The Washington Chorus
Performing ArtsDistrict of Columbia, United States11-50 Employees
The Washington Chorus (TWC) is a performing arts organization based in Washington, District of Columbia, comprising about 240 singers. It produces and presents a broad choral repertoire, aiming to provide engaging musical experiences that bring people together through singing. The ensemble maintains an annual season at the John F. Kennedy Center and regularly collaborates with major regional orchestras, including the National Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and National Philharmonic, with appearances at the Music Center at Strathmore and Wolf Trap. The group has earned Grammy nominations and wins, reflecting its standing in the U.S. classical music scene. The chorus traces its origins to 1961, when Hugh Hayward founded the Oratorio Society of Montgomery County, the first major Washington-area chorus formed independently of a church or college, later adopting The Washington Chorus as its name. It is led by Artistic Director Dr. Eugene Rogers, appointed as the fifth director in 2020, a milestone as the first Black artistic director of a major U.S. symphonic chorus. In 2023, TWC announced leadership updates, including extending Dr. Rogers' contract and naming Anthony Salvi-Exner as Executive Director.