City Choir of Washington

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The City Choir of Washington
Also known asTCCW, [1] City Choir
Origin Washington, D.C., United States
Genres Classical, Choral
Occupation(s) Choir
Years active2006-present
MembersArtistic Director
Erin Freeman (conductor)
Website Official website

The City Choir of Washington is a 140-member professional-level volunteer mixed symphonic choir in Washington, D.C. composed of singers from throughout the Washington metropolitan area. The chorus is led by its artistic director Erin Freeman. Ms. Freeman joins the City Choir following a two year search after the announcement in 2019 by Bob Shafer of his plan to retire. She was formerly the Artistic Director of the Richmond Symphony Chorus and continues as the Artistic Director of the Wintergreen Music Festival. Bob Shafer has been named Artistic Director Emeritus of the City Choir of Washington.

Contents

The City Choir has performed with the National Symphony Orchestra, [2] [3] The Washington National Opera at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, [4] [5] [6] and at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. [7] [8]

Activities

During its first four seasons, the chorus presented several major works with orchestra, including the Monteverdi Marian Vespers of 1610, Bach’s Mass in B Minor, [9] [10] Handel’s Dixit Dominus, Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass and Mass in Time of War, [11] Maurice Duruflé's Requiem, [12] the Mozart Requiem, the Vivaldi Gloria, Robert Shafer's Lux Aeterna and Joel Puckett’s [13] This Mourning. [11]

TCCW's Excellence in the Arts award honors contributions to the arts in the greater Washington, DC area. [14]

Community outreach and education

In February 2011, local businesses and chorus members sponsored tickets for Pentagon families affected by 9/11 and high school and college students as part of the organization's community outreach efforts. TCCW's artistic director and executive director often invite college-age music education students to attend rehearsals and participate in question and answer sessions following events. [15]

Programs

  • City Singers [16] [17] — TCCW's community outreach chamber choir that regularly performs for underserved segments of the community. The ensemble brings quality choral music — light classical, popular, secular, patriotic, show tunes, folk songs — to organizations and audiences who may not be able to attend its regular concerts. [18]
  • Partners in Song [19] [20] — a talented high school choral group joins TCCW for its annual Music for Christmas concert. The group performs several selections on its own and also joins the City Choir for part of the program.
  • Young American Artists Program [21] — one or more emerging performers from the Washington metropolitan area are selected to be featured soloists in one of TCCW's concerts. The vocalists are selected through a comprehensive audition process for young singers from throughout the region. Each Young American Artist receives private coaching from Robert Shafer.

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References

  1. ↑ "Acronym for City Choir of Washington", AcronymGeek.com. Retrieved: September 2, 2011.
  2. ↑ "Wolf Trap Stage Hosts Chris Isaak w/ Special Guest Martin Sexton, Tom Jones & More" Broadway World, Monday, July 13, 2009.
  3. ↑ "National Symphony Orchestra: 2010-2011 Season" Archived 2011-09-03 at the Wayback Machine , KennedyCenter.org, December 2010 (Pops Concert), Marvin Hamlisch, conductor. Retrieved: September 3, 2011.
  4. ↑ Lipton, Brian Scott, "Patrick Cassidy, Rebecca Luker, and Shirley Jones to Star in Kennedy Center's Music Man Concert", TheaterMania.com, Jul 10, 2009.
  5. ↑ Gans, Andrew, "Christiane Noll Will Join Marvin Hamlisch for Holiday Concerts at the Kennedy Center" Archived 2010-11-12 at the Wayback Machine , Playbill.com, November 10, 2010.
  6. ↑ Birch, Jeremy D., "Kennedy Center: Music By Moonlight", PlaybillArts, Features section, Jun 29, 2008.
  7. ↑ Girdish, Jen, "Short Cuts: Lord of the Rings at Wolf Trap" Archived 2012-03-23 at the Wayback Machine , On Tap Magazine, Out & About section, 2010. Retrieved: September 4, 2011.
  8. ↑ Downey, Charles, "The King Returns at Wolf Trap" Archived 2011-11-09 at the Wayback Machine , dcist, Arts and Events, September 11, 2010. See photo caption.
  9. ↑ Porter, Cecelia, "Dramatic Bach from City Choir of Washington", Washington Post, May 16, 2011. Retrieved: September 1, 2011.
  10. ↑ "City Choir of DC/ Bach Requiem", Washington Post, Entertainment section, Thursday, 19 May 2011. Retrieved: September 1, 2011.
  11. 1 2 Porter, Cecelia H., "From City Choir of Washington, triumph out of tragedy", Washington Post, Music Review, Tuesday, March 1, 2011. Retrieved: September 1, 2011.
  12. ↑ Downey, Charles T., "Music review: Robert Shafer and City Choir at Cathedral of St. Thomas More", Washington Post, March 16, 2010.
  13. ↑ "Concerts: Choral Groups", Washington Post, Going Out Guide (D.C.-area nightlife, events and dining), February 24, 2011. Retrieved: September 2, 2011.
  14. ↑ "Excellence in the Arts awarded to Murry Sidlin", Catholic University of America: Benjamin T. Rome School of Music, Sunday, January 30, 2011.
  15. ↑ Shulman, Randy, "The City Choir of Washington" Archived 2011-04-24 at the Wayback Machine , Metro Weekly, Spotlight: The Arts, February 25, 2011. Excerpt: "Robert Shafer conducts the choir in a concert tribute to 9/11 on its 10th anniversary year."
  16. ↑ Fairfax County community events, April 22 to 29, 2010, Washington Post: The Breaking News Blog, Apr 22, 2010.
  17. ↑ McNabb, Lu Ann Maciulla, "Attend Concert, Support Memorial Funds" [ permanent dead link ], Virginia Connection Newspapers, Apr 15, 2010.
  18. ↑ "2010 Annual Report" Archived 2012-03-31 at the Wayback Machine , Christ House, Washington, D.C. Excerpt — 2010 Activities Program: "...supported our Cultural Activities Program with tickets or performances..."
  19. ↑ Banno, Joe, City Choir of Washington at National Presbyterian Church, Washington Post, Arts & Living: Style section, Monday, December 13, 2010.
  20. ↑ "City Choir of Washington presents Music for Christmas 2011", Washington Post, Going Out Guide. Retrieved: September 3, 2011.
  21. ↑ "CVC 2011 Charity Profile", Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC), Dept. of Human Resource Management, Richmond, VA. Retrieved: September 4, 2011.
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