Press kit, Seattle Pro Musica · Press kit, official use
From the beginning, Seattle Pro Musica has moved audiences with precision and passion. Seattle Pro Musica was founded as the Thalia Chamber Choir in 1973 by conductor Richard Sparks. It became Seattle Pro Musica in 1975, and Sparks led the organization until 1980. Our current artistic director and conductor, Karen P. Thomas, began her tenure in 1987 and has led the group with spirit and determination for nearly 40 years—and has a delightful time doing it! In 1973, Richard Sparks started the Thalia Chamber Choir with the intention of collaborating with the already existing Thalia Symphony Orchestra, founded in Seattle in 1949. Soon Sparks felt it would be better to form his own independent group and the Seattle Pro Musica Society was formed in 1975, consisting of the Aeolian Singers, the Pro Musica Singers and Chamber Orchestra, and the Seattle Bach Ensemble. Rehearsals were held at University Methodist Temple where Sparks was music director. The Bach Ensemble was a smaller professional group which came together only on the third Sunday of each month, rehearsed a Bach cantata in the morning, broke for lunch, then performed it that evening.
