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Celebrating its forty-fourth season, The Choral Arts Society of Washington, under the leadership of founder and artistic director, Norman Scribner, is renowned as one of the leading symphonic choruses in the United States today. Comprised of 200 professional-caliber volunteer singers, the Choral Arts Society has sung under the world’s leading conductors, produced acclaimed recordings, created a highly successful national choral radio series, designed and implemented a cutting-edge national model for using music to teach across the curriculum, and toured nationally and internationally. Since the 1971 opening of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Choral Arts Society has presented its own series at the Concert Hall, performing virtually all of the traditional repertoire plus numerous world and area premieres.In addition to regular performances with the National Symphony Orchestra, the chorus has appeared with leading orchestras from such cities Atlanta, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Israel and Paris Opera, and under the direction of leading conductors such as Rostropovich, Slatkin, Conlon, Maazel, Bernstein, Shaw and Dorati. The chorus has performed for special commemorative concerts including the twenty-fifth anniversary of Rostropovich's American debut and the American premiere of Penderecki's Polish Requiem. Nationally televised performances include annual appearances as part of “A Capitol Fourth†with the National Symphony Orchestra led by Erich Kunzel and the “Kennedy Center Honors.†In the summer of 2004, Choral Arts debuted on the subscription series of the New York Philharmonic under conductor and composer John Adams.The Society’s 13 CD discography includes the Grammy award winning CD, John Corigliano’s Of Rage and Remembrance on the RCA Victor Label with Leonard Slatkin and The National Symphony Orchestra.The Choral Arts Society of Washington tours nationally and internationally including historic performances at the Spoleto Festival celebrating Gian Carlo Menotti’s 90th birthday, Russia with the National Symphony Orchestra and Rostropovich before a crowd of 100,000, and opening night of the Proms at the 6,000 seat Royal Albert Hall in London, England under Leonard Slatkin.
