Santa Cruz, California
Westside
Folk & Gospel Choir
A Cabrillo College choir open to the whole community
Weekly Rehearsals
Monday Evenings · 6:30 PM
United Methodist Church · 250 California St · Westside Santa Cruz
We meet off-campus on the Westside of Santa Cruz — that's how we got our name. Fall & Spring semesters only · Concerts in May and December
Not sure? Come to the first rehearsal of the semester — no strings attached.
No auditions. No experience required.
Just a love of singing.
We are a Cabrillo College–based choir made up of people who simply love singing. We perform a variety of music across different genres with an emphasis on folk songs and gospel music.
If you're looking for an opportunity to sing, improve your vocal technique and music theory, and meet new people, you are welcome here. What we ask for is commitment and a willingness to grow your skills.
Each semester we work together to build toward a beautiful public concert — the culmination of weeks of rehearsals, learning, and community.
What We Sing
Our Repertoire
We sing a wide range: American folk classics and gospel spirituals, world music from Africa, Latin America, and beyond, and contemporary arrangements of songs you know. The goal is always music that moves people — in the choir and in the audience.
- Gospel & Spirituals
- Deep River · Total Praise · He'll Make a Way · Reach Down, Lord · Lord I Know I Been Changed
- American Folk
- Shenandoah · Blowin' in the Wind · Turn! Turn! Turn! · Erie Canal · Seven Bridges Road
- Pop & Rock
- Bridge Over Troubled Water · California Dreamin' · Lovely Day · Both Sides Now · Defying Gravity
- World Music
- Duond Akuru · Canto de Pilon · Nda Wana · TaReKiTa · Erev Shel Shoshanim
- Contemporary Choral
- Earth Song · Draw the Circle Wide · You Do Not Walk Alone · Hope for the World · We Are the Music Makers
What's Coming Up
Upcoming Events
Get Involved
How to Join
The choir is a course at Cabrillo College, open to the community — no audition or prior experience necessary. Music reading isn't required to join, and every singer gets audio practice tracks to help learn parts at home.
MUS 539
Without College Credit
Register for MUS 539 and pay the materials fee only. The simplest path — same rehearsals, same concerts, no GPA impact.
MUS 39
With College Credit
Register for MUS 39 and earn transferable college credit. Pay both tuition and the materials fee. Everything else is identical.
How to register
Apply to Cabrillo College
Visit cabrillo.edu and apply. Takes about one business day — you'll get a welcome email when you're ready to register. Skip this step if you took any Cabrillo class in the past two semesters (summer counts).
Register for the class
Log into My Cabrillo, search for MUS-39 or MUS-539, and register and pay your fees. The step-by-step guide walks you through it, and there's also a video walkthrough if you prefer.
Show up on Monday
6:30 PM at United Methodist Church, 250 California St — on the Westside of Santa Cruz, not on the Cabrillo campus. The first rehearsal of every semester is open to anyone who wants to try it out.
Questions about signing up? The director is happy to help, and the Cabrillo Welcome Center is also a great resource.
Stay in the Loop
Join Our Mailing List
Concert announcements, rehearsal updates, and seasonal news — nothing more.
Director
Jussi Doherty
Jussi Doherty has been directing the Westside Folk & Gospel Choir since 2018. He holds two degrees in choral music education from Florida State University and brings experience from both secondary school and community choral settings. By day he works as a software engineer — a background that has always informed his approach to teaching, with a particular interest in how technology can support musical learning. He is active as an adjudicator and honor choir clinician, and is passionate about building inclusive singing communities open to all levels.
Get in Touch