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Patrinell
Wright,
Choir Director, Singer & Music Teacher,
is founder and artistic director of the
Total Experience Gospel Choir, the
Northwest’s oldest and best-known African-American choir. Born into a minister’s
family in rural eastern Texas, she was singing in church from her earliest
childhood. She came to Seattle in 1964. In 1970 she organized gospel choirs for
two Seattle public schools, and when a levy failed three years later and her
position ended, she combined the two choirs outside of the schools and
established the Total Experience Gospel Choir. The choir, which generally
includes fourteen singers, has performed at schools, churches, parks, prisons,
and many other venues around the world. In its early years, the choir was made
up of African-American children. Today many of its members are adults and
several are of other ethnic backgrounds. An ordained minister, Pastor Wright
uses gospel music to bring a message of faith, hope, and renewal to audiences.