From the Podium
Welcome, dear friends, to Choralis’ 2023-24 season!
It is my distinct pleasure to invite you to join us for one of our most dynamic seasons ever, featuring beloved masterworks, contemporary compositions, and even US- and world-premieres. Using the timeless theme of light and darkness, we focus on music that enriches, enlightens, and enhances our everyday lives. Through the universal language of music, we are inspired to fight another day, comfort the lost, reach the down-trodden, or simply lift our voices in song. From the opening concert with music for great spaces to our final performance featuring Mozart and Lauridsen, I hope you will journey with us as we experience these stirring moments of art.
As is our custom, we welcome many performing guests this season, including the Children’s Chorus of Washington, the Classical Brass Quintet, and composer and friend Bob Chilcott. Additionally, I am delighted to welcome Dr. Steven Seigart as our new Associate Conductor and Keyboard Artist. We both look forward to greeting you personally at concerts and special events throughout the season.
May your program year be filled with light and love and music!
Warmly,
Gretchen Kuhrmann
October 29, 2023 at 5 PM
National Presbyterian Church 📍
From the sublime plainchant of Hildegard von Bingen through the majestic sounds of William Walton’s Coronation Te Deum, our opening concert focuses on music in great spaces for organ, brass and choir. Additional composers featured include Henry Purcell, John Tavener, Camille Saint Saëns, Lili Boulanger and more.
December 1, 2023 at 7 PM
Falls Church Presbyterian Church 📍
December 2, 2023 at 7 PM
Church of the Epiphany 📍
Our holiday concert is an annual sell-out and features a stunning candlelight processional, audience carol sing-along, and the U. S. premiere of Mary Mother by world renowned English composer Bob Chilcott, who will be in attendance at the concert. Special guests include the Classical Brass Quintet and the Children’s Choir of Washington (Margaret Nomura Clark, Artistic Director).
February 11, 2024 at 5 PM
Falls Church Presbyterian Church 📍
Based on the 1845 Hans Christian Anderson story, David Lang’s Pulitzer-Prize-winning Little Match Girl Passion has been hailed as “one of the most original vocal works of recent times” by The Guardian. Paired with Morten Lauridsen’s elegant Mid-Winter Songs, Lang’s work is an example of the equilibrium between suffering and hope. Choralis’ Associate Conductor and Keyboard Artist, Dr. Steven Seigart conducts this must-see concert experience.
A concert by Ēchos
April 2024, date and venue tbd
Our elite chamber ensemble, Ēchos, presents a concert of music through the ages depicting themes of darkness and light.
May 12, 2024 at 5 PM
Capital One Hall 📍
Choralis’ Young Artist Competition winners will be featured as soloists in Mozart’s Vesperae solenes de confessore and Morton Lauridsen’s Lux Aterna with full orchestra. Nimrod from the Enigma Variations and Barber’s Adagio for Strings also will be part of this final concert of the Choralis 2023-2024 season.