May 13, 2019

THE WASHINGTON CHORUS ANNOUNCES THAT CHRISTOPHER BELL INTENDS TO COMPLETE HIS TENURE AT THE CLOSE OF TWC’S 2019-20 SEASON, AND THE CHORUS WILL SEEK A NEW ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

The Washington Chorus announces that it will be seeking a new Artistic Director, as Christopher Bell intends to complete his contracted tenure with the Chorus in June of 2020 and has signaled his intention to turn his time and attention to the needs of his family at that time.

“The Washington Chorus is a strong and healthy organization, and our 2019-20 season marks our 59th as one of the country’s premier symphonic choruses,” says TWC board chair Chris Denby. “We’re looking forward to a great season of concerts and programs in our 2019-20 season, which we’ll be announcing in early June, and then are excited to accelerate into our 60th anniversary season in 2020 under a new Artistic Director. The future for The Washington Chorus is bright indeed.”

To support The Washington Chorus through a seamless transition, the board has appointed board member and chorister Kara Morrissey, who has been part of the organization for 16 years as a singer and volunteer, as Chair of the Artistic Director Search Committee.

“We have been through transitions before, including the recent hiring for our new Executive Director,” Ms. Morrissey says. “We are confident in our ability to recruit and attract an exceptional pool of candidates for the Artistic Director position, thanks in large part to the strength of our exceptional Chorus. This will be a very desirable opportunity to help shape the future of The Washington Chorus, and to work with a top-flight chorus, world-class artistic partners, a deeply dedicated board and staff, and valued community partners, all in the context of our richly diverse Washington, DC regional community that we call home.”

The Chorus will soon begin its recruiting process for the next Artistic Director and hopes to find and announce this person by February of 2020. The Chorus’ 2018-19 season concludes with Durufle’s Requiem and James MacMillan’s “Cantos Sagrados” in one performance on Sunday, June 9, 2019, 5 pm at National Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC.