About Us
Our Mission: The RWCC is dedicated to using music as the vehicle for messages of peace, hope, understanding, and cooperation within the global community.
The RWCC is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
The Rochester Women's Community Chorus (RWCC) is a non-auditioned group creating harmony by singing music of all genres since 1978.
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Our chorus family consists of a diverse group of people who share a love of music. We welcome singers regardless of any prior musical experience or expertise, and are committed to helping our chorus grow musically. Non-singing members are welcome to join our extended family as volunteers, sponsors, or board members.
100 Years of Music concert, Winter 2025. Photo courtesy Bill Fowlkes.
Our Story
The RWCC began in 1978 as Rochester Womyn's Community Chorus. Its philosophy at that time was to provide a vehicle for the feminist women's community through singing.
For the first five years, the directors consisted of professional musicians, and the chorus sang only music composed by women. All decisions, including musical ones, were made by consensus and feedback.
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The chorus disbanded briefly in 1984, and resumed its activity in 1985, led by Deborah Wachspress. The group's name became the Rochester Women's Community Chorus (RWCC). The chorus changed its structure and intent to include all quality music that did not contain lyrics of an oppressive nature.
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In 1997, the RWCC became a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization and established a board of directors, in whose hands the fiscal responsibilities, planning, and major decisions are entrusted.
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In 2011, Kristy Houston took the helm as musical director. The RWCC continues to grow in numbers and increase its outreach to the greater Rochester community.
What kind of music do we sing?
RWCC sings a wide variety of choral music selected from various genres, cultures, and choral traditions. We particularly enjoy pieces that are written by and for women, as well as pieces that speak to issues of social equality. Some examples of our recent repertoire:
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Contemporary choral — "Seal Lullaby", Whitacre; "Life is Not a Garden", Alexander; "Peace on Earth... and Lots of Little Crickets"
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World music — "Iraqi Peace Song", Tennenhouse; "Eatnemen Vuelie", Fjellheim (opening yoik from Frozen); "Igraj Kolce"
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Pop — "Brave", Sara Bareilles; "Born This Way"; "Stand by Me"; "Imagine"; "Bohemian Rhapsody"; "Here Comes the Sun"
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Show Tunes — "This Is Me" (The Greatest Showman); "For Good"; "Defying Gravity" (Wicked); "Seasons of Love" (Rent)
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Social Equality — "Famine Song"; "How Can I Cry", Moira Smiley; "Everything Possible," Small/Moore
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Spirituals/Gospel — "Still I Rise", Powell; "Study War No More", arr. Moore; "Miss Celie's Blues"; "Up to the Mountain," Patty Griffin
People Behind the Notes
Deborah Wachspress served the music community of Rochester as the director of the Rochester Women's Community Chorus from 1985 until 2011. Deb's passion for bringing music to the community is reflected not only in the nearly three decades at RWCC's helm, but is also evident in her 33-year teaching career in the Rochester City School District. Since her retirement, Deb has been busy working with refugees and Immigrants through a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services grant administered through Catholic Charities. Deb's dedication to the chorus has been unparalleled and she personifies these words from the RWCC mission statement: "... dedicated to using music as the vehicle for messages of peace, hope, understanding, and cooperation within the global community."
Originally from the Flint, Michigan area, Kristy began singing with the RWCC when she first moved to Rochester in 2006. She took on the role of conductor and music director in 2011. Kristy has a B.Mus.Ed. from the University of Michigan-Flint and a M.Mus.Ed. from Indiana University. Kristy's conducting influences and mentors include Mary Alice Stollak, Stephen Pratt, Dr. Mary Goetze, and Dr. Joe Miller. She has been teaching band, choir, and general music for over two decades, and has been the band director at The Harley School since 2010.
Dearbhla is a seasoned collaborative pianist and répetiteur, having graduated from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor with a Masters of Music in Collaborative Piano, under the tutelage of renowned Professor Emeritus Martin Katz. She is a Software Engineer with local company Solu Technology Partners, and currently holds the position of choir director with Summerville Presbyterian Church, in addition to serving as pianist for the Concentus Women's Chorus.
RWCC Board of Directors
Theresa Zanghi, President
Amy Prenatt-Michaux, Vice President
Bonnie McLeod, Treasurer
Karen Wedge Landry, Secretary​
Kristy Houston, Music Director
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Cheri Crist
Kelly Kamish
Kate Soanes
Katie Valentin
Jennifer Vallerand
Laura Waterstripe
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