Carpe Diem Choir

Join the Carpe Diem Community Choir and David Griffiths composer, choral director and soloist, and featuring Monique Steele Griffiths soprano, and Susan Clark soprano, in a celebration of two musical traditions deeply rooted in American history and culture, as we present Songs of Hope and Freedom in the Gospel and Spiritual Tradition. David Griffiths has selected songs dating back to times of slavery to the contemporary stylings of today's urban gospel, reflecting a longing for a better life and the promise of a better day. The concert will feature excerpts from the culminating performance of a nine-session choral arts residency, with 90 singers ages 8 to 78, presented on May 2, 2004 at Peoples Congregational Church in Washington, D.C. The Carpe Diem Choral Arts Residency Project was launched in 2003 as a community-building initiative sponsored by the Silver Spring-based non-profit arts outreach organization Class Acts Arts, Inc.

Join the Carpe Diem Community Choir and David Griffiths composer, choral director and soloist, and featuring Monique Steele Griffiths soprano, and Susan Clark soprano, in a celebration of two musical traditions deeply rooted in American history and culture, as we present Songs of Hope and Freedom in the Gospel and Spiritual Tradition. David Griffiths has selected songs dating back to times of slavery to the contemporary stylings of today's urban gospel, reflecting a longing for a better life and the promise of a better day. The concert will feature excerpts from the culminating performance of a nine-session choral arts residency, with 90 singers ages 8 to 78, presented on May 2, 2004 at Peoples Congregational Church in Washington, D.C.

The Carpe Diem Choral Arts Residency Project was launched in 2003 as a community-building initiative sponsored by the Silver Spring-based non-profit arts outreach organization Class Acts Arts, Inc. The project provides the opportunity for children, teens, adults, families - groups of any composition - to participate in a major performing arts experience, regardless of prior musical background or training. All that is required is a love of singing and an ability to carry a tune. Rehearsals lead up to a public performance with professional composers and recording artists.

Guest artist and choir co-director , David Griffiths , is an accomplished soloist, composer, pianist, and arranger. With a rich baritone admired equally for its power and sensitivity, he has appeared as a soloist with The Paul Hill Chorale at The Kennedy Center and on the Chorale's CD, Unequaled Praise. He has performed on Capitol Hill on several occasions including the Military Chaplains' Awards Ceremony for former Veterans Affairs Secretary Jesse Brown, and at a rally to recognize the black soldiers of the Revolutionary War. His vocal gifts have been enjoyed by diverse audiences in France, Korea, Japan, Jamaica, Canada, Antigua and Honduras. In July of 2000, he had the privilege of singing at the sky dome in Toronto for over 40,000 people. David has shared the stage with many performers, including Take 6, Clifton Davis, Wintley Phipps, Roland Gresham, Paul Heflin, Virtue, John Stoddart, Ben Tankard, T. Marshall Kelly, Sharon Riley, Angela Brown, Janice Chandler, The Paul Hill Chorale, Jose Rojas, The Wedgewood Trio, The Jezic Ensemble, and Duawne Starling.

David has performed on The Bobby Jones Gospel Hour, The Breath of Life Telecast , The Three ABN Satellite Network, local news and public interest programs. His music video, Let Your Heart Be Broken, has opened doors for David's music to be enjoyed by even wider audiences.

As a composer, David has created over 300 compositions. Many organizations have commissioned his pieces, including The National Aquarium in Baltimore, The Adventist Relief Agency, A Safe Place Inc., and The Allegheny East Youth Conference. Several artists have recorded David's works and choirs have been performing his stirring, soulful songs for many years. In 1986, he began his recording career with a project titled Revelation of God's Love. Other recordings include Love for the Day is Near, Pray for Peace, Hands of Time, A Safe Place, Unequaled Praise, and In My Heart . A biographical book and CD set entitled, And Then You Get Up, was released in 2002.

In addition to his own projects, David is an accomplished studio session singer, vocal coach, pianist, and arranger. Artists with whom he has worked in the studio include gospel vocalist Monique Steele, Just One Blood, Tony Thompson, The Prasado-Rao Family, Kenny "The Professor" Philmore, Oakwood College Choir and Adrian Westney.

David earned a BA in Music and a BA in Theology from Columbia Union College, as well as a Masters of Music in Vocal Performance from the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University. Privately, David has studied conducting with Paul Hill and voice with Ruth Drucker, Wayne Conner, Gordon Hawkins, Liz Daniels, John Gilbertson, and Ginger Beasley. In addition, he studied piano with Charles Covington, Neil Tilkens and Dr. Daniel Lau. David now resides in Silver Spring where he owns and operates Visions Unlimited, Inc., a recording studio and production facility. He spends his time performing, writing and teaching.

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Watch Past Performances

10/17/04: The Carpe Diem Choir

Songs of Hope and Freedom: The Carpe Diem Choir, directed by David Griffiths, perform selections from times of slavery to the contemporary stylings of today's urban gospel, providing an uplifting musical experience with guest dancer/choreographer Helanius J. Wilkins.

The Carpe Diem Choir

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11/10/03: Trio Globo and the Carpe Diem Choir

Trio Globo, comprised of Eugene Friesen (cello), Howard Levy (piano and harmonica), and Glen Velez (percussion), joins the Carpe Diem choir, soprano soloist Sabrina Coleman Clark, and dancers Sduduzo Ka-Mbili (South Africa) and Sudha Bhagwat (India) for a performance of choral music and contemporary acoustic jazz.

Trio Globo and the Carpe Diem Choir

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