General Information for Prospective Cathedral Choral Society Volunteer Members

Who is the Cathedral Choral Society?

The Cathedral Choral Society is comprised of about 150 volunteer singers and 24 professional singers, and performs a highly acclaimed series of concerts every year in Washington National Cathedral. We are seeking singers who are committed to performing the choral repertory using the highest artistic standards.

Dedication

The Cathedral Choral Society pledges to create glorious music in a glorious setting. Because of this, a high level of commitment is expected when joining our organization. Understanding that members already lead busy lives, we do our best to program a season that is broad enough to fulfill your singing needs while not overwhelming you. Each year we accept invitations to sing with other organizations such as the Washington Ballet, Washington Performing Arts Society, National Symphony Orchestra, and other acclaimed artists which can create busy periods. We try to make those the exception rather than the rule.

Expectation

In the Cathedral Choral Society, singers are given weekly assignments and come to rehearsals with their notes learned. This allows every rehearsal to be a journey – a time of discovery where we endeavor to reach beyond the notes until we are better able to understand the music at its core and ultimately interpret it in a way that is guaranteed to reach the hearts of our audience.

There is also an emphasis on vocal technique in rehearsals. The voice is a complex instrument and establishing a unified technical approach is essential to ensuring an expressive choral “instrument” that can communicate to the audience while maintaining a warm, beautiful choral blend. Our music director, Reilly Lewis, and our chorus master, Todd Fickley, are both knowledgeable vocal pedagogues who share their expertise in every rehearsal. Singers often comment that every rehearsal is like having a voice lesson and that their vocal technique improves every year simply as a result of singing with the Cathedral Choral Society.

Time Involvement

The Cathedral Choral Society rehearses on Monday evenings from 7:30 - 10:00pm, September through June. Dress rehearsals are mandatory and generally occur Wednesday and Friday nights the week of a concert.

Financial Obligations

Cathedral Choral Society members purchase their own music (which they keep) through the Cathedral Choral Society at an average cost of $25.00 per program.

All members are required to pay $80 in dues each season. Members pay a robe deposit of $100 which is returned when the member returns their robe.