The Choral Arts Society of Washington

Infobox musical artist
Name = Choral Arts Society of Washington


Img_capt =
Background = classical_ensemble
Years_active = 1965-"present"
Alias = CASW
Origin = flagicon|USA Washington DC, United States
Genre = Classical, Choral, A'Capella, Contemporary
Occupation = Choir
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.choralarts.org/ Official website]
Current_members = Artistic Director
Norman Scribner
Associate Music Director
Joseph Holt
Past_members =
Notable_instruments =

The Choral Arts Society of Washington is a Washington DC-area symphonic chorus of 190 volunteer singers. It was founded by Norman Scribner in 1965 and is now one of the premier symphonic choruses in Washington and the United States. Choral Arts produces an annual 5-concert series, performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the National Presbyterian Church, and they regularly perform with the National Symphony Orchestra, both at the Kennedy Center and at the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. [ [http://www.choralarts.org/cas.html The Choral Arts Society of Washington] main page: About the Choral Arts Society of Washington] Annual television appearances include A Capitol Fourth and the Kennedy Center Honors.

=Artistic Staff=

Artistic Director

Norman Scribner has been on the Washington, DC music scene for over 40 years. In addition to founding the Choral Arts Society of Washington in 1965, he also was the staff keyboardist for the National Symphony Orchestra from 1963-1967, and served as a guest conductor for the NSO multiple times. He also has served on the Choral Panel of the National Endowment for the Arts, was chorus master of the Washington Opera, and prepared the Handel Festival Chorus for 11 seasons. In 1984, Scribner was named Washingtonian of the Year by Washingtonian Magazine. Scribner attended the Peabody Institute, now part of Johns Hopkins University. [ [http://www.choralarts.org/scribner.html Norman Scribner, Artistic Director] biography.]

Associate Music Director

Dr. Joseph Holt recently became Associate Music Director of Choral Arts after having served as Associate Conductor since 1999. He has enjoyed a prolific musical career as conductor, pianist, arranger, chamber music performer, and educator. He currently is the pianist for the US Army Chorus, as well as Choral Arts. He also has served as the Director of Choral Activities at the American University and the Head of Accompanying at George Mason University. Dr. Holt holds a bachelor's degree from the Eastman School of Music, a master's degree from Shenandoah Conservatory, and a doctorate from Catholic University. [ [http://www.naxos.com/conductorinfo/Joseph_Holt_30777/30777.htm Naxos.com] biography of Joseph Holt] .

=Recent Performances=Choral Arts has just had two very successful performances. In May of 2008, the group performed John Adams's oratorio, El Niño . The Washington Post review headline read "Ensemble Rises to John Adams's Massive Work." [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/19/AR2008051902267.html] ] The review also commended the organization's commitment to contemporary music in a time when audiences shy away from modern works.

In July 2008, the chorus traveled to London, England to perform two concerts of Gustav Mahler's gargantuan Symphony of a Thousand with the London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. The concert, led by acclaimed conductor Valery Gergiev, was called "thrilling" by the Times newspaper [ [http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/live_reviews/article4311365.ece] , and the Evening Standard wrote of the "shattering power of several hundred voices" and called the finale a "triumphant close" to Mahler's epic symphony. [ [http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/music/review-23514687-details/Resounding+triumph+for+Mahler%27s+greatest+work/review.do?reviewId=23514687] ]

=References=