{{Short description|Choir in Washington, D.C., U.S.}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox choir | name = The Washington Chorus | image = The Washington Chorus logo.png | image_size = | alt = | caption = Logo | alias = | former_name = Oratorio Society of Washington | origin = | founding = {{Start date|1961}} | founder = | disbanding = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD|df=y}} --> | genre = | members = 180{{citation needed|date=September 2022}} | notable_members = | music director = Eugene Rogers (2020–present) | choirmaster = | organist = | chief conductor = | orchestra manager = | choir admission = | orchestra admission = | headquarters = 945 G Street, NW<br>Washington, D.C. 20008, effective October 1, 2021 | concert_hall = | affiliation = | associated groups = | influences = | awards = | label = | website = {{URL|thewashingtonchorus.org}} }} '''The Washington Chorus''' is a symphonic choir based in Washington, D.C., United States. The three-time nominated and two-time Grammy Award-winning ensemble has over 200 members and often performs at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Strathmore, the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, and the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall.<ref>The Washington Chorus, [https://thewashingtonchorus.org/the-chorus About the Chorus], Updated January 10, 2025</ref>
==History== The Washington Chorus was the first major Washington area chorus to be founded independent of a church or college. In 1961 Hugh Hayward, a medical doctor and classically trained musician, founded the Oratorio Society of Montgomery County, which became known as the Oratorio Society of Washington, and is now celebrated under the name of The Washington Chorus.<ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web |last1=Stevenson |first1=Joseph |title=Washington Chorus |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/washington-chorus-mn0002172467 |website=AllMusic |publisher=RhythmOne |accessdate=August 24, 2020 |archive-date=December 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220103223/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/washington-chorus-mn0002172467 |url-status=live }}</ref> The organization has a $2.4 million budget, as of 2025.
==Artistic Leadership== The Washington Chorus has had five artistic directors. Founding director Hugh Hayward was followed by Robert Shafer, who served for more than three decades.<ref name="BW">{{cite web |title=Washington Chorus Names Eugene Rogers As Its Fifth Artistic Director |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/washington-dc/article/Washington-Chorus-Names-Eugene-Rogers-As-Its-Fifth-Artistic-Director-20200206 |website=BroadwayWorld |accessdate=August 24, 2020 |date=February 6, 2020 |archive-date=September 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220930160336/https://www.broadwayworld.com/washington-dc/article/Washington-Chorus-Names-Eugene-Rogers-As-Its-Fifth-Artistic-Director-20200206 |url-status=live }}</ref> Subsequent directors included Julian Wachner (2008–2017), Christopher Bell (2017–2020),<ref>{{cite news |last1=Midgette |first1=Anne |title=Washington Chorus names new music director |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/style/wp/2017/05/11/washington-chorus-names-new-music-director/ |accessdate=August 24, 2020 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=May 11, 2017 |archive-date=December 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203023531/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/style/wp/2017/05/11/washington-chorus-names-new-music-director/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Midgette |first1=Anne |title=Julian Wachner leads his last concert as music director of Washington Chorus |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/julian-wachner-leads-his-last-concert-as-music-director-of-washington-chorus/2017/05/15/59184f8a-3988-11e7-b9e3-606b45ad1e5b_story.html |accessdate=August 24, 2020 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=May 15, 2017 |archive-date=April 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402210100/https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/julian-wachner-leads-his-last-concert-as-music-director-of-washington-chorus/2017/05/15/59184f8a-3988-11e7-b9e3-606b45ad1e5b_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and Eugene Rogers, who became the choir's first Black artistic director in 2020, as well as the first Black artistic director of a major symphonic chorus in the entire United States.<ref>D. Kevin McNeir, [https://www.washingtoninformer.com/nations-only-black-to-lead-major-u-s-symphonic-chorus-heading-to-d-c/ Nation’s Only Black to Lead Major U.S. Symphonic Chorus Heading to D.C.], The Washington Informer, September 9, 2020 (visited Jan. 10, 2024)</ref>
== Notable performances == thumb|right|St. Patrick's Day Celebration at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
The Washington Chorus has appeared at the invitation of leading orchestras including the National Symphony Orchestra and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. The Chorus has sung with the National Symphony in more than 300 performances, under the direction of many of the world's leading conductors, including Gianandrea Noseda, Christoph Eschenbach, Leonard Slatkin, James Conlon, Mstislav Rostropovich, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, Seiji Ozawa, Sir Neville Marriner, Kent Nagano, Marin Alsop, Gustavo Dudamel, Sir Andrew Davis, and many others.
The Chorus has sung for numerous prestigious events throughout its history: inaugurations, papal visits, with the Rolling Stones during their 50th anniversary tour, and at the White House in 2013 and 2014 for the President and First Lady.
The Chorus was a featured performing group at the 2018 Kennedy Center Honors to pay homage to composer Philip Glass and a guest collaborator on “DJ Cassidy’s Pass the Mic” segment broadcast on the 2021 Biden-Harris Inauguration “Parade Across America”.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-19|title=Here are the celebrities participating in Biden's Hollywood-heavy inauguration|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2021-01-19/biden-harris-inauguration-celebrity-performers|access-date=2021-07-26|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-07-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726011410/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2021-01-19/biden-harris-inauguration-celebrity-performers|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-12-21|title=41st Annual Kennedy Center Honors Announces Full List Of Honorees And Performers|url=https://washington.cbslocal.com/2018/12/21/kennedy-center-honors-host-honorees-performers/|access-date=2021-07-26|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-07-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726011409/https://washington.cbslocal.com/2018/12/21/kennedy-center-honors-host-honorees-performers/|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Projects through COVID-19 Pandemic == Although 20+ in-person concerts and special appearances were forced to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Washington Chorus remained active with special virtual programming, including the annual Candlelight Christmas concert.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-12-10|title=Washington Chorus presents virtual 'Candlelight Christmas' concert|url=https://wtop.com/entertainment/2020/12/washington-chorus-presents-virtual-candlelight-christmas-concert/|access-date=2021-07-26|website=WTOP|language=en|archive-date=2021-07-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726011409/https://wtop.com/entertainment/2020/12/washington-chorus-presents-virtual-candlelight-christmas-concert/|url-status=live}}</ref>
On November 14, 2020, the Chorus premiered “Cantata for a More Hopeful Tomorrow,” a work for virtual chorus composed by Damien Geter and set to a 25-minute short film directed by filmmaker Bob Berg. The film tells a covid-era love story centered on an elderly Black couple separated by the virus, and the music is modeled after Bach's redemptive “Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen” cantata (BWV 12). Nearly 40 Chorus members appear through green-screen and more than 100 lent their voices to the recording.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Perspective {{!}} Scattered and silenced by the pandemic, choral groups are trying to find their voice|language=en-US|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/choral-groups-silenced-pandemic/2020/11/06/d1d1c2c0-1d65-11eb-ba21-f2f001f0554b_story.html|access-date=2021-07-26|issn=0190-8286|archive-date=2020-12-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208202442/https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/choral-groups-silenced-pandemic/2020/11/06/d1d1c2c0-1d65-11eb-ba21-f2f001f0554b_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
The Chorus also launched the Cause For Song marketplace, a digital music platform which specializes in custom, musical dedication videos for any occasion. The platform featured Chorus singers, staff, as well as guest artists including Nicholas Phan, Metropolitan Opera soprano Aundi Marie Moore and Sister Cities Girlchoir.
==See also== * Choral music of Washington, D.C.
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website|https://thewashingtonchorus.org}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Washington Chorus}} Category:1961 establishments in Washington, D.C. Category:Choirs from Washington, D.C. Category:Musical groups established in 1961