about Our Chorus
OUR CHORUS
SoCo Women’s Chorus is an auditioned community treble chorus based in Austin, Texas. Led by Artistic Director Lisa Sunset Holt, our nonprofit chorus is made up of approximately 80 talented singers from diverse backgrounds and musical abilities. We welcome singers of all gender identities with voices in the treble range - soprano and alto.
We are students, teachers, lawyers, business owners, mentors, caregivers, healthcare professionals, musicians, managers, and retirees. We honor our diversity of ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities, spiritual beliefs, and abilities.
We celebrate our common love for creating and sharing music for our community, performing songs that range from medieval to contemporary, from western to global, and from classical to folk. The chorus was established in 2012 by Founding Artistic Director Janey Ryan.
OUR SHARED VALUES
Community & Belonging
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Diversity & Inclusion
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Service
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Artistic Integrity
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Expression & Creativity
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Excellence
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Passion
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Community & Belonging • Diversity & Inclusion • Service • Artistic Integrity • Expression & Creativity • Excellence • Passion •
OUR MISSION & VISION
OUR MISSION is to provide Central Texas singers with the experience of musical artistry and excellence through choral singing and group performance. Our chorus is dedicated to reflecting Austin’s diversity and providing community service through music.
Since our founding, we have proudly been a welcoming and safe space for women and LGBTQIA+ individuals who are treble singers.
OUR VISION is to enrich the cultural fabric of Austin and build community through song.
Our MUSICAL History
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COMING SOON - Spring 2025
Americana will be a musical journey through the rich traditions of folk, spirituals, country, Tejano, and Appalachian music. With heartfelt storytelling and powerful melodies, this program celebrates the power of music to connect and transform.
This concert includes the world premiere of a stunning choral work by Sherry Blevins, commissioned through The Bluebonnet Fund for New Music. Our first commission! Stay tuned for more details.
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Winter 2024
LUX! - A Celebration of Light shared the many facets of illumination through song. This concert explored a powerful, lush choral repertoire and featured local youth musicians from both Cedar Park and McCallum High Schools.
Our community performances included a concert at the Austin Central Library, singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the 2024 Komen Central Texas More Than Pink Walk, and participating in the the Use Your Voice, Use Your Vote event curated by the American Artists Project.
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Summer 2024
In August, we held our second Sing Together ATX community event, singing “Linger” by The Cranberries live at The Brewtorium.
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Spring 2024
Legends & Fables immersed us in a world of wonder with music featuring fairy tales, myths, and folklore from across the globe. Held at KMFA's Draylen Mason Music Studio, this concert included performances by Abigail Lewis, recipient of the 2024 Melody Claire Hall Vocal Scholarship, and a percussionist from the McCallum High School Orchestra. At this concert series, we officially launched The Bluebonnet Fund for New Music!
We also performed a free community show at the Austin Central Library and went back to our roots with a live set on South Congress.
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Winter 2023
Holiday Movie Magic was a fun-loving show that featured music from beloved holiday films like Home Alone, The Polar Express, and The Grinch. This concert showcased a house band composed of local Austin professional musicians.
Our community shows included singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the Komen Central Texas More Than Pink Walk, a performance at the Austin Central Library, holiday caroling at the Commodore Perry Auberge, and a rocking holiday show at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport’s Saxon Pub/Asleep at the Wheel Stage.
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Summer 2023
In August, we held our first ever Sing Together ATX community event and sang Radiohead’s “Creep” live at The Brewtorium.
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Spring 2023
Wildflowers celebrated choral music composed by women - from Hildegard von Bingen, Clara Schumann, and Amy Beach to contemporary composers B.E. Boykin, Joan Szymko, and Jocelyn Hagen. This concert included a performance by Sidney Weaver, recipient of the 2023 Melody Claire Hall Vocal Scholarship.
We performed free community shows at the Austin Central Library and the Overture Domain senior living community.
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Winter 2022
Carols at Candlelight was a winter celebration that included songs in Latin, Swahili, and Hebrew and featured a string quartet from the McCallum High School Orchestra.
We performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the Komen Central Texas More Than Pink Walk, a holiday show at The Emily Ann Trail of Lights in Wimberley, and a free community concert at the Austin Central Library. We also did some non-singing volunteering at the Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center.
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Spring 2022
Who We Are was a grateful commemoration of a decade of SoCo Women's Chorus community and song, and an embrace of new artistic adventures ahead. This concert included a performance by Katelyn Segarra, recipient of the 2022 Melody Claire Hall Vocal Scholarship.
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Winter 2021
Winter Wonderland was a joyous return to performing live and rekindling the song that lives in each of our hearts. This concert was the first led by Artistic Director Lisa Sunset Holt and featured a cellist from the Cedar Park High School Orchestra.
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Winter 2020 / Spring 2021
Virtual Postcards kept us singing thanks to technology through virtual holiday and seasonal performances. The recipient of the 2021 Melody Claire Hall Vocal Scholarship was Sophia Lopez.
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Spring 2020
Flight, presented virtually, was Founding Artistic Director Janey Hall’s final concert with SoCo Women’s Chorus and included her favorite songs across the chorus’s 8-year repertoire. The 4th annual Melody Claire Hall Vocal Scholarship was awarded to Sierra Richardson.
We performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” at a Texas Stars hockey game.
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Winter 2019
Merry & Bright was a musical potpourri of delightful, seasonal numbers.
We were honored to perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the Komen Central Texas More Than Pink Walk.
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Spring 2019
Broadway, Baby! showcased musical theater tunes from 1935 to the present, including songs from Porgy and Bess to Lin-Manuel Miranda's Hamilton. The 3rd annual Melody Claire Hall Voice Scholarship was awarded to Tessa Newman.
We also had a packed season of free community performances, including a show at the Austin Central Library, a senior living home, and at the Texas Stars hockey game.
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Winter 2018
Held at Ballet Austin, Ethereal was a concert of heavenly music – evoking the sky, the clouds, and the stars above.
We performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the Susan G. Komen Race for a Cure.
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Summer 2018
SoCo Women’s Chorus Chamber Ensemble toured Spain, performing in Toledo, Valencia, L’Ametlla de Mar, and Barcelona, with a special concert at the Sagrada Familia.
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Spring 2018
¡Cantar! was a performance featuring Spanish music, later performed again on tour in Spain. Mikaela Pace was awarded the 2nd Annual Melody Claire Hall Voice Scholarship.
We performed a free community show at the Austin Central Library and also sang in the Tapestry Singers Anniversary Concert.
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Winter 2017
Held at Ballet Austin, Feels Like Home celebrated the comfort of the winter holidays.
We performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, sang at a local senior center, and had a blast singing in the Chuy's Children Giving to Children Parade / Operation Blue Santa event.
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Spring 2017
5 celebrated SoCo Women’s Chorus's fifth anniversary with audience favorites at the Paramount’s historic Stateside Theatre in downtown Austin. We established the Melody Claire Hall Vocal Scholarship and this concert featured a performance by our first scholarship recipient, Jeannie Miller.
We had the honor of singing at the U.S. District Judge's Naturalization Ceremony at the LBJ Library Auditorium at the University of Texas. We were also invited by Austin Monthly Magazine to perform for the Wonder Women EXPO at the Garden Hilton Hotel. In June, we sang at #ThePinkGive Event by Susan G Komen.
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Winter 2016
Our concert For The Children featured an exciting collaboration with the Austin Children’s Choir under the artistic direction of Sam Parrott.
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Spring 2016
Regal Women was a musical dedication to the power of women and was held at the Paramount’s historic Stateside Theatre in downtown Austin.
We also performed at The Village On The Park-Onion Creek retirement community.
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Winter 2015
Winter Song celebrated the season once more at Ballet Austin’s AustinVentures StudioTheater.
We also performed a free holiday community concert at the Whole Foods ice rink.
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Summer 2015
The SoCo Women’s Chorus Chamber Ensemble performed across Ireland, including a number of historic cathedrals and the residence of the Mayor of Dublin. The chorus also met up with Austin Mayor Steve Adler in Ireland as well!
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Spring 2015
Seasons of Love was presented at the William B. Travis High School Theatre and included the first performance of "Irish Blessing”, which became SoCo Women’s Chorus’s signature closing song for all future concerts
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Winter 2014
Believe was a concert held at the Paramount’s historic Stateside Theatre in downtown Austin.
We also performed at the 2014 Trail of Lights in Austin's Zilker Park.
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Spring 2014
Americana was performed in collaboration with The Chamber Chorus of Turtle Creek Chorale and was held at Huston-Tillotson University.
We also sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" for the Round Rock Express baseball team.
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Winter 2013
Held at Ballet Austin, our concert Winter Postcards was a performance marking SoCo Women's Chorus's first anniversary! This concert included a performance by the small ensemble SoCo Voice.
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Fall 2013
We journeyed to Dallas for a poignant performance of Faure's Requiem with The Turtle Creek Chorale, in remembrance of the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's assassination.
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Spring 2013
How Can I Keep From Singing was a joyful show at Ballet Austin’s AustinVentures StudioTheater.
We also performed a community concert at a local senior home.
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Winter 2012
Come To The Music was our debut concert held at Ballet Austin. We also led a fun holiday sing-a-long in the Texas Capitol rotunda and performed at a local senior home.