Tilikum Choir Community

Our Mission:

The Tilikum Choir Community brings together enthusiastic singers from the Portland Metro area to foster connection and create joy through high-quality, passionate choral singing, achieved by intentional rehearsal and inspired performance.

Requirements:
*The ability to match pitch and blend within a choral setting. Anyone needing help with matching pitch will have an opportunity to study privately (at the singer's expense) and return for a voice check when they feel ready.

*Attendance at most rehearsals and concerts

*Member Contribution: Tilikum Choir Community is a registered nonprofit organization.  We ask each choir member to make a tax deductible donation of a minimum of $200 per semester.  Payment can be made via:

• Check made out to Tilikum Choir Community
• Zelle - tilikumchoir@gmail.com
• Venmo @TilikumChoir

If this donation request presents a financial hardship for any choir member, please email TilikumChoir@gmail.com or speak with Sandy Baker.  We want the choir to be accessible and will work with members to ensure that those who want to participate can do so!  

*Rehearsals: Tilikum Choir Community rehearses on Tuesday nights from 7:00-8:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall at Milwaukie Lutheran Church, 3810 SE Lake RD, Milwaukie, OR 97222.

*Directors: Tilikum Choir Community is directed by John Baker and Amber Schroeder.

*Questions: tilikumchoir@gmail.com

We'd love for you to join us!

2025-26 Registration Form (Online)

TILIKUM CHOIR COMMUNITY 2025-2026

We are excited for the upcoming Tilikum Choir Community year!  The 2025-2026 season will be filled with more music and more opportunities for you to get involved in making this a wonderful place to sing.  Below is information to help orient you to the upcoming season. 

RETREATS

There will be retreats on September 13 and January 10, from 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., during which we will address choir business and rehearse music for the upcoming concerts.  The retreats will be held at Milwaukie Lutheran Church (3810 SE Lake Road, Milwaukie, OR 97222), with a potluck to follow.

CONCERTS

Our season will be divided into two semesters, each with two concerts. Rehearsals will be on Tuesdays from 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Concerts are on Saturdays at 4:00 p.m. with a 1:30 p.m. call time.  All rehearsals and concerts take place at the Milwaukie Lutheran Church, 3810 SE Lake Road, Milwaukie, OR 97222.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES 

This season will present new volunteer opportunities for interested choir members, including roles for social media managers, website managers, concert poster and program designers, concert staff to collect tickets or cover charge, and spring fundraiser team members.  Please click on the link below for input on how you can help.

Tilikum Choir Volunteer Interest Form

John Baker is the Artistic Director of Tilikum Choir Community, Milwaukie Lutheran Church Choir and the former Artistic Director of Pacific Youth Choirs. John was the choir director at Rex Putnam H.S. for 32 years, during which time the A Cappella Choir and Choralaires performed at state, regional and national ACDA and MENC Conventions. In 1993, he and his wife, Sandy, founded the North Clackamas Children's Choir, a program which continued for 15 years with approximately 125 singers in 3 choirs. Mr. Baker has served as a guest conductor/clinician for honor choirs, workshops, and retreats in Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Montana, Canada, Alaska and Thailand. 

Amber Schroeder, a native of Gresham, Oregon, received her Bachelor’s degree in 2001, a Masters of Education in 2005, from Portland State University, and a Masters Degree in Choral Conducting from Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa in 2023. Amber's teaching career has focused on choral music education in the Portland area, serving school and church choirs aged Elementary through Adult. She currently serves as a Choral Director with Tilikum Choir Community, Sam Barlow High School, and Pacific Youth Choir. Choirs under her direction have performed at events throughout the Northwest, including the Oregon Music Educators Association Conference. An active member in Nafme, OMEA and ACDA, Amber currently serves on the boards of multiple non profit organizations that benefit music and education. She regularly adjudicates for music events held in Washington and Oregon and works as a clinician for honor choirs and retreat settings. Deeply rooted in her hometown, Amber recently won the "Best Teacher" award, which is voted on by members of East County where she resides with her husband Jeff and their children.

DONATIONS

As mentioned earlier, Tilikum Choir is now a registered nonprofit organization.  This is an exciting new chapter that will allow us to receive tax deductible donations, which will help defray operating costs, including venue rent, sheet music purchases, program and poster printing, and conductors, accompanists and guest artist compensation. Donations can be made to Tilikum Choir Community via the following options: