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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sounds of Chanteuse


Director Russell Seaton conducts the Chanteuse Treble Choir from University High School in a concert of sacred music at St. John's Episcopal Cathedral. The choir of 75 young women sings year-round. 
 (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
Valerie Putnam Correspondent

Dressed in formal dresses, the 60-member all-female University High School Chanteuse Treble Choir promenaded down the aisles of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, two by two, singing the hauntingly beautiful “plainsong,” an opening to Benjamin Britten’s “Ceremony of Carols” heralding this year’s Advent season.

The “Ceremony of Carols” was one of four selections performed during the choir’s third annual Cathedral Series: Songs of the Advent Season. Michael McGlynn’s “Jerusalem,” Gyorgy Orban’s “Mass No. Six,” and David Child’s “Songs of Beauty” completed the Dec. 10 performance.

The choir’s rendition of Child’s “Weep No More,” a blending of song and poetry, elicited sniffles from members of the audience. The emotion of the piece almost overtook choir member, Amanda Matte as she recited the poem within the song.

“It sounded so beautiful,” Rose Schimanski, mother of Chanteuse member Alicia, said of the overall performance. “They did a real good job.”

The week before the St. John’s concert, the group performed the Advent concert at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes.

“I love the moments at St. John’s and Lourdes,” U-Hi director of choirs Russell Seaton said. “Choral music started in the church and it gives them (the choir) more respect for a piece because they’re doing it where it should be done.”

The Advent concerts are two of the primary performances the Chanteuse girls sing throughout the year. In 2006, the choir was selected to perform at the Washington Music Educator’s Association State Conference. The choir sang the National Anthem at Safeco Field for a 2005 Seattle Mariners and New York Yankees game.

The group’s performance of a Tchaikovsky piece at the Mother of Our Sorrowful Tears Monastery in Portland is a favorite memory of Seaton’s.

“It was the most amazing experience,” Seaton said. “Although it was sung in Russian, they knew the meaning of the song. It was about growing as a young woman. It was poignant to where they were in their life; a lot of them took it personally. They were just bawling. To just watch that happen in those girls was moving.”

Seaton describes the music performed by the choir, arrangements designed specifically for women, as “its own art form.”

It is his belief that the powerful emotion of the choir’s voices results from more than musical talent. He credits it to the strong connection between the members, music and director.

“The closer a choir, the better they sound,” Seaton said. “It’s such an intimate art that we are producing.”

Seaton began his career in July 2001 at University. At that time, there was one choir with 20 members.

“It took some time to re-establish the program,” Seaton said. “We have about 15 percent of the entire student body involved in the choirs now.”

After building up the membership, Seaton divided the group into different choirs. The girls began as an open remedial choir performing simple two-part music.

“After two years, a flourish of freshmen came in and they were amazing,” Seaton said. “They helped completely change that choir.”

Seaton adjusted the requirements for the choir based on the incoming talent. He also changed the name to give the group their own identity.

“Chanteuse means ‘female singer’ in French,” Seaton said of the origin of the choir’s name.

Chanteuse performs challenging musical pieces from all genres, including multicultural selections. Currently the group is learning a new piece using only sounds to imitate a rain forest.

Seaton compares the caliber of work performed by the Chanteuse choir to collegiate women’s choirs.

“The music you heard at the Advent concert, I know the Whitworth women did that music,” Seaton said. “So it’s tough music we’re doing in here.”