The Community Chorus of Port Townsend and East Jefferson County will be kicking off its 50th anniversary in 2025 with a “Fabulous Fat Tuesday” party on Tuesday, March 4, at the American Legion in Port Townsend.

The fundraising event aims to benefit the chorus and its upcoming spring concerts, and plans to feature hors d’oeuvres, a no-host bar with New Orleans-style drinks, and a lineup of what event organizers described as “top-notch” local entertainment.

Acts are set to include Joel Stoner and the J Jazz Groove, Joe Euro, the Wild Rose Chorale, Sarah Moran, Leslie and Blaine Lewis, Al Thompson and his saxophone, pianist Helen Lauritzen and more.

“We love to celebrate with music, and the evening will be full of color, good food and great music,” said Linda Atkins, president of the Community Chorus, who noted that dressing up is definitely encouraged. “Plus, everyone will get a free raffle ticket, and we'll be giving away the festive Mardi Gras table decorations during the evening.”

Atkins added, “We feel very fortunate that so much talent from our own community has agreed to perform on our behalf. The generosity of the performers is incredible, and it’s so nice to have such a wide variety of vocal and instrumental groups.”

Atkins explained that this 2025 is “a big year” for the Community Chorus, with “a big price tag” to boot, which is why it’s raising money through the March 4 “Fat Tuesday” event.

At the same time, Community Chorus spring director Jonathan Stafford said he likes to think of the Mardi Gras party as an opener to their concert season, as a “pre-concert advertisement, that will ideally help build momentum throughout the year.”

Stafford touted the April concerts’ nationally known choral composer, arranger and pianist Shawn Kirchner, followed by a karaoke party in May, with November serving as “the grand finale,” thanks to George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah,” presented complete with an orchestra.

Guest director Laurie de Leonne, artistic director of the RainShadow Chorale, will conduct “Messiah,” the RainShadow Chorale’s singers collaborate with the Community chorus for that production.

“We’ve had tremendous support for this Fat Tuesday fundraiser,” Stafford said. “It makes me so grateful. It should be a way for Port Townsend to celebrate and have a fun night out on the town.”

Beyond the benefit night on March 4, the chorus’ first big function of 2025 is its spring program of three concerts on April 4, 5 and 6.

Stafford has arranged to bring “world-class” composer Kirchner to town, both to conduct a special workshop and to appear in person at the concerts.

Singers are already rehearsing a program of Kirchner’s music to perform in April.

Members of the RainShadow Chorale, the Summertime Singers and Stafford’s other group, the Peninsula Singers based in Sequim, are all participating in the Kirchner program.

“Shawn is so energetic and brilliant,” said Stafford, who believes that bringing Kirchner here, in person, will be inspirational for the combined choirs, and result in “a pinnacle experience” for the singers.

Stafford has coordinated with Kirchner, who plans a master class with chorus members the day after the Mardi Gras party, on March 5.

“We are so pleased to bring this level of support to the members of the chorus, who work so diligently to learn new music each season,” Atkins added. “Our 50th anniversary is pretty darn exciting!”

What to know

Tickets for “Fat Tuesday” are $50. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. on March 4 at the American Legion at 209 Monroe St. in Port Townsend.