After more than 25 remarkable years of service, Maestra Gretchen Kuhrmann, the Founder and Artistic Director of the Choralis Foundation, has announced her retirement following the 2025-26 season.

Under her visionary leadership, the organization has grown from two small local ensembles into a highly regarded arts institution known for its artistic excellence, advancement of the arts throughout the National Capital Region, support for local and national charitable causes, and impactful performances of choral and orchestral works. Since its inception in 2000, Choralis has become a cultural cornerstone, uniting musicians and audiences alike through performances that inspire, educate, and enrich the community. building a sense of shared purpose has shaped the organization into what it is today — a testament to the power of music to bring people together.

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During Maestra Kuhrmann’s tenure, Choralis has:

• Performed at prestigious venues like the Kennedy Center; the Music Center at Strathmore; Capital One Hall; Washington National Cathedral; the Nikolaikirche in Leipzig, Germany; Annenkirche in Dresden, Germany; the Belgian Embassy in Washington, D.C.; the Library of Congress; and National Presbyterian Church.

• Performed for the Chorus America annual conference in Washington, D.C. in 2014.​

• Commissioned and/or premiered original works by Bob Chilcott, Cecilia McDowell, Francis Pott, Diedre Robinson, Trevor Manor, and Gary Davison.

• Accelerated the musical careers of numerous conducting fellows and composers-inresidence, including Jeffrey Benson (San José State University), Sarah Frook Gallo (Lehigh University), Karin Hendrickson (Royal Northern Sinfonia, Royal Ballet), Grace Cho (New Orchestra of Washington, ArtsRising), and composer Trevor Manor (Hinshaw and Beckenhorst Press).

• Launched local, national, and international singing careers for countless artists.

• Created the Ovation Awards for the greater Washington, D.C. area, recognizing outstanding work and excellence in the local choral music scene, including the prestigious J. Reilly Lewis Award for Outstanding Contributions to Choral Music.

• Established outreach programs and raised funds for underserved communities through partnerships with altruistic programs, including Facets, Music4Life, WATER, Operation First Response Backpack Program, and Lion’s Club Recycled Glasses Program.​

• ​As Maestra Kuhrmann prepares to step down, plans are underway for a farewell concert on May 17, 2026, to honor her legacy and celebrate the impact she has made on the international, national, and regional arts communities. Featured works will include the Finale to Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 and William Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast, as well as tributes from current and former chorus members and other musicians.​

• The Choralis Foundation’s Board of Directors has selected Mr. Todd Fickley as the new artistic director, who will build on Maestra Kuhrmann’s exceptional work and guide the organization into its next chapter. Maestra Kuhrmann will continue to serve on the board in an emeritus capacity for the foreseeable future.

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