About womanSong

MISSION STATEMENT

womanSong is committed to excellence in the performance of diverse and challenging choral literature for women's voices. The only choir of its kind in West Virginia, it educates and enriches its audience through compelling musical artistry.

ENSEMBLE

womanSong is an auditioned community-based chorus for sopranos and altos. In addition to our voices, the individual women of womanSong bring varied talents to the group. We are twenty-somethings and sexagenarians; teachers, lawyers, engineers, nurses, and retirees. Many are full-time community volunteers or busy mothers of small children. Some of us are lifelong or professional musicians. For others, womanSong has provided an opportunity to sing for the first time since college. What we have in common is our love of singing, our joy in one another’s company, and our dedication to sharing our unique repertoire with the community.

HISTORY

womanSong was founded in 1997 by Joann Cordell. As the only major women’s chorus in West Virginia, we sing an eclectic range of repertoire, reviving and reliving our choral history through historical music and showcasing often unknown works by female composers.

In the past few decades, womanSong has performed in Croatia, Italy, Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC, the Kennedy Center, and West Virginia’s own Tamarack and the Greenbrier Resort. womanSong has been featured at the West Virginia American Choral Director’s Association annual conference, has collaborated with the WV Symphony on several occasions, has collaborated with composer/performer Moira Smiley, and was designated as one of the 50 Wonder Women of West Virginia by West Virginia Living Magazine 2019.

In addition to our rich musical history, womanSong has remained committed to the greater community by volunteering time at Hospice and The Covenant House, as well as contributing to local food pantries.

together in song

womanSong Chorale of West Virginia is the only all-female community choir in West Virginia. womanSong brings local female singers together in a community that shares a commitment to excellence in musicianship and a passion for performing. Under the direction of Jeanette Bowlby, womanSong incorporates traditional, classical, contemporary, and multicultural styles of music into concert repertoire and highlights works by female composers.

together in friendship

womanSong is more than just a chorus. We're a family. Every rehearsal is a chance to catch up with friends, and every performance is a time to share our love of music with our audience and with each other. We have had many fantastic opportunities to travel for performances and spend time outside of rehearsal together, and we think our friendship helps us perform at our very best.

together in west virginia

womanSong rehearses and performs primarily in the Charleston, West Virginia area, occasionally collaborating with other local musicians. The members of womanSong come from various backgrounds and occupations but are united by the goal of bringing beautiful music to West Virginia and sharing West Virginia's musical talent with the world.

together in pRactice