Donor Spotlight: Sam Zhao
This month we sat down with TWC Trustee and Donor, Sam Zhao, to discuss his philanthropy with TWC!
Q: What was your “meet cute” with TWC?
A: I moved to Washington, DC in the summer of 2015 to start my fellowship. Several of my friends with whom I sang in the University Singers during our time at UVA had joined TWC, and they quickly convinced me to try out for the chorus when I arrived in the area!
Q: What makes contributing to TWC rewarding for you? Why do you give to us, both with your time and your funding?
A: Above all, I cherish the opportunity to make fantastic music with the people in TWC. I believe in the mission and the values of our organization, and I am excited to spread our love for choral music in and around Washington, DC as well as beyond our local borders.
Q: How have you seen TWC build and engage the community?
A: One of my favorite parts of every Candlelight Christmas is getting to share the Kennedy Center and Strathmore stages with high school singers. Having them join us for not only pieces that they have prepared on their own but also including them in the conclusion of the performance is a great way to have teenagers experience what music can do for them and for the community around them. I’m excited to see how else we can engage the community with our innovative programming under Dr. Eugene Rogers’ leadership over the next five years!
Q: What do you wish everyone knew about TWC?
A: I wish that everyone knew that TWC has an amazing 2023-2024 season planned, and that the plans we have for this coming year are just the first steps to live our mission to connect our community members through the power of choral music.
Q: What would you tell someone who is considering donating to TWC?
A: The arts are a critically underfunded part of our society, and as lovers of choral music, it is incredibly powerful to see the fruits of our donations (whether it be in time, energy, or money) play out on stage and enrich the lives of people around us.
Q: What's your favorite TWC moment?
A: Performing at the 2018 Kennedy Center Honors to celebrate the achievements of Philip Glass, and then literally dancing with the stars at the reception afterwards.
We are so grateful to Sam for his support and for sitting down to share his story! If you are interested in participating in future donor interviews, please send a note to our Communications Manager, Jennie Weyman.
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About Sam:
Sam Zhao, M.D., is a physician in the Division of Emergency Medicine at Children's National Hospital. Dr. Zhao is the co-director of resident and medical student education. He earned his medical degree from the University of Virginia School of Medicine and his master's degree in education from the George Washington University. He completed residency training at New York-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital and fellowship training at Children's National.
Sam joined The Washington Chorus in 2015. He is a proud member of the tenor section. In addition to singing, his interests include running, hiking, and camping.