Seattle Women's Chorus
Seattle Women's Chorus (SWC) is a community choir based in Seattle, Washington, founded in 2002. It is the largest LGBTQ-identified women's chorus in the world and is a member of GALA Choruses and Chorus America. The group and Seattle Men's Chorus are run by the same non-profit, Flying House Productions, making them the largest community chorus in North America.
Paul Caldwell has led SWC as conductor and artistic director since 2016, with Nikki Blackmer named Assistant Conductor in 2019.
SWC performs in Seattle at venues such as Benaroya Hall, Cornish Playhouse, Saint Mark's Cathedral, and McCaw Hall. They have hosted guest artists including Chely Wright, Lesley Gore, Kathy Najimy, Vicci Martinez, and Sarah Rudinoff.
The chorus also puts on free children’s concerts for Seattle-area families, featuring youth groups like Village Theatre KIDSTAGE and Diverse Harmony, the nation’s first gay-straight alliance youth chorus.
In 2012, SWC and Seattle Men's Chorus toured five western Washington cities with a free concert called "Voices United for Marriage," encouraging support for Referendum 74 to legalize same-sex marriage. Washington voted to approve same-sex marriage later that year. Founding members Pete-e Petersen and Jane Abbott Lighty were the first couple to receive a marriage license in King County, marrying on-stage during a holiday concert at Benaroya Hall.
In 2015, SWC performed at Seattle Mayor Ed Murray’s rally celebrating the Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 09:33 (CET).