First, tell us a little about yourself.

Hi, my name is Jordan. I’m a student at Seattle Central College, as well as a singer and songwriter! I was born and raised in Seattle, and I’ve been singing ever since I was a kid. I grew up loving musical theater, and I would rap all the songs from Hamilton. Outside of music, I really love watching TV shows from many different countries. I met my best friends through a shared love for Thai TV dramas.
 
How did you get involved with the All City Choir?

I’ve been in the All City Choir for a year, and I first discovered it after I was part of The Residency Cohort of 2024. The Residency is a youth hip hop organization that runs a summer intensive, which is where I began working with Erica Merritt on my singing. I loved her teaching style of honesty and intentionality. She welcomed me to her choir, which was very exciting because I’ve always wanted to be a part of one, but my schools never offered it. I’ve been here ever since.
 
What do you like about being a part of the choir?

I like that in choir, my vocals are constantly improving. It’s a way to consistently use my voice and learn healthy vocal techniques. I also like that we get to choose some of the songs we sing, for example Shake It Out by Florence + the Machine and Thinkin’ Bout You by Frank Ocean. My favorite part of choir is the community. We laugh so much and lift each other up. It’s a great feeling to be around people you trust and to have a space where you can show up as you are. I’ve definitely had days I deemed bad until I went to choir, had a good laugh, and went home smiling.
 
Do you have a favorite memory or event you’ve taken part in?

I loved when we performed at ACT Theatre in July. We were opening in the lobby for a play. It was a special day because it was the first time I performed my original song, Stars. Other members of the choir also performed solo songs, and my friends came to watch our performance. I look back on that day as very joyful and supportive.
 
What should people know about the All City Choir?

It’s all love over here! We take our vocals seriously, and we’re constantly evolving as vocalists. Anyone ages 14 to 25 is welcome to join. Ms. Erica is very straightforward and hilarious, and I’ve never met anyone with a better ear than her. We meet at Washington Hall every Friday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. We love snacks!
 
What would you like to tell young people about being involved in performing arts and community?

Recently, I’ve been thinking about the importance of third spaces, which are places where we can hang out and build community outside of school or work and home. Being involved in music spaces is very liberating. I get to be in a space that I choose, around people who understand and share in my love for it. My biggest advice would be don’t be scared to jump into art spaces. You can make mistakes, and people will still love you. You can try new things, share ideas, and create. I’ve met some of my favorite people through this beautiful community.