Our Mission
The mission of Peninsula Singers is to rehearse and perform the world’s greatest choral music, which provides nourishment to the listeners and the performers. The group also provides an outlet for continuing musical/vocal activity to those trained in choral singing so that the promise of lifelong musical involvement is a cultural reality. Peninsula Singers is dedicated to ensure that chamber music, in its broadest sense, is a vital part of American life and promotes artistic excellence.
The Peninsula Singers is not a typical performing music group. Today, two traditional series are held in the fall and spring of the year. We regularly perform with the Port Angeles Symphony and have done so over the past 18 years. We perform a variety of music that varies from art and folk songs, to classics and musical theatre. Our membership is 50-60 strong originating from Port Townsend, Sequim and Port Angeles. In our twenty years of existence, Peninsula Singers has flourished into a multifaceted enterprise, comprising not only one choir ensemble, but two that annually reaches audiences of more than 1000.
In 1988 Dennis Crabbe, musical director at Peninsula College started Peninsula Singers. Dewey Ehling assumed the musical director position in 1990. Mr. Ehling has been rehearsal director for several renowned performers such as Robert Shaw and Dave Brubeck. As well as musical director for Peninsula Singers, Dewey currently directs the Port Townsend Symphony, has been acting director for several Port Angeles Light Opera Assoc. (PALOA) productions, and has guest-directed the Port Angeles Symphony on many occasions.
Since 1988 our continued growth has far exceeded our expectations. Once a very small choir has grown to a membership of 70, with two choirs. There was a time where the membership was able to pay expenses out-of-pocket and this is no longer true. The financial affairs of today are handled like all business with balance sheets, paychecks and budgets. It is difficult to offer this art to the community and remain in a positive financial light. Today, we hire soloist, hall rentals, music, accompaniment, just to name of few of our expenses. We hold two annual concerts and often perform throughout the region
Our Director
Peninsula Singers is fortunate to have Dewey Ehling as its Musical Director.
Mr. Ehling graduated in 1950, with a bachelors degree in Music Education from Bethany College. Following active duty with the Marines during the Korean Conflict He conducted orchestras and choirs in the bay area, and played oboe with the San Francisco Conservatory Orchestra and with the U.C. Berkeley Orchestra.
In 1968 he moved to Anchorage, Alaska, where he taught music in the school system and in 1978, became Director of Music for the Anchorage School District. In 1979 he took his Community Chorus to Kansas City, MO to perform at the American Choral Director’s Association International Convention. The 100 voice chorus received a 15 minute standing ovation. He toured extensively with this group and the Anchorage Youth Symphony. Included in the tours were several Canadian visits, two trips to England and Scotland, a 30-day tour of New Zealand and Australia, a trip to Washington, D.C. and concerts in Carnegie Hall and Avery Fischer Hall in New York.
He has prepared choruses and orchestras for Michael Carry, Donald Johanos, Rainer Miedel, Helmuth Rilling, Robert Shaw, and Gunther Shuller. He has appeared with Peter Schickele, Peter Nero and Dave Brubeck.
In 1989 Mr. Ehling retired from Anchorage and moved to Port Angeles. Since living here, he has conducted Peninsula Singers, Port Angeles Light Opera, Olympic Theater Arts productions and the Port Townsend Community Orchestra. He has also guest-conducted the Port Angeles Symphony. He has conducted the Nutcracker Ballet with Sylvia Wanner, performed many concerts with Nico Snel, and next June, will present an afternoon of ‘Hit Parade of the 1940’s’ with Carol Swarbrick Dries, and in July, 2006, he and Gary McRoberts will team on the musical ‘Forever Plaid’ at Olympic Theater Arts. This December 28th, he will conduct a Messiah Sing-along in Sequim.
Mr Ehling has received many awards and acclamations among which are the American Spirit Honor Medal while in the Marine Corps, and Teacher of the Year for the State of Alaska. When he retired, Anchorage Mayor Tony Knowles, later to become Governor, proclaimed a day in June, 1986, Dewey W. Ehling Day. He was presented with a key to the city at his final appearance with the Anchorage Community Chorus. In November 2005, Mr. Ehling was Presented the Biz Gherke award from the Port Angeles Symphony.