Education

As part of its mission, The Washington Chorus is committed to nurturing the next generation of choral singers. The following summarizes some of the programs offered as part of TWC's committment to education:

SIDE BY SIDE
Each year, an outstanding local high school choir is selected to partner with The Washington Chorus and has enjoyed the unique experience of being involved with a world-class symphonic chorus. The high school choirs have reflected a mix of ethnicity, a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds, and a diverse spectrum of artistic experiences. There have been partners, such as the Duke Ellington School for the Arts, who are already widely recognized for offering their students' excellent artistic guidance. Other partners have dedicated music teachers and enthusiastic students, but insufficient funding for music, equipment, or, in some cases, even a tuned piano. The Chorus is proud to have worked with all of them and feels it has enriched the musical education of each of these young singers.

The highlight of the partnership is the annual Music for Christmas concerts when the high school choir joins the Chorus onstage at the Kennedy Center and the Music Center at Strathmore. To see the awe and excitement on the faces of the students as they stand for the first time in a major performance hall, in front of an audience of thousands, is truly rewarding and the experience for these young singers is invaluable in nurturing and developing their musical talent. Family involvement in these concerts is also encouraged by offering discounted tickets to the friends and families of the students.

The Side by Side program is unique in the choral community of Washington in that no other group does a joint performance with a student choir as part of its regular subscription series. TWC has found the audience response to the students and the program to be extremely positive year after year. The level of applause when the students walk on stage is thunderous and many Christmas ticket buyers inquire as to whether a high school choir will again be performing.

SIDE BY SIDE INTERN
Offered to one or two students each season, the Side by Side Intern program gives talented young musicians the opportunity to develop their voices and further their musical experiences by being fully-participating members of the Chorus. Selected by audition, the young singers are provided with concert attire, music, and coaching, as well as the opportunity to learn about arts administration by observing the daily operations at the Chorus offices. Occasionally, outstanding participants are also asked to perform solos with the Chorus, which is a truly remarkable experience for these young musicians.

SIDE BY SIDE MENTORS
The mentoring aspect of the Side by Side program ensures a positive experience for the participants by creating a one-on-one relationship between TWC singers and the high school singers. Throughout rehearsals and performances, TWC singers introduce the students to the workings of a world-class choir as well as to the backstage operations of the Kennedy Center and the Music Center at Strathmore.

TICKETS FOR TEENS
One of the Chorus' most popular programs, Tickets for Teens offers almost 1,000 free tickets annually for local youth to attend TWC concerts at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Music Center at Strathmore. In addition to tickets and transportation, context to the choral music is provided through educational materials and pre-concert discussions. Tickets for Teens gives students an alternate social outlet for the weekend, offers additional opportunities for parents to spend quality time with their children, and helps to foster the next generation of enthusiasm for the performing arts.

CONDUCTOR IN THE CLASSROOM
In coordination with Tickets for Teens, this program brings the Associate Conductor of the Chorus into local classrooms to give students in-depth insight into the works they will be hearing at the Kennedy Center. By deepening their knowledge of the pieces, the Chorus is enhancing their enjoyment of the concert-going experience.

CONDUCTING CLOSE-UPS
TWC's newest education initiative focuses on the college level music student and consists of four parts: the opportunity to attend two Chorus rehearsals, one of which would be a rehearsal with orchestra at the Kennedy Center; a musical score in order to follow along with the rehearsals; the opportunity to ask questions of Julian Wachner; and a free ticket to a concert to hear the final product.