I recently had a conversation with Dr. Marie Bucoy-Calavan, Artistic Director of the Choral Arts Society of Washington, about their 2026–27 season, which will be her third year with the ensemble.
Embrace the Unknown is the theme of the 2026–27 season for Choral Arts, and this will manifest itself not only in new music by composers like Caroline Shaw,Jake Runestad and Jeffrey Derus, but in an interactive spirit in concerts and at the season’s 46th Annual Holiday Concert and Gala, “Wonder”, in December at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium.
In 1982, Choral Arts began forming artistic and cultural partnerships annually with other nations’ embassies, and the partner nation this coming season will be Germany. This will include a collaboration with the Madrigalchor from the Hochschüle für Musik in Munich. Their choir will perform here in DC with Choral Arts, and then Choral Arts will go on a tour of German cities with the Madrigalchor. Repertoire will include Ein deutsches Requiem by Johannes Brahms, but in these concerts and throughout the season, music by living composers will be featured alongside works from canon composers of centuries past.
Dr. Bucoy-Calavan explained to me that she hopes Choral Arts’ identity as “the Ambassador Chorus” will take on a deeper meaning, both in terms of permeating the entire season and through the power of these partnerships to enrich the community. She says, “This season is about embracing the unknown —not with fear, but with curiosity and connection. Choral music gives us a way to navigate uncertainty together, reminding us that even without clear answers, we can still find connection, understanding, and a sense of shared humanity.”
She and I had a conversation about the upcoming season.
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