By Gwen Davis

In Burien this spring, all iPods can be safely put away.

Two choruses of the Northwest Associated Arts (NWAA) – ChoralSounds Northwest and the new SilverSounds Northwest – will put on shows with such vibe that Apple devices, will be far from necessary.

SilverSounds Northwest will present ‘Rockin’ with the Oldies’ April 22, which will be the group’s second major performance at the Highline Performing Arts Center in Burien.

SilverSounds debuted in Jan. 2011, and has since performed in community centers, retirement homes and churches. The chorus is made up of 33 senior and retired citizens.

“We take any ages from 58 to 85. You are never too old to rock and roll,” said Paula Hawkins, artistic director of SilverSounds Northwest.

The group mainly focuses on rock and roll from the ‘60s, ‘70s and 80s.

However, this spring’s concert will not conform to just one genre.

“We are excited about not only having tunes from ‘60s and ‘70s but also some ‘Cold Play, and ‘Don’t Stop Believing’ by Glee,” Hawkins said. “We’ll have dancing, choreography, humor and some special surprises along the way.”

Hawkins said SilverSounds fills a need in the community.
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It’s giving seniors wonderful things to do with their lives that may have slowed down but have still been vital,” she said. “They love singing in the community at the Tukwila Senior Center at the Federal Way foundation house and at a lot of retirement homes.”

“The audience will most enjoy the vitality of the people on the stage –- the vitality will be really entertaining,” she said.

For its annual spring concert, ChoralSounds Northwest chorus will produce ‘Rockin’ the Boat’ in May, a show that will feature a wide range of music from classical to pop.

“‘Rockin’ the Boat’ includes many of the great choruses from stage and screen,” said Paul Bauer, ChoralSounds general manager. “It’s including everything from Mozart’s “Dies Irae” (Amadeus)” and John Williams‘ “Duel of Fates (Star Wars: Phantom Menace) to Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd and the brilliant 21 Guns (American Idiot).”

“[The show examine the vast differences between songs originally written for chorus and songs that were always intended as solo numbers,” he said.

ChoralSounds Northwest, a Burien-based chorus of approximately 50 men and women has entertained the Burien community for years.

Brian Winnie, the new artistic director of ChoralSounds, recharged the chorus last year.

“People will most enjoy hearing the amazing improvements in the quality of singing by ChoralSounds under our new artistic director, Brian J. Winnie,” Bauer said. “Brian has brought the chorus together tremendously, both artistically as well as socially. Singers are energized, excited and proud of the progress they have made as a group.”

Families with children of all ages can enjoy both concerts.

SilverSounds’ ‘Rockin’ with the Oldies’ will show on April 22 at 2 p.m. ChoralSounds’ ‘Rockin’ the Boat’ will show on May 12 at 7:30 p.m. and on May 13 at 2 p.m. The performances will be held at the Highline Performing Arts Center in Burien. Tickets are $15-25. Youth 17 and under get in free with a paid adult ticket. To order tickets, visit northwestassociatedarts.org or call 206-246-6040.

The NWAA also includes KidSounds Northwest, YouthSounds Northwest and TeenSounds Northwest.