Spotlight On

Mission:
The Cathedral Choral Society (CCS) is a symphonic chorus whose mission is to perform the highest quality choral singing and choral music to the Washington, national and international communities. Singing principally in Washington National Cathedral, the Society will provide inspiration and pleasure to performers and audiences, and will reach out to its communities through education and service.

The vision of the Cathedral Choral Society is a public that appreciates and understands the power of choral music to elevate and enrich the human experience. The organization will accomplish this vision through performance, programming, dissemination, education, collaboration, advocacy and discovery, and by embracing the following values: trust, personal responsibility, commitment to quality, risk-taking, community and fiscal responsibility.

Background:
The Cathedral Choral Society is the resident symphonic chorus of Washington National Cathedral. The 200-voice chorus is the oldest choral group in Washington, having been founded in 1941 by Paul Callaway, who served as music director until 1984. Since 1985, J. Reilly Lewis has conducted the Society in musical masterpieces from plainsong to contemporary works. In its 66-year history, the Choral Society has presented numerous world premieres, many of them commissioned by the Society, and has maintained a tradition of showcasing both promising young soloists and internationally known artists. In addition to concerts at the Cathedral, the chorus has performed in venues around the city and on nationwide radio and television. In recent years, the Choral Society has appeared at the Kennedy Center with the Washington Ballet, the Juilliard Orchestra and James Conlon, in performances sponsored by Washington Performing Arts Society, and with the National Symphony Orchestra.

In January 2006 the group sang with Russian baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky and the Philharmonia of Russia at the Kennedy Center and at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall. The Choral Society and the NSO have collaborated many times at the Kennedy Center and at Wolf Trap under Leonard Slatkin and other conductors. In addition to its subscription concert series, the Society sponsors educational and community events, including a Partner Schools project, pre-concert lectures, a Young Person's Joy of Christmas Concert, and a high-school choral festival. Since 1985, the Cathedral Choral Society has held its Annual British Choir Festival, which each year presents one of the great English choirs in concert at Washington National Cathedral. The Cathedral Choral Society's discography features nine recordings made at Washington National Cathedral, and members of the chorus appear with Metropolitan Opera star Denyce Graves in the PBS television special Denyce Graves: A Cathedral Christmas.

Current Programs:
Programs and activities include a four-concert, seven-performance season at the National Cathedral, contracted performances with organizations such as the National Symphony Orchestra, and an education and outreach program focused on D.C. Public Schools.

The 2007-08 season has included a benefit concert in support of breast cancer research, featuring the Washington premiere of Paul McCartney's Ecce Cor Meum. CCS was joined by the Winchester Cathedral choir, Andrew Lumsden, director. The Joy of Christmas concerts included the premiere of Gwyneth Walker's My Beloved Son, commissioned by CCS.

The March 2008 concert featured the world premiere of Evensong: Of Love and Angels by Dominick Argento, commissioned by CCS. The season concluded on May 18 with Mendelssohn's Elijah, featuring Nmon Ford singing the role of Elijah.

The 2008-09 season will open on October 19 with Brahms' German Requiem, and the season includes CCS' traditional Joy of Christmas concerts, Hindemith's When Lilacs Last in the Door-yard Bloom'd in March and will end in May with a French Spectacular featuring the Saint-Saens Organ Symphony and the Berlioz Te Deum.

As part of its 2007-08 Education and Outreach, CCS has maintained a strong Partner Schools program, with in-school workshops, multi-cultural presentations, and the interactive "Different Sounds in the Cathedral" day at the National Cathedral. Education Coordinator Chris Candela prepares two lessons for the partner schools. All four Partner Schools participate in "Different Sounds in the Cathedral." The duo Cantare presents an interactive workshop at each school, featuring Latin American rhythms, costumes and instruments. Over 625 students and chaperones from 16 schools attended the Young People's Joy of Christmas in December.

On February 13, 2008, eight D.C. public and private schools joined forces for Celebrate Youth! the Third Annual Combined High School Choir Festival, under the direction of Benjamin Hutto.

Each summer CCS hosts a Cathedral Scholar, a D.C. public high school student enrolled in a program combining study at Cathedral schools and an internship in one of the Cathedral's departments.

Panel discussions are presented before most subscription concerts. These discussions are free and open to the public. In 2006, Bach scholar Michael Marissen led the discussion prior to the performance of Bach's Mass in B Minor. In March 2008, the discussion prior to the Argento premiere was led by Philip Brunelle and the composer.

Funding Needs:
The Cathedral Choral Society budget for Fiscal Year 2008 is over $1.3 million. Less than 40% of costs are covered by ticket sales. The Board and staff are responsible for raising the remainder through direct gifts, government, foundation and corporate support, and an annual fundraising gala.

The "Spotlight On" highlights the activities of a different 501(c)3 nonprofit organization serving the Metropolitan Washington, DC community. The selection of organizations for the "Spotlight On" is based on criteria such as programmatic interests, geographic focus, and size, to ensure the broadest possible representation of the region's nonprofit sector.

If you'd like to see your NPO in the "Spotlight," please use this submission form to send us a profile of your organization. Or e-mail a description of your organization, following the above format, to kmb@foundationcenter.org, with "Spotlight Submission" in the subject line.