WETA Arts: December 2020

The Alexandria Harmonizers is a men’s a cappella four-part close-harmony choir which has been performing around the world since 1948. Artistic Director Joe Cerutti, Jr. leads over 100 volunteer singers ranging from teens to eighties.

Stay Connected: Check out The Alexandria Harmonizers’ Facebook and Twitter pages for live talks, performance updates, and more content. Visit their blog, The Harmoblog, for insight on how the group connects during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Alfred Street Baptist Church Music Ministry Choir is a chorus based in Alexandria, Virginia. The church was founded in the early 1800s, making it one of the first Black churches in the D.C. area. 

Stay Connected: Be up to date on the Alfred Street Baptist Church via their Facebook and Twitter. Check out their virtual events calendar, including weekly discussions about the Old Testament with Dr. Judy Fentress-Williams.

The Cathedral Choral Society, founded at the beginning of World War II, is the oldest symphonic choral group in D.C. and holds residency at Washington National Cathedral. Their current director, Steven Fox, continues the legacy of the great J. Reilly Lewis, leading the 130-voice chorus in concerts nationwide. 

Stay Connected: You can hear more from the Cathedral Choral Society on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. For more concerts, clips and interviews, check out their virtual series, “A Season of Infinite Possibility,” on the first Thursday of every month.

The Bel Canto Chorus and the Concert Chorus are two of the Children’s Chorus of Washington’s six ensembles including children ages 8-18. Artistic Director Margaret Nomura Clark tours the chorus around the world, while providing her students with exemplary foundations in music theory. 

Stay Connected: Keep up with the Children’s Chorus of Washington on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Also, check out their appearance with the band American Football on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert. 

Choralis is a 110-person mixed-voice professional chorus directed by Gretchen Kuhrmann in Falls Church, Virginia. In addition to their classical choral repertoire, the ensemble also performs a unique variety of compositions by living composers worldwide.

Stay Connected: Visit Choralis on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for their latest updates and keep your eyes peeled for upcoming virtual events.

Eastern Senior High School’s choir has appeared at the White House, the Kennedy Center and on national television. Led to international acclaim by beloved music director Dr. Joyce Garrett, Dr. Garrett continues to conduct alumni of the choir. 

Stay Connected: Eastern Senior High School is on Facebook and Twitter. You can learn more about Dr. Joyce Garrett and the history of Eastern’s choir in this story in the November 2019 episode of WETA Arts, available on WETA Passport at 07:52. 

The Encore Chorale, based in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area, with chapters across the U.S., offers choral programs to adults over the age of 55. The group is dedicated to promoting inclusivity and accessibility in the performing arts.

Stay Connected: Follow what the Encore Chorale is up to on Facebook and Twitter. You can also watch their full-length holiday performance on YouTube.

The Fairfax Choral Society Vocal Arts Ensemble is an adult choir of 120 singers directed by Michael Ehrlich. In addition to traditional choral repertoire, the ensemble performs American folk, vocal jazz, and Broadway music.

Stay Connected: Keep up with the Fairfax Choral Society on Facebook and Instagram. You can also watch their full length virtual concert, Virtual Spring Follies, on YouTube. 

The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C. is the capital’s only LGBTQ+ chorus, with over 250 singers and five ensembles. For 40 years the chorus has held a vision for a more inclusive future and has inspired other Gay Men’s choruses across the country. 

Stay Connected: Check out the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington D.C. on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for all their latest updates. You can also see performances of songs from Into the Woods and other Broadway tunes on their YouTube channel. 

choir based out of the Ebenezer AME Church in Fort Washington, Maryland. Led by founder-director Patrick P. Lundy, the choir has performed alongside gospel icons such as B.B. King, Lyle Lovett, and Roberta Flack.  

 Stay Connected: Keep up with Patrick Lundy & The Ministers of Music on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To hear more, you can watch performances online or listen to their latest release “BY FAITH.” 

The Reid Temple Choir, based in Glenn Dale, Maryland, is a gospel choir directed by Patrick Lundy and strives to construct an inclusive environment for worship. 

Stay Connected: Visit Reid Temple on Twitter and on Facebook for livestreamed events, and keep an eye on their events page for their latest updates.

The Choral Arts Society of Washington, founded in 1965, is a chorus which sees music as an antidote to our frenzied world. Their symphonic chorus of 160 voices performs as one in an effort to bring harmony to the D.C. area.

Stay Connected: Keep up with the Choral Arts Society of Washington on Facebook and Instagram. Also enjoy a full-length virtual “Fireside” performance on YouTube. 

The Thirteen, founded in 2012, is an ensemble of all-star professionals. Director Matthew Robertson leads the thirteen-person choir which earned the Greater Washington DC Area Choral Excellence “Ovation” Award for Most Creative Programming.

Stay Connected: Check out The Thirteen on Facebook and Twitter. You can also attend their upcoming live virtual concert, An Evening of Readings and Carols, on December 20th, 2020. 

The Washington Men’s Camerata, directed by Frank Albinder, is a men’s chorus performing a traditional repertoire founded in 1984. The University of Virginia’s Virginia Glee Club, founded in 1871, performs regularly in Washington, DC area where there are over 40,000 UVA alumni. 

Stay Connected with Washington Men’s Camerata: Keep up with the Washington Men’s Camerata on Facebook where you can find updates and information about their upcoming performances. You can find their full-length holiday concert, An Old Fashioned Camerata Christmas, on YouTube after it airs live on December 5th, 2020 at 6:00 PM.

Stay Connected with The Virginia Glee Club: Check out The Virginia Glee Club on Facebook for more virtual performances or visit YouTube to watch a virtual performance.

Washington Performing Arts's resident gospel choirs, Men and Women of the Gospel (MWOTG) and Children of the Gospel (COTG), have performed throughout the Washington, D.C. region for more than 25 years. With members ranging from 9 to 70+ years, the choirs nurture both aspiring and experienced vocalists while representing both the heritage and future of gospel music.

Stay Connected: Check out Washington Performing Arts on Facebook and Twitter for more clips and event updates. Also check out their virtual programming series called Home Delivery, including their new online presentation: Mars Arts DC: Virtual, and extension of their Mars Arts D.C. community engagement program showcasing the meeting of arts and businesses in D.C.

Zemer Chai, founded in 1976, is one of the nation’s leading Jewish choirs, performing a full range of Jewish choral repertoire as well as new works composed especially for Zemer Chai. Their founder and director, Eleanor Epstein, has led the ensemble in high-profile performances from the White House to Jerusalem.

Stay Connected: You can keep up with Zemer Chai on Facebook or visit their website to enjoy some past performances.