Adelaide L. Beers
1893-1912
Adelaide Beers was the first teacher of Vocal Music. The school was known as "Seattle Seminary" at this time and was an elementary and secondary school. Mrs. Beers was the wife of the first President and Principal of the school. She served in this position until the establishment of college level courses which started in 1911. Mrs. Beers still taught vocal music while W. W. Cathey directed the Seminary Chorus until leaving Seattle in 1916.

William Washington Cathey
1912-1922
W. W. Cathey was the first to direct the chorus organized with the college department. During his tenure, the Seminary Choir, also called the College Choir after the school's name change, propsered and the performance schedule and repertoire expanded.

Golda Nelson Kendrick
1922-1925
Golda Nelson Kendrick directed the college glee clubs and taught vocal music during these three school years. She directed the Girls' Glee Club in 1921-1922. Under her guidance, the choirs were reorganized into two glee clubs for men and women. After leaving the music program, she continued to teach French at SPC until her retirement in the mid-1950s.

Cleo C. Bush
1925-1928
Cleo Bush first came to SPC in 1924 as the school's first instructor in Public School Music. She assumed the duties as choral director for three years in addition to teaching music education courses.

F. Carlton Booth
1928-1929
Carlton Booth was the director of the College Chorus in the 1928-1929 school year. During the two previous years (1926-1927 & 1927-1928) he was the director of the SPU Men's Glee Club. He also taught voice all three years.

Allison F. Barnard
1929-1930
Allison Barnard directed the College Chorus for one school year. Under her leadership, the two glee clubs were combined to create a single mixed chorus. She also taught voice for a number of years.

E. Sylvester Weidman
1930-1932
E. Sylvester Weidman directed the College Chorus for two years. In addition to his duties in the music department, he also taught Bible courses.

Verna M. Fink
1932-1933
Verna Fink taught voice at SPC for two years before directing the College Chorus in the 1932-1933 school year.

Grace B. Soltau
1933-1934
Grace Soltau directed the College Chorus for a single year in addition to teaching voice. She remained on the faculty for a number of years.

Marion Joy Stoll
1934-1940
Marion Stoll significantly developed the choral program at SPC. In her first year, she began a second mixed chorus, the A Cappella Choir. Although little is known about the first two years of its history, this choir remains intact although now called Concert Choir. The program grew tremendously in numbers during her tenure. The College Chorus expanded to well over 120 members. This choir was later renamed the Oratorio Society. Many significant college choirs were brought into existence during this decade accross the country. It is apparent the Miss Stoll followed these examples and established a true college choral program.

Lawrence B. Schoenhals
1940-1956
Lawrence Schoenhals was the director of the choral program for sixteen years. Under his leadership, the choirs grew in stature and excellence. They became extremely active. Dr. Schoenhals firmly established a high level of excellence. Dr. Schoenhals gave leadership as the Director of the School of Music for many years. In his later years at SPC, he was appointed as the Dean of Administration and Vice-President of the Administration. After leaving Seattle he became President of Roberts Wesleyan University in Rochester, NY. Among his writings is the "Companion to Hymns of faith and life" which is a companion to the official hymnal of the Free Methodist Church of North America. It is published by the Light and Life Press.

Robert Scandrett
1956-1957; 1991-1992
Robert Scandrett directed the Seattle Pacific choir two years, but those two years were separated by a gap of 34 years. In between, he was recognized as one of the finest choral directors in the country as he built a choral program of high excellence at Western Washington University (College). An SPC graduate, he taught piano for a number of years, directed the Madrigals in 1948-1949 and the Choral Ensemble from 1954-1956 at SPC before leading the choir between the tenures of Dr. Schoenhals and Dr. Mack. After retiring from WWU, he served as interim director in 1991-1992.

Philip Mack
1957-1976
Philip Mack directed the A Cappella Choir (Concert Choir) for nineteen years, making his tenure as the principal choral director the longest in SPC history. He built on the excellence set forth by Dr. Schoenhals and took the choir to high levels of recognition, including performances for music educator's conferences and the NW convention of the American Choral Directors Association. Dr. Mack also directed the Chorale in 1956-1957 and the Oratorio Society from 1976-1978.

N. Hubert Wash
1976-1979
Hubert Wash taught voice at SPC for many years before assuming the leadership of the choir in the fall of 1976. In his three years, the Concert Choir continued its mark of excellence. Early in his years at SPC, he directed the Women's Glee Club from 1951-1953 and the Choral Ensemble in 1953-1954.

Raffaele "Tony" Catanzariti
1979-1985
Tony Catanzariti directed the choral program for six years in the early 1980s. Under his leadership, the choir continued their excellence marked with a performance for the state convention of music educators.

Dennis Woodhall
1985-1991
Dennis Woodhall directed the choral program for six years in the late 1980s. The choral program continued to strive for excellence in repertoire and performance.

David Anderson
1992-present
David Anderson is the current director. For more information please refer to main choral page.

Copyright © 2001 Seattle Pacific University .
Contact David Anderson: (206) 281-2903
dand@spu.edu