Season Opener Will Honor DC’s Rich and Diverse Musical Heritage
What: The Choral Arts Society of Washington presents O! What a Beautiful City, its inaugural performance of the organization’s 58th season taking place Saturday, November 19 at the Washington National Cathedral. Performed by the Symphonic Chorus with soprano soloist Millicent Scarlett, the concert is a musical ode to Washington, DC with all of the composers and musical selections having significant ties to the region. The season opener is Dr. Jace Kaholokula Saplan’s first as the organization’s new Artistic Director.
“Through choral music, we have the ability to connect directly back to DC neighborhoods through the visionaries and artists who have blossomed from the city’s rich culture,” remarked Dr. Saplan. “Washington, DC has a diverse and prolific musical history and this performance is an opportunity to celebrate that by featuring well-known composers like Duke Ellington as well as some lesser-known but equally important composers as well.”
O! What a Beautiful City will feature works by DC-born Pulitzer Prize-winning composer George Walker, jazz icon Duke Ellington, and female composers B.E. Boykin and Ysaÿe Barnwell. Millicent Scarlett, soprano soloist, also based in the DC region will perform Gwyneth Walker’s A Heart in Hiding commissioned and premiered by the DC’s Thomas Circle Singers and Duke Ellington’s “Come Sunday” from Sacred Concert. Guests can also expect an element of spoken word poetry woven throughout the performance featuring excerpts from local spoken word artist Charity Blackwell.
To purchase tickets, visit the performance page on ChoralArts.org.
When:
Saturday, November 19th, 2022 | 7:00 pm
Where:
Washington National Cathedral
3101 Wisconsin Ave NW
The Program:
O! What a Beautiful City, arr. Shawn Kirchner
Ysaÿe Barnwell: We Are
George Walker: O Praise the Lord
George Walker: O Western Wind
Deep River, arr. Charles Garner
Duke Ellington: “Freedom” and “Come Sunday” from Sacred Concert
B.E. Boykin: Holding the Light
B.E. Boykin: John 3:16
Gwyneth Walker: A Heart in Hiding
Ysaÿe Barnwell: Wanting Memories
Featured Artists:
Dr. Jace Kaholokula Saplan, conductor
Millicent Scarlett, soprano | Listen
Charity Blackwell, spoken word
Choral Arts Symphonic Chorus
Choral Arts Jazz Trio
ABOUT CHORAL ARTS
At Choral Arts, we sing the music we love as a balm to frenzied days, an antidote to solitude, a union in an often-fractured world. We sing for a city with little time and high expectations, which compels us to transform a night out into a lifelong memory. Founded in 1965 by Norman Scribner (1936-2015), Choral Arts has a rich history of bringing the power of the human voice to audiences large and small, advancing the story of choral music by partnering with a myriad of musicians, composers, and ensembles. To stay up to date with the latest news from Choral Arts, follow @ChoralArtsDC on Instagram and Facebook, YouTube, or visit choralarts.org.
