The Washington Chorus Inc.

“A draft of the Form 990 is reviewed by management, the Finance Committee and then is provided to the full Board of Trustees prior to filing with the IRS.”

“The officers and directors of TWC are required to disclose conflicts of interest or potential conflicts of interest once they become aware of them. Key employees have a similar requirement. Compliance with this policy is enforced through the organization's contract review process.”

“The Executive Committee serves as the Compensation Committee for the key employees using all comparative data available.”

“TWC makes its governing documents, conflict of interest policy and financial statements available to the public upon request.”

“The Organization utilizes volunteers to organize and operate all areas of the Chorus. During fiscal year 2019 approximately two hundred chorus singers and chorus management volunteers donated their time and talents to the Organization.”

“The mission of The Washington Chorus is to preserve and advance the art of choral singing and share the experience of the transforming power of choral music. TWC does this by performing at the highest artistic level in the nation's capital and before diverse national and international audiences, and by nurturing the next generation of choral singers.”

“December brought the return of the Chorus' enormously popular holiday program, A Candlelight Christmas, which featured traditional carols, contemporary compositions, and sing-alongs, accompanied by a brass ensemble and organ, and infused with Christopher Bell's audience- pleasing combination of reverence and revelry. These holiday concerts continue to grow in popularity, with last season's six concerts drawing more attendees than ever, including three sold-out performances. Performances took place at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall on December 7th, 16th, and 22nd and at the Music Center at Strathmore on December 20th and 21st. Brand new in 2018 was a Christmas concert geared toward children and families, so carol-singers of all ages can join the fun. The inaugural Special Family Concert took place at George Mason University's Center for the Arts on December 23rd. For the twenty-seventh year in a row, The Washington Chorus invited a local high school choir to join them on stage during these holiday concerts through its Side-by-Side program. The students sang their own repertoire center stage, then joined the Chorus for the duration of the concert. What better way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day than with The Washington Chorus and its Irish conductor Christopher Bell? On Sunday afternoon March 17th, the stage of the Kennedy Center Concert Hall featured an Irish band, fiddlers, dancers, pipe players, and choral arrangements of Irish classics in a one of-a-kind concert. A special homage to Christopher Bell's homeland, this concert was not to be missed. The Washington Chorus ended its 2018-19 season on June 9th with a concert at National Presbyterian Church featuring two deeply moving choral works from the 20th century: Maurice Durufl's Requiem and James MacMillan's Cantos Sagrados, both with organ accompaniment. Durufl's spellbinding Requiem bears the influences of French modernist composers, but its melodies, according to the composer, are "based exclusively on themes from the Gregorian funeral mass." The work's luxuriant tone has made it one of the most popular choral compositions written during the last century. It was published in 1948 and dedicated to his father's memory. By his own account, MacMillan's goal in composing Cantos Sagrados was "to compose something which was both timeless and contemporary, both sacred and secular." The text combines Latin liturgy with poems by Ariel Dorfman and Ana Maria Mendoza addressing political repression in Latin America. Cantos Sagrados was written in 1989 from a commission by the Scottish Chamber Choir (a group with whom The Washington Chorus' Artistic Director Christopher Bell has extensive experience). The work received its premiere in 1990 and the composer created an orchestrated version in 1997. The Chorus performed the original version in this concert. Throughout the 18/19 season, The Washington Chorus continued its role as major collaborator with the National Symphony Orchestra. In December, the Chorus joined the NSO for the annual A Holiday Pops! at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. This year's edition featured Ashley Brown, the original Mary Poppins on Broadway, making her debut with the NSO on Friday, December 14th, and Saturday December 15th. Later in the season, the Chorus and the NSO presented the world premiere of Lera Auerbach's Arctica at the Kennedy Center on March 30th. A co-commission by the NSO and The National Geographic Society, Arctica was inspired by Auerbach's travel to the Arctic and her conversations with Enric Sala, a National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence. This concert was part of the Kennedy Center's Direct Current Festival, which began last season with a mission to present contemporary, cutting-edge performers and repertoire. Teddy Abrams conducted the NSO. During the inaugural Direct Current Festival in 2018, The Washington Chorus performed Koyaanisqatsi at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall with the Philip Glass Ensemble, receiving critical acclaim from the”

“In collaboration with DC Public Schools, Washington Performing Arts, George Mason University, and The Air National Guard Band, the DC Honor Chorus unites elementary and high school DCPS students from across all eight wards of Washington, DC for an intensive music training festival under the leadership of some of the best choral music educators in the world. Students in grades three through twelve join together for a two-day festival of intensive rehearsals, culminating in a free and open-to-the-public concert. Education and Community Outreach Programs: Junior Washington Chorus: The Junior Washington Chorus provides 15-20 high-school aged students with choral opportunities beyond the scope of regular school programs. JWC members fully participate in the Chorus and receive additional musical training with the Music Director and the TWC Assistant Conductor. This training occurs before the regularly scheduled Chorus rehearsals and encourages the study of music theory and aural skills in relation to the current repertoire. Side by Side: Each year, up to two outstanding local high school choruses are selected to partner with The Washington Chorus and enjoy the unique experience of being involved with a world-class symphonic chorus. The highlight of the partnership is the annual Candlelight Christmas concerts when the high school choir joins the Chorus onstage at the Kennedy Center and the Music Center at Strathmore. Throughout rehearsals and performances, each student is partnered with a TWC singer who introduces the student to the workings of a world-class choir and the backstage operations of the Kennedy Center and the Music Center at Strathmore. TWC's partner high school choirs have reflected a mix of ethnicity, a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds, and a diverse spectrum of artistic experiences. While many side by side partners struggle with shrinking music budgets and outdated equipment, all are recognized for their excellence in artistic guidance, choral education, student talent, and faculty dedication. The Chorus is proud to have worked with all of them and believes it has enriched the musical education of each of these young singers. The Side by Side program is unique in the choral community of Washington because its hallmark performance is also part of its regular subscription series. Tickets for Teens: One of the Chorus' most popular programs, Tickets for Teens offers about 400 free tickets annually for local youth to attend TWC concerts at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets for Teens helps to foster the next generation of enthusiasm for the performing arts, gives students an alternate social outlet for the weekend, and offers additional opportunities for parents to spend quality time with their children. Conductor in the Classroom: In coordination with Tickets for Teens, this program brings the Assistant Conductor of the Chorus into local classrooms to give students deeper insight into the works they will be hearing at the Kennedy Center. By deepening their knowledge of the pieces, the Chorus is enhancing their enjoyment of the concert-going experience. Outreach Singers: This subset of singers from the main chorus presents free concerts that bring choral music to the general public in community settings, including those who, for mobility or health reasons, cannot attend performances in the traditional concert setting. The Outreach Singers perform in places such as hospices, veterans' homes, senior centers, homeless shelters and retirement homes, and strive to recreate the concert-going experience for their audiences. Sing-alongs actively involve audience members and add to the powerful and positive musical experience. The intimate performances in patient care and senior settings allow the Singers to establish a strong rapport with the audience, create an uplifting experience, and deliver a musical respite for patients and staff alike. Inside the Score: Another way TWC deepens engagement wit”

“Music Director: Program service expenses 110,600. Management and general expenses 0. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 110,600. Accompanist: Program service expenses 12,380. Management and general expenses 0. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 12,380. Temporary help and other professional fees: Program service expenses 27,021. Management and general expenses 5,952. Fundraising expenses 4,955. Total expenses 37,928.”

“TWC's Finance Committee is responsible for oversight of the audit, including selection of the independent accountant. The process has not changed from previous years.”