if the choir is right for you. Information about joining is discussed during this time. 

The Olympia Peace Choir is an inclusive community chorus dedicated to using the power of song to create peace and promote social justice and environmental stewardship. We believe in quality through inclusion.

We sing music from a variety of styles, cultures and difficulty levels. We have sung folk songs, madrigals, rounds, pop songs (both classic and contemporary), freedom songs, and music from around the world in different languages. All of our music relates to our mission/vision statement.

No! The beauty of TOPC is that we have members of all different levels of music training: novice, layperson, student, professional. We blend all voices and depend upon the strength of the group to accomplish our musical goals. Some learn songs by reading, others by listening and repetition.

Rehearsals for the season begin in September on the first Monday after Labor Day. New members are welcome to attend two orientation rehearsals to see whether the choir is a fit for them. New members are required to pay dues by the end of the second rehearsal to secure their spot in the choir if space is available.

TOPC has become enormously popular in the community. We want to welcome everyone who wants to sing. However, we’ve had to cap the choir membership at 100 voices.

There are several reasons for this. Choirs over a certain size struggle to find venues that can accommodate them in the Olympia area. Keeping the choir’s size limited also makes it possible for everyone to see and hear our director. The administration tasks necessary for running a large choir are also a challenge for our volunteer Board of Directors. 

Our cap helps us make sure that choir membership (not to mention choir performances) is an enjoyable experience for everyone involved.

We rehearse on Monday evenings from 7:15-8:45 pm at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1925 Boulevard Road SE, Olympia, WA. Our season runs from early September to late May.

We perform at a variety of large venues throughout the area. Our season usually includes concerts at the Capitol Rotunda (winter), Spring Arts Walk (late April), and the Olympia Farmer’s Market (late May). Our annual Community Concert takes place at the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Olympia, in the spring. Follow our events on Facebook. You can also join our mailing list.

Dues for the entire season are $280. We offer a few scholarships or payment plans for those who need financial help.

Regardless of a person’s scholarship or payment plan status, a minimum payment of $80 is required of all members to cover music folder expenses.

Contact us for more information at contact@theolympiapeacechoir.org.

All levels of singing experience are welcome in the choir. Over the year, you’ll grow in your technique and skills. Rehearsals are dedicated to creating great music, strengthening our individual and group sound, and connecting with the words so we can convey their meaning to our audience.

Kerri Lynn Nichols (our Artistic Director) and a small group of her friends, including Debbie Koshelnik-Turner (our musical sign-interpreter) and Becky Liebman (former TOPC Board member) envisioned a community choir that would use the power of song to create a positive atmosphere for change. A local attorney, John Parr, set up the paperwork for our non-profit status and we borrowed an office suite for our first rehearsal, hoping 20 people would show up. At our first rehearsal, we had 40 and then moved to a new rehearsal space at First United Methodist Church of Olympia. Over the years, our choir has grown in size and skill and has become a beloved Olympia musical group.