The Washington Chorus Announces Innovative Digital Programs + More With 2020-21 60th Anniversary Season Kickoff
As it approaches its 60th anniversary season starting in the fall of 2020, D.C.’s only two-time Grammy Award-winning choral ensemble, The Washington Chorus (TWC), announces a season of innovative digital and—where possible—in-person programs collaborating with composers, filmmakers, conductors, vocalists, and many more artists in conductor Dr. Eugene Rogers’ first season as TWC Artistic Director.
Uncowed by the unique challenges of a world racked by a global health pandemic and a country finally reckoning with deeply entrenched racial injustices and historic inequities, The Washington Chorus is putting forth a season of programs—all of them online through December of 2020—that leans into innovation, collaboration, and inclusive excellence.
“Make no mistake: this is an important moment for our community, for our country, and also for The Washington Chorus,” says TWC Artistic Director Dr. Eugene Rogers. “We’re celebrating TWC’s 60th anniversary all season long with creative programs that both acknowledge our rich history and traditions, and look boldly forward with new commissioned works, new ideas, and new stories to tell through song. It is an honor to be here as TWC’s fifth Artistic Director and, with the care and commitment of our incredible community of singers and supporters, our 2020-21 season will undoubtedly be one for the record books.”
Highlights of the season include:
The November 14 digitally streamed world premiere of a newly commissioned short film and musical work recorded for virtual chorus by acclaimed American composer Damien Geter. The work, titled “Cantata for a More Hopeful Tomorrow,” takes its inspiration both from the cantatas of J.S. Bach and the hopeful stories of recovery from COVID-19. This work is a major artistic statement from Geter and multiple Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Bob Berg.
The return of a beloved holiday tradition: TWC’s wildly popular annual “Candlelight Christmas” concerts are re-imagined as a creative, intimate, socially distanced chamber chorus concert, live from The Music Center at Strathmore, in three online livestreamed performances, December 18-20. These concerts include collaborations with the Duke Ellington School of the Arts Chorus (Dr. Monique Holmes-Spells, music director), new works commissioned by TWC from composers Bob Shafer (former TWC Artistic Director: 1972-2007) and J. David Moore, with soloists and other special guests to be announced.
A one-of-a-kind TWC 60th Birthday Bash online, on Saturday, October 3. This lively, interactive event is something wholly unique to TWC: a global series of house parties hosted by TWC friends, fans, singers, and collaborators, all connected by an online event featuring musical performances, guest stars, live and silent auctions, and a look back at TWC’s extraordinary legacy as it looks with hope and confidence to the next 60 years ahead.
An educational Virtual Open Sings series, featuring three acclaimed American choral conductors, presented in collaboration with Berkshire Choral International. These three Virtual Open Sings include score study, social time with singers across the globe, educational context, and a chance to sing along at home with three guest conductors: TWC’s own Dr. Eugene Rogers (Friday, September 4, 2020 with the Durufle “Requiem”), Resonance Ensemble Artistic Director Katherine Fitzgibbon (Friday, October 30, 2020 with repertoire from three towering Black American composers: Adolphus Hailstork, Rollo Dilworth, and Bernice Johnson Reagon), and Pacific Chorale Artistic Director Rob Istad (Friday, December 11, 2020 with excerpts from the Handel “Messiah”).
The Mahogany Series is a new TWC initiative created by Dr. Eugene Rogers to center voices and composers of color, which will launch in Spring of 2021. The series brings together D.C. regional and international collaborators across multiple genres of music—and even across art forms—to explore the roots of American choral music and to shine a light on historically underrepresented voices and composers. Although a date, venue, and format have not yet been set for the series launch, more information will be available in January of 2021.
“Although we cannot be together in person, the months ahead present an incredible opportunity for thousands or tens of thousands of friends and fans in D.C. and across the globe to experience the magic of The Washington Chorus in high quality, innovative online streamed performances.”
THE WASHINGTON CHORUS / 2020-21 SEASON CHRONOLOGY
Dr. Eugene Rogers, Artistic Director, in his debut season with The Washington Chorus
TWC’s 60th Anniversary Season
Virtual Open Sings
Co-presented by Berkshire Choral International and The Washington Chorus
Friday, September 4, 2020
Friday, October 30, 2020
Friday, December 11, 2020
Digital program; online only
What is it: educational Open Sings series for choral singers across the globe, featuring three acclaimed choral conductors – Dr. Eugene Rogers, Katherine FitzGibbon, and Rob Istad – leading sessions on the history and context of major choral works, then hosting Open Sings for choral singers to sing along from home.
Tickets: $15 per Virtual Open Songs if purchased individually, or $40 for the series; on sale online now at thewashingtonchorus.ticketspice.com/tickets.
TWC 60th Birthday Bash
Saturday, October 3, 2020, 7:00 pm Eastern
Digital program; online only
What is it: a one-of-a-kind global House Party slash virtual gala event
Tickets: FREE to all who’d like to attend! Sign up to host an at-home house party (whether for one or with family/friends) online now at thewashingtonchorus.org/host-a-twc-party.
Cantata for a More Hopeful Tomorrow
Saturday, November 14, 2020, 7:30 pm
Digital program; online only
What is it: an innovative new short film directed by Emmy award winning filmmaker Bob Berg that tells a story from despair to hope, inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic, set to a new score for virtual chorus commissioned by The Washington Chorus and composed by acclaimed American composer Damien Geter. Sung and recorded virtually by The Washington Chorus, led by Dr. Eugene Rogers.
Collaborators: soloists including Virginia native, soprano Aundi Marie Moore (recently seen in the Metropolitan Opera revival of “Porgy and Bess”)
Tickets: $15 all tickets, on sale now at thewashingtonchorus.ticketspice.com/tickets.
TWC Candlelight Christmas: Live at the Music Center at Strathmore
Friday, December 18, 2020, 7:30 pm
Saturday, December 19, 2020, 7:30 pm
Sunday, December 20, 2020, 3:00 pm
Digital programs; online only
What is it: a beloved D.C. tradition for over 30 years, TWC reimagines its annual Candlelight Christmas concert in a beautifully produced show filmed live at the Music Center at Strathmore with socially distanced performances, guest soloists, and carol sing-alongs. For the tens of thousands of audience members that have enjoyed TWC’s annual Candlelight Christmas – or for those who’ve always wanted to, but never could or did – this is your can’t-miss holiday concert. Presented in one hour with no intermission featuring members of The Washington Chorus with organ, soloists, guest “Side by Side” high school chorus from Duke Ellington School of the Arts, bells, and much more.
Collaborators: Duke Ellington School of the Arts Chorus (Dr. Monique Holmes-Spells, conductor); new works commissioned for TWC by composers Bob Shafer (TWC Artistic Director: 1972-2007) and J. David Moore; soloists and other collaborators to be announced.
Tickets: $15 to $40, on sale now at thewashingtonchorus.ticketspice.com/tickets.
The Mahogany Series
Spring 2021 / Exact Date and/or Venue TBA
Hybrid online and, if possible, intimate in-person gatherings
What is it: in this new TWC initiative created by Dr. Eugene Rogers to center voices and composers of color, the Mahogany Series brings together D.C. regional and international collaborators across multiple genres of music—and even across art forms—to explore the roots of American choral music and to shine a light on historically underrepresented voices and composers.
Tickets: on sale starting January of 2021
TWC in collaboration with the National Symphony Orchestra
As part of NSO’s “Beethoven @ 250” festival
June 2021 / Exact dates and times TBA
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Concert Hall
Tickets: on sale starting March of 2021
