Sonoro Women’s Choir and and Sonoro Chamber Orchestra at Lagerquist Concert Hall in Tacoma, Washington.
Photo credit: Danielle Barnum Photography. June 2025
About us
Sonoro Choral Society is an independent, not-for-profit choral organization based in the south Puget Sound. It is our mission to inspire passion for choral music through accessibility and education.
In 2007, Director Jeremy Shilley recognized that the Pierce County choral community wasn’t as accessible as it could be—there were limited chances for amateur singers to perform, learn, and grow. He also felt that the broader community deserved a deeper connection to the joy and value of quality choral music. With these insights, he founded the Sonoro Choral Society, hoping to make choral singing feel welcoming and inclusive for everyone. Guided by his heartfelt vision, we strive to celebrate the arts through education for both our members and our audiences, while sharing high‑quality, community‑focused performances that everyone can enjoy.
Photo credit Danielle Barnum Photogrpahy
Our Mission
1. To provide performance opportunities for amateur musicians and to establish a supportive community dedicated to helping its members grow in confidence and vocal technique.
2. To provide excellent choral art to the public made accessible and enjoyable through education, contextualization, and translation.
Our Values
Sonoro Choral Society pursues our mission through…
Excellence: Fostering growth, innovation, professionalism, and quality music.
Community: A spirit of inclusiveness between members with enthusiastic participation in the broader civic and artistic communities.
Empowerment: Encouraging self-actualization through education, performance, teamwork, and support.
Stewardship: Using our funds and time to support our mission with gratitude, wisdom, and integrity.
Our Impact
Sonoro Choral Society has fulfilled our mission by…
Connecting with our community through performances at the Puyallup Fair, the Tacoma Holiday Food & Gift Festival, the Mary Bridge Children’s Festival of Trees, the Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Nutcracker, local farmer’s markets, benefits for local food banks, and more. In particular, we have been honored to provide music for the Tacoma Fire Department’s annual 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony each year since 2011.
Performing at multiple noteworthy events, including for His Majesty King Harald V of Norway’s visit to Pacific Lutheran University in May 2015 and as a headlining group for many holiday tree lighting ceremonies in Leavenworth, WA.
Partnering with the Greater Seattle Choral Consortium to perform at the Seattle Sings! Choral Festival held every two years, including as a specially selected group for the 2019 Seattle Sings! program honoring composer Morten Lauridsen’s return to the Pacific Northwest. Sonoro also had the honor of promoting the 2025 Seattle Sings! Choral Festival on Classical King FM’s Northwest Focus Live broadcast over radio and online livestream.
Inviting composers of performed works to participate in our rehearsal process, provide feedback on our performance, and discuss the inspiration and intention that shaped their composition to allow our singers to connect more deeply with each work. We have been fortunate to hold workshops with Canadian composer Laura Hawley in winter 2023 for her work Carol Trilogy and most recently with local composer Austin Schend in winter 2025 for his work The Great Clear Twilight.
Presenting our first program at Pacific Lutheran University’s prestigious Lagerquist Concert Hall in spring 2025, highlighting Vivaldi’s Gloria masterwork.
COMING SOON: Premiering a newly composed, commissioned work by German-Austrian composer Celina Anna Kintscher in spring 2026 at Pacific Lutheran University.
Our People
Jeremy Shilley — Artistic Director and Conductor
Jeremy Shilley has established himself as a versatile and inspiring conductor in the Pacific Northwest, recognized for his artistry, vision, and commitment to excellence in choral performance. He serves as Artistic Director of the Sonoro Choral Society, where he conducts the acclaimed Sonoro Women’s Choir, the a cappella ensemble Elysium, and the Sonoro Chamber Orchestra. Under his direction, Sonoro has become known for its compelling and imaginative programming, expressive performances, and collaborations with leading regional artists.
Recent highlights include Sonoro’s live performance on Classical KING FM’s Northwest Focus LIVE and the founding of the Lumen Community Choir, an open, intergenerational ensemble based at Steilacoom Community Church that unites singers from across the community through accessible and meaningful choral experiences.
A dedicated church musician, Jeremy serves as Director of Music and Worship at Steilacoom Community Church, overseeing sacred music ministries that encompass traditional choral, contemporary, and community ensembles. His work integrates artistry with a deep sense of faith and hospitality.
Jeremy’s conducting and teaching are informed by years of mentorship and study. He pursued advanced studies in choral conducting and pedagogy at Pacific Lutheran University, studying with Kathryn Lehmann, Dr. Richard Nance, and Dr. Edwin Powell, and has participated in masterclasses with Dale Warland and, most recently, Dr. Geoffrey Boers, through the Cascade Conducting Masterclass, where he was twice selected as one of only twelve conductors from across the U.S. and Canada.
His career has included directing the Tacoma Norwegian Children’s Choir (Barnekor),Tahoma Voices Chorale, and guest conducting for Women of Note. He has appeared as a guest clinician and adjudicator for NATS and numerous high school programs throughout the region. Among his most notable experiences are conducting the Sonoro Scandinavian Children’s Choir for King Harald V of Norway during his 2015 visit to PLU, and leading Sonoro in a special 2019 performance honoring composer Morten Lauridsen. He has also directed PLU’s Sankta Lucia Festival Chorus and served as voice coach for the Tacoma Daffodil Festival Princesses.
Jeremy is an active member of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), the National Association for Teachers of Singing (NATS), and the National Association for Music Educators (NAfME). He lives in DuPont, Washington, with his wife, son, and their German Shepherd mix, and enjoys long walks, woodworking, and reading theology, science, and science fiction.
Jeff Anderson - Collaborative Pianist
Collaborative Pianist Jeff Anderson has been instrumental (pun intended) in helping to create the level of artistry and the depth of community Sonoro Choral Society is known for. He joined Sonoro Choral Society in 2011 and has shone brightly for his stunning artistic expression, for his sincere mentorship of the musicians around him, and for his light-hearted humor that brightens each rehearsal. Jeff’s piano performance helps breathe life into our music, and we could not present the stellar art that we do without him!
Jeff attended both the University of Puget Sound and Western Washington University, earning a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the latter. In addition to his work as Sonoro’s Collaborative Pianist, Jeff currently works as a church Music Director in University Place, is an Accompanist for the Tacoma City Ballet, and is a Collaborative Pianist at Pacific Lutheran University.
Padua Canty - Concertmaster
At the core of the Sonoro Chamber Orchestra’s artistic cohesion, Padua Canty serves as concertmaster and creative collaborator. Canty brings to the role extensive training (M.M. from Rice University) and a rich performing career, including performances with Northwest Sinfonietta and other regional ensembles. Her role extends beyond leadership in rehearsals: she partners with conductor Jeremy Shilley on interpretive decisions, helps shape ensemble balance and rapport, and contributes to musician selection and rehearsal efficiency.