ABOUT
Mission Statement
Sacramento Women’s Chorus builds community through song.
We sing to honor peace, justice and social equality, and to celebrate the lives of all women.
We strive for musical excellence as we give voice to women’s hopes and dreams,
opening hearts and minds through harmony.
We Love to Sing!
US
History
With a humble beginning of less than a dozen singers, the Sacramento Women’s Chorus has grown to an over 75 member, all inclusive, 501c3 nonprofit organization. We strive for musical excellence while giving voice to women’s hopes and dreams, opening hearts and minds through harmony.
Since its inception in 1987, the SWC has become recognized as an important part of the Sacramento art and activist community. The SWC sings at events that focus on equality, peace, justice, women’s issues and LGBTQIA pride. In 2020, the SWC became a GALA Choruses Best Practices Chorus, an honor that recognizes our dedication to our organization and its mission.
The Sacramento Women’s Chorus is an inclusive chorus that welcomes all adults who sing in the soprano/alto (treble) range, including but not limited to women, gender expansive, nonbinary, and transgender people.
Women searching for a musical home join the Sacramento Women’s Chorus to sing pieces that blend meaning with fun, only to find that they have become part of a remarkable, welcoming community. The SWC attracts a diverse community by combining compelling social issues with inspiring and entertaining performances. The members of the SWC are kindred souls singing in a warm, safe, and inviting environment.
RACHEL JACKSON
Artistic Director
Directing this treble choir is a unique and wonderful privilege. Goals include connecting many voices into one beautiful sound while encouraging unity in the Chorus.
Rachel Jackson has programmed concerts and sacred services, conducted choirs and music-directed theatre in the Sacramento area for the last 25 years. She has served as an adjudicator for choral festivals and conductor of a mass choir at the Sacramento Convention Center. Rachel has been involved in eight professional choral recordings as producer, director or featured soloist. She is dedicated to diversity in the creative arts, musical integrity and inter-generational connection within choirs and ensembles.
Rachel received a Bachelor of Arts in Music from California State University, East Bay, a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from California State University, Sacramento and a Master of Music in Conducting from Messiah University in Mechanicsville, Pennsylvania. Her influences include professor Dr. David Stein, Dr. Rachel Cornacchio, Tom Fettke, Eleanor Cohen and clinician Dr. Anton Armstrong and Ken Medema.
She loves teaching voice, singing jazz, traveling, cycling and spending time with loved ones including her furry companions.
MERRI SUE BROWN
Assistant Director/Accompanist
Merri Sue is a retired K-8 music teacher. She earned a single subject music credential and a multiple
subject credential from the state of California. Merri sue says retirement is grand, especially if you can
still contribute your skills to something you love.
CINDY L CHAFFEE, ED.D.
Associate Director
Cindy is a retired educator. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from the University of Vermont. She also holds a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from CSULB, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of La Verne.
Dr. Chaffee has sung in and directed church and community choirs since her college days. She has taught both choral and instrumental music in public schools in Vermont and California. She also served as district GATE music program director for Garden Grove School district, and the district Choral music program director for the Centralia School district.
In addition to Cindy’s 40+ years in education, she is a veteran, having served in the Vermont National Guard 40th Army Band, and then as Assistant Conductor of the Los Angeles 300th Reserve Army Band.
Cindy joined the Sacramento Women’s Chorus in 2022. When asked about her passion for music, she refers to her singing experiences as a child in church and playing Princess Ying Yaowalak in “The King and I” when she was ten years old. Cindy often says, “Music feeds my soul.”
VUTU NGUYEN
Piano Accompanist
Vutu is an award winning collaborative pianist and piano pedagogue. Joining the Sacramento Women’s Chorus in 2020, he is inspired to deliver compelling performances and contribute to the empowerment of community through music. Vutu has performed internationally as a classical pianist, including solo concerts at Salle Cortot in Paris, Old First Concerts in San Francisco, and the Music at Noon Series in Sacramento. Other notable performances include choral concerts at the World AIDS Day, Fresh Meat Festival, and the Transgender Day of Remembrance.
A Bay Area native, Vutu attended San Francisco State University where he established himself as an award winning piano teacher, and earned both his MM and BM in Piano Performance with an emphasis in Chamber Music. He is now nearing completion of his PhD in Musicology from the Claremont Graduate University in Pomona, California, and is finishing his dissertation on 19th century piano methods. Vutu continues to teach private piano lessons at his home in Sacramento and at the San Francisco Community Music Center. In addition to his musical pursuits, Vutu enjoys spending time with family and is a dedicated soccer coach.