Touch of Class Chorale is a community choir in Vancouver, Washington that was founded in the 1970s by Orrell Peru, director of the choral music department for the Battle Ground School District in Southwest Washington. His unique spirit and teaching style instilled a lifelong love of choral music in those he taught year after year, and as he neared retirement, many of his alumni students approached him with the request to continue singing with, and for, him in some way. Hence, the Touch of Class community choir was born.
Through several different iterations, the choir has continued to perform and share the joy of choral music in Clark County for 50 years. We have members today who were in the original group, singers who have been members for 10 or 20 years, and more recent members who joined a season or two ago. At its heart, Touch of Class is a family – a family created by the love of making music together, and a family bonded by caring for each other. Read more about us in this piece published by The Columbian.
We’re always looking for new singers to join our choir. No auditions or music reading ability are required. All we ask is that you come, love to sing and want to have fun doing it!
Members pay a registration fee each season that helps our non-profit choir cover expenses such as sheet music purchases and venue rental fees. Financial assistance is available.
There is also a costuming fee for female singers to purchase a black performance dress from our supplier. A select number of gently used dresses from former choir members may be available depending on the season. Men wear their own black tuxedo jacket, black slacks, and black bow tie for winter performances, and black slacks with black dress shirts for spring performances. Colored ties are provided by the choir for spring concerts. Tuxedo jackets can often be purchased at a discount from Mr. Formal’s rental fleet.
Our People
Janet Lindsley
Music Director
Janet Lindsley is a music educator, conductor, pianist, and vocalist with more than 25 years of experience teaching and performing in the Pacific Northwest. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Vocal Performance from Linfield College and pursued additional studies in Vocal Performance at the University of Arizona.
Throughout her career, Janet has worked with singers of all ages, maintaining a successful private voice and piano studio for over two decades. She has served as an accompanist for the Vancouver School District, Clark College and has performed with the Portland Opera Chorus, and directed numerous children’s and community music programs. She currently fosters the love of music in her preschool students as owner and director at Mini Mozarts Preschool in downtown Vancouver.
In addition to her work as an educator and conductor, Janet is an active performer. She was a member of a local swing band including, most recently, The Juleps, a vintage vocal trio inspired by the harmonies of the Andrews Sisters, and has appeared in several local theatrical and community music productions.
As Music Director of Touch of Class Chorale, Janet is excited to continue the choir’s tradition of musical excellence while creating a welcoming environment where singers can grow, connect, and share the joy of choral music with the community. She believes that great music is about more than notes on a page—it’s about the people who come together.
Allison Coiteux
Accompanist
Allison’s oldest skill is playing the piano. Her earliest memories involve this wonderful instrument, and she calls musicality her genealogical right. Music and myriad instruments are as common in her home as groceries. Her classical studies took her to competitions in her teenage years, to stages with symphonies and orchestras and choirs in her adult years, and to her favorite venue — families’ homes — to teach piano to wee ones and grownups alike. She also pulled a nifty side hustle out of this skill along the way: she’s a rather good organist. Weddings, funerals, church services, or just jonesing for some Phantom of the Opera soundtracks, she’s your gal.
Board of Directors
President
Jane Hansen
Vice President
Beth Terry
Secretary
Joanne Granado
Treasurer
Laura Ross
Marketing Chairperson
Music Chairperson
Catherine Baker