Our History
The earliest known picture of the choir, from 1983, with director Allaudin Mathieu
Through the decades the choir has solidified its reputation for excellence by producing unique concert experiences that combine humor, storytelling, poetry, varied instrumental accompaniment, and an off-the-beaten-path repertoire.
Our mission is both simple and clear: To create, collaborate in performing, and in promoting great music, much of itcomposed by our members. We mentor and support one another in developing our skills as singers, lyricists and composers. Our music encompasses a wide range of personal experience and reflects the authentic connection we have with one another and the larger community.
Occidental Choir, Spring 2003
The OCC has been fortunate to have had a succession of highly talented, passionate and dedicated leaders over the years. Long-time choir followers will remember with affection and respect the work of Philip Rolnick, Allaudin Mathieu, Doug Bowes, Daniel Canosa, Andy DelMonte, and Sarah Saulsbury.
In 2020 Gage Purdy became our current our music director.
Occidental Choir, Winter 2015
For the past few years the choir has worked in partnership with the Occidental Center for the Arts to realize the dream of finally creating a permanent home for the OCC—and a venue for all the arts—in the town of Occidental.
The dream came to fruition at Harmony Village, the former site of Harmony School, a development of live/work units created by developer Orrin Thiessen, who generously donated a portion of this property to the OCA.. To learn more about this thriving arts hub to life in West County, please visit the OCA website.
A group of friends gathered around the bonfire, singing joy into action. Thus began the OCC with its unofficial moto: “we didn't want to go home, so we started a choir.”
December 1978
Occidental Center for the Arts hosts its grand opening, with the OCC as one of the anchor tenants. From Harmony School to Harmony Village to a home for harmony, the OCA is a spectacular venue just 20 minutes north of Sebastopol, CA.
May 2010
Occidental Center for the Arts hosts a wealth of art & events
Occidental Community Church, the original home of the OCC.
Alumni
We still don’t have information for some of the 350+ alumni who have sung in our choir , If you know any of these folks, please write to Diane Masura at TileGal@sonic.net. Thanks!
Gail Allen
John Banks
Barbara Barnaby
Brian Batoosingh
Howard Besserman
Laurie Borns
Laurie Bourren
Alice Bradshaw
Ann Bush
Marilyn Casty
Clyde Champman
Frank Dunlap
Kevin Ehlers
Sarah Endicott
Mark Evans
Doug Fetterly
Gail Gorman
Sarah Greenfield
Jan Harmon
Joesph Held
Robin Nicolaus
Barbara O’Hara
Karl Oppen
Howard Powell
Sandra Respini
Claire Rickey
Carolyne Riley
Holly Saunders
Suzanne Schlosser
James Sellers
Tomji Serianni
Wendy Sherman
Barbara Spaulding
Mike Spechtor
Wendy Steinke
David and Susan Schumaker
Beth Stinnett
Mick Stratton
Aura Sullivan
Annemarie Rosa (Webster)
Dennis Sullivan
Wendy Susinke
Suzie Ussery (Kelly)
Pat Vaughan
John Volkmann
Dan Wickham
Kate Willens
Jeff Wilson
Kathy (Mei Lin) Wong
Carol Young
Tony Heller
Joan Helmes
Pat Henry
Sally Hutt
Susan Inadomi
Richard Inadomi
Anna Iuppa
Cathy Keckeley
Elyscia Letterman
Roger Lewis
Larry and Barbara Lund
Paulette Luning
Sherry Maddox
Philip Malone
Sarah Miller
Susan Moore
Ted Morgan
Larry Natalini
Jeffrey Nation
Sandra Nelson