The Choral Arts Society of Washington

Considered an institution among his choral contemporaries, Norman Scribner is one of Washington's most versatile and respected musical figures. In 1965, Mr. Scribner founded The Choral Arts Society of Washington, an ensemble of more than 160 singers who perform under his direction in regular concerts at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and other DC-area venues. As Artistic Director of one of the major symphonic choruses in the United States for 47 years, Norman Scribner has led and prepared the Choral Arts Chorus for numerous performances with the world's leading conductors and orchestras, television appearances, recordings and tours, performing the standard repertoire, world premieres, and new works commissioned by the Society.

Now in the Legacy Season of retiring Maestro Scribner, the chorus is pleased to perform Fidelio this weekend alongside the National Symphony Orchestra and under the baton of Christoph Eschenbach. Other orchestra appearances include: Mariinsky, London, Atlanta, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Cleveland, and the Paris Opera, as well as the New York, Czech, and Israel philharmonics. The chorus has performed under the direction of conductors such as Rostropovich, Slatkin, Gergiev, Maazel, Bernstein, Shaw, Doráti, Adams, Conlon, Fleisher, Frühbeck de Burgos, Leinsdorf, Rudel, Kunzel, Temirkanov, and many others.

Choral Arts' international touring highlights include the Proms Festival (UK), the Spoletto Music Festival (Italy), the Evian Festival (France), Festival Auvers-sur-Oise (France), St. Peter's Cathedral (Rome), Notre Dame Cathedral (Paris), the Sorbonne (France) and appearances in Argentina, Brazil and Russia.

In June 2010, Choral Arts collaborated with The President's Own United States Marine Band on a recording of works by Percy Grainger, the latest in an award-winning discography. Other noted recordings include Mahler's Symphony No. 8 (2009), Rachmaninoff's Vespers (1987) under Rostropovich, Celebrating Sacred Rhythms (2005), Voices: A Choral Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (2008), Brahms' Ein deutsches Requiem (1996), the ever popular There Shall a Star: Choral Jewels for Christmas (2000), and Christmas with The Choral Arts Society of Washington (1990).

Winner of the 2008 Mayor's Arts Award for Outstanding Contribution to Arts Education, Choral Arts' education programs reach K-12 teachers and students through a Partner High School Program, arts administration internships, new curricular materials (online and printed), and an Online Learning Community with users in 42 states and 12 countries.

Committed to making choral music accessible, Choral Arts implements award-winning education and community outreach programs, including its popular Family Christmas Concerts and the Annual Choral Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Choral Arts partners with embassies, local arts organizations, public schools, and artists from all over the world to serve global audiences within its local community.

March 2012

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The Choral Arts Society of Washington performs on the Millennium Stage June 9, 2001

The Choral Arts Society of Washington performs on the Millennium Stage June 9, 2001

The 40-voice Singers for All Seasons chamber chorus is an outreach arm of the famed Choral Arts Society of Washington.

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Upcoming Events

National Symphony Orchestra: Christoph Eschenbach, conductor / Joshua Bell, violin, plays Mendelssohn; Matthias Goerne, baritone, & Michelle DeYoung, mezzo-soprano, sing Hindemith 1/30/2014 - 2/1/2014
Joshua Bell--"the greatest American violinist active today" (Boston Herald)--plays Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto. Plus, singers Matthias Goerne and Michelle DeYoung join for Hindemith's When Lilacs Last in the Door-yard Bloom'd.

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