Dear Friend,

Coming off the heels of our Party with a Purpose in February, we would like to express our deepest gratitude to our community. Your support impacts our singers at every stage and ensures that longtime members and new members alike have the resources and opportunities to thrive. It is because of generous people like you that we are able to spread joy across the DMV and beyond!

As we prepare for Spring, we have two more incredible performances to share to bring the season home. In this newsletter, The City Choir of Washington invites you to our upcoming concerts, Meredith Willson’s The Music Man (Concert Version) & Bach's Mass in B Minor.

Our 2025-2026 season was rooted in the theme of “Home.” We began with the literal sense of finding a home, or in this case, an apartment in Vienna, to celebrate a trio of musicians who once lived in the same Italian apartment. Then, we transitioned to "Sacred Spaces" and the internal feelings of home. This was a spiritual reflection of how the old connects with the new, and how an individual connects with their community.

Now, we are in the midst of rehearsing for our concert version of Meredith Willson’s: The Music Man. Many of our choir members fondly recall their first time seeing the play or starring in their childhood community production. We are pleased to feature the Washington National Opera Orchestra to bring this familiar American classic to life in the beautiful Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall in Alexandria, VA.

To conclude the season, we are pleased to be “coming home” to Bach’s Mass in B Minor in the sensational National Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC. We cannot wait to share this repertoire with you! As always, more information can be found on our website: https://www.citychoir.org/.

Meredith Willson’s The Music Man

A small town, a conman, true love, and 76 trombones…no need to catch a flight to River City, Iowa when we have this American classic right here at home! 

On Sunday, April 12th, you’ll have a blast with the City Choir of Washington, local favorites Bob McDonald (anthem singer of the Washington Capitals) as “Professor” Harold Hill, Susan Derry as Marian the Librarian, and the Washington National Opera Orchestra. With a slew of hits from “Gary, Indiana” to “Ya Got Trouble,” from “Goodnight, My Someone” to “Till There Was You,” and of course, “76 Trombones,” this will be an evening of impossible fun and great nostalgia.

One performance only!

Transportation: Schlesinger Concert Hall is off I-395 and parking is free. Nearby bus stops include WMATA Metrobus A76, and F20, and DASH routes 31 (from King St. Metro Station) and 35.

See why our singers are loving The Music Man repertoire! Karen Doyne, Alto 2, says it is the musical to make you LOVE musicals. Frank Albinder, Bass 2, and Jeffrey Hughes, Bass 1, are excited to relive their high school days.

Click the video below to watch!

Save the Date: Bach's Mass in B Minor

In May 2020, the City Choir of Washington was scheduled to perform Bach’s Mass in B Minor, however, it was abruptly put on pause due to the pandemic. Now, six years later, City Choir is thrilled to be “coming home” to this monumental piece for one unforgettable evening.

The culmination of Johann Sebastian Bach’s life work, the B Minor Mass is intimate, powerful, sorrowful, and joyful – giving performers and audience members alike a reminder of the best that humanity has to offer. Join us on Sunday, May 31st to experience this masterpiece.

Transportation: Parking is available and free. The venue is a 13-minute walk from the Tenleytown-AU stop on the Metro Red Line. Nearby bus stops include WMATA Metrobus C51, C61, C81, C85, and D90.

Double the Bach, Double the Fun

DC audiences can see Bach's Mass in B Minor twice this season with our new partnership with the Washington Bach Consort. In addition to City Choir’s May 31st performance with 150 singers and an orchestra with modern instruments, the Bach Consort will present the Mass on Saturday, April 25th with a small vocal ensemble and period instruments.

We encourage you to enjoy this work in both performance styles. We are offering a 50% discount for the “other” performance once you buy a ticket for the first. Click HERE for more information. 

We hope you will enjoy discovering how each approach reveals new insight and expressive power in this extraordinary work. 

A Message from the City Singers

The City Singers, City Choir’s flagship engagement chorus, brings upbeat and heartfelt programs of American standards, spirituals, jazz arrangements, holiday favorites, and Broadway tunes to homeless shelters, military retirement homes, independent living communities, government hospitals, and assisted living facilities throughout the greater Washington region. 

On February 14th, The City Singers visited the Armed Services Retirement Home and the Little Sisters Home here in Washington, DC. The group donned pink and red for Valentine’s Day, and our audiences matched our festive spirit! At the Little Sisters of the Poor, residents shared pink cookies and pink punch.

The City Singers brought choral arrangements of two classic love songs—Beyond the Sea and Embraceable You—to match the day. At the Armed Services Retirement Home, residents danced and sang along with gusto. Many singers were moved when veterans in the audience stood proudly during the closing number, Tribute to Armed Services. The Recreation Specialist at the Armed Services Home later shared that: 

“The residents were absolutely overjoyed…your performance created a truly special and memorable experience. In fact, some residents are still walking around singing and humming several of the selections.” 

This kind note reminded the City Singers why we continue to bring music to people who need it the most.  

Community News

Become a Season Underwriter for 2026-27

Renewals and creation of new season underwriterships for 2026-27 are now underway. Make your pledge intentions known as soon as possible by visiting our website.

With a gift of $5,000 or more (or $2,500 as a Half Underwriter), you help City Choir share beautiful music, support artists, and bring choral performances to our community.

Our Season Underwriters play a vital role in sustaining City Choir’s artistic excellence, supporting our singers, and ensuring our programs continue to grow.



To give a sense of the benefits, Underwriters were recently invited to a private gathering with Artistic Director Erin Freeman and composer Alex Berko, whose work appeared on this season’s program—an opportunity to connect more deeply with the artists and the music you help make possible.

To pledge your support and become a Season Underwriter, please fill out the downloadable forms linked below.

Online Pledge Form →

Downloadable Paper Form →

Underwriter Benefits Overview →

If you have questions, email Barbara Greene, Liaison to the Season Underwriters, at essexroad@aol.com.

Thank You for Celebrating with Us!

If you attended the Party with a Purpose on February 28th, donated to the choir, bid in our online auction, raised your paddle, or sponsored the event, THANK YOU! It is because of dedicated patrons like you that we are able to showcase and share the extraordinary talents of The City Choir of Washington. All donations support our concerts, partnerships with surrounding performing arts organizations for soloists and orchestras, travel to new cities (like Rio de Janeiro!), and so much more.

To relive the fun, check out the party photographs HERE, taken by our very own, Emmilu Olson.

Support The City Choir of Washington

If you’re unable to join us at an upcoming concert or event, you can still play an important role in making our work possible. A gift to The City Choir of Washington helps support our singers, bring exceptional music to the stage, and sustain the programs that connect our community through choral art.

As always, thank you for your continuing support of The City Choir of Washington. We hope to see you at the concert hall.

With gratitude,

The City Choir of Washington