THE WASHINGTON CHORUS PRESENTS MUSIC FOR CHRISTMAS AT THE JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

Washington, DC -- The Washington Chorus, a GRAMMY® Award winner, will present three sign language-interpreted performances of its annual holiday program, Music for Christmas, in the Concert Hall of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. on December 21 at 8:30pm, December 22 at 5:00pm and December 23 at 1:30pm. The Washington, D.C.-based symphonic chorus will sing a variety of well-known and new works for Christmas, accompanied by brass, percussion and organ. For tickets call 202-342-6221 or visit www.thewashingtonchorus.org.

Washington DC (PRWEB) November 28, 2003 --The Washington Chorus program includes holiday music from American, Italian, British and French traditions. Among the works are Gabrielis Jubilate Deo," Monteverdis Ave Maris Stella," Daniel Pinkhams Christmas Cantata," Berliozs Shepherds Farewell," Steven Paulus Pilgrims Hymn," Matthias Bell Carol," and an arrangement of the ever-popular Joy to the World" by Joseph Jenkins. The program also includes audience participation in the singing of traditional carols of the season and, to close the program, Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus." The concert will feature two additional aspects of The Washington Chorus mission: education and accessibility.

As part of its commitment to nurturing the choral development of young singers through its Side by Side program, The Washington Chorus welcomes guest ensemble the Oakton Madrigal Singers from Oakton High School in Fairfax County, VA, directed by Elaine Stanford, who describes her students excitement about singing with The Washington Chorus: They are working enthusiastically during the rehearsals, enjoying the music selections, and look forward to an experience of a lifetime in December! We are honored to be participating in this event." The Oakton Madrigal Singers will sing alongside The Washington Chorus and will open the second half of the performance with several works of their own, including Vaughan Williams Wassail Song" and Rachmaninoffs Ave Maria."

In addition to offering educational opportunities, The Washington Chorus also strives to make its music accessible to as many people as possible. Through its Music for the Deaf program, the Chorus provides sign-language interpretation during each of the Christmas concerts. Both deaf and hearing patrons alike have commented on the visual depth that the sign language interpretation adds to the music.
Tickets to Music for Christmas range from $17 to $51 and are available from The Washington Chorus Box Office at (202) 342-6221 or the Kennedy Center Box Office at (202) 467-4600. The TTY number for purchasing tickets is (202) 416-8524. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.thewashingtonchorus.org or www.kennedy-center.org.

Upcoming Events in 2004
Music for Christmas is part of The Washington Chorus annual subscription series. Other concerts by The Washington Chorus include a May 23 performance of both Ralph Vaughan Williams A Sea Symphony, set to words of the American poet Walt Whitman, and William Waltons Coronation Te Deum, composed for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. The Washington Chorus will join the National Symphony Orchestra in performances of Ravels L'Enfant et les sortileges conducted by Leonard Slatkin at the Kennedy Center on January 15-17. The Washington Chorus also joins the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Kent Nagano in the U.S. premiere of Brahms A German Requiem and Rihms Reading the Scripts (Das Lesen der Schrift), on April 8-10 at the Kennedy Center.

About The Washington Chorus
A 2000 GRAMMY Award winner, The Washington Chorus is considered one of the foremost choruses in the nation and a cultural leader in the Washington, DC area. Founded in 1961, the 200-voice Chorus presents a yearly subscription series at The Kennedy Center under the baton of Maestro Robert Shafer and frequently appears at the invitation of the National Symphony
Orchestra under the direction of some of the worlds leading conductors, including Leonard Slatkin, Mstislav Rostropovich, Seiji Ozawa, and Sir Neville Marriner. The Chorus records frequently, is often heard on public radio, and has toured internationally on a biennial basis since 1994.

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CONTACT INFORMATION:
Miriam Bradley
The Washington Chorus
202-342-6221
www.thewashingtonchorus.org