Masterworks Choral Ensemble is an adult community choir in Olympia, Washington, dedicated to performance, community service, music education, and leadership in the arts.

We started in 1981 as a group of friends who loved music. Today, our choir has grown to over 110 auditioned members, and one thing remains true: our love for singing.

We "celebrate the community [we] have built and continue to build – one that is centered around the universal power of song, but also teaches its participants to value volunteerism and community service as integral components of making art." (source: ArtsFund)

For over 40 years, we've been more than a choir; we've been a family of music lovers and patrons dedicated to bettering our community.

Group Photo of Full Choir

Our Mission and Impact

Our mission goes beyond the notes on a page. We strive to:

Perform a diverse range of choral works, both classical and modern, from a multi-cultural perspective
Collaborate with other local arts groups to support performance arts & culture in Olympia
Engage in community service and outreach, increasing equity and access to music in our community
Lead and mentor, fostering a vibrant future for the vocal arts

In addition to our concerts at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts, we sponsor the annual PNW Regional Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival, which brings the very best of A Cappella vocalists to Olympia to compete for a chance at Nationals.

Photo of excited winners holding trophy

We also host an annual Youth Music Competition, which awards scholarships to vocal and instrumental musicians in Elementary, Middle School, and High School. The winners also get the opportunity to perform on stage with us in the following season.

Photo of former Youth Music Competition winner with violin

Each summer we open our doors for Open Sing, a series of free community vocal workshops. The goal is to share our love of music, but also work to increase equity and access to music education in the Olympia community.

Photo of a group of singers during a free community workshop

Over the years Masterworks Choral Ensemble has contributed to many community events and organizations such as:

The Boys and Girls Club of Thurston County
Community Youth Services (Haven House)
Safeplace
The Spotlite Foundation
Providence St. Peter Hospital’s Christmas Forest
Habitat for Humanity
POSSCA
Local school fundraisers
Numerous senior centers
The grand opening of the Washington Center and its 10th anniversary celebration
Operation Cheer (honoring military personnel from Operation Desert Shield)
Harbor Days, Lakefair, Artswalk, Super Saturday, and Thurston County Fair

The Challenge

Despite our passion and dedication, did you know that ticket sales cover less than half of our operating budget? This financial gap limits how much we can do for the community and for the arts.

The Opportunity - Giving Tuesday

This Giving Tuesday, we invite you to be part of our chorus. Your support can help us:

Expand our reach in the community, touching more lives through the power of music
Offer more scholarships to aspiring young musicians
Create new, diverse performances that celebrate and elevate the arts in Southwest Washington
Hire more local musicians to perform at our performances
Sponsor more community outreach initiatives
Offer more free concerts to our local community
Create new community workshops
... and so much more!

Your Role

Every dollar you contribute helps us sing a little louder, reach a little further, and inspire a little more.

Even a small donation can make a big impact - so we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being a part of our community.

Donate now to help us reach our goal!

Giving Tuesday: Donate to support MCE & help us beat our fundraising goal!

By Masterworks Choral Ensemble

Giving Tuesday: Donate to support MCE & help us beat our fundraising goal!

Join us in our mission to support music, community, and education in Olympia. 100% of your gift supports our singers, musicians, and community initiatives!

Team Leaderboard

Team Members