Artistic Director: Laird M. Thornton

Laird received his Bachelor of Music in Performance from Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon and did his graduate work in vocal studies at the University of Southern California.

He earned his teaching certificate at the University of Washington where he studied choral conducting under Abraham Kaplan. He has conducted many major choral works including Fanshawe’s African Sanctus.

In addition to his duties with the Federal way Chorale, Laird has maintained an active performance career in the Seattle area, singing with Seattle Opera and Tacoma Opera, as well as smaller regional opera companies. He has also appeared in musical theater productions with Civic Light Opera, Tacoma Musical Playhouse, and Puget Sound Musical Theatre. He has performed as a soloist with the Northwest Chorale, the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra and Choir of the Sound, among others.

He is currently Director of Choral Music at Grace Lutheran Church in Des Moines and Director of Vocal Music at Thomas Jefferson High School in Federal Way. His high school ensembles and musical theater productions have a long record of regional and national awards.