Choir has the power to connect our diverse communities, cultivate empathy, and inspire social inquiry. Encouraging these values in our children is a central mission of the District of Columbia Public Schools Honor Chorus where all students learn and perform thought-provoking, engaging, and culturally relevant music.

In collaboration with DC Public Schools and Children’s Chorus of Washington, The Washington Chorus is pleased to be a part of the annual DCPS Honor Chorus program, a day-long choral intensive that culminates in a recorded concert.

In order to participate in DC Honor Chorus, a student must be nominated by their choir teacher. This year’s Honor Chorus featured two choirs comprised of 120 students spanning 16 DC elementary and middle schools. The students were divided into choirs based on their grade level.

4th and 5th grade students perform as members of the Primary Chorus directed by Margaret Nomura Clark; Artistic Director, Children’s Chorus of Washington
6th – 8th grade students comprise the Secondary Chorus directed by Jonathan King; Interim Associate Conductor, The Washington Chorus

Watch the recording of the concert to see the students perform a diverse program designed to provide them a global perspective on classical music. The Primary Chorus performs the following songs:

Bhombela, a traditional Zulu piece, arranged by Will Skaff, edited by Melissa Keylock
Soy un Coya Chiquitito, a traditional South American Folk Song
Lead with Love by Melanie DeMore

The Secondary Chorus provides color to the program with an invigorating program of their own:

Dona Nobis Pacem by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Everlasting Melody by Rollo Dilworth

The concert concludes in both choirs coming together for a fiery performance of Rise Up (Because You Are Enough) written by Austin Willacy and Micah Hendler. The students had the opportunity to collaborate on writing the lyrics for this piece, and after two years of a pandemic, it is breathtaking to see these young artists coming together, recognizing, and then expressing the value they hold as individuals.

The combined choir performing *Rise Up (Because You Are Enough)*

We hope you will take some time to experience the virtual concert and see the joy that exuded from these students as the DC Honor Chorus performs in-person together for the first time since before the pandemic. The concert will be available for free on-demand viewing until June 13th.

Special thanks to the Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus (THEARC) for providing DC Honor Chorus with the space to rehearse and perform this wonderful concert, David Gradin Productions for producing the video of the concert, and the following guest artists who accompanied the young artists:

Emily Baltzer, piano
Paul Heins, piano
Jada Twitty, percussion
Austin Willacy, guitar

Thank you to the participating DCPS Schools!

Brent Elementary, CW Harris Elementary, Dorothy Height Elementary, Hearst Elementary, Kimball Elementary, Lafayette Elementary, Marie Reed Elementary, Nalle Elementary, Ross Elementary, Seaton Elementary, Shepherd Elementary, Thomas Elementary, Deal Middle School, Eliot-Hine Middle School, School Without Walls at Francis Stevens

The DC Honor Chorus concert is available for free on-demand viewing until June 13th.

DC Honor Chorus Returns to the Stage for the First Time Since March 2020