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Dedication: To the People of Ukraine

Honorary Patron: Her Excellency Oksana Markarova, Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States

We are pleased to announce that Her Excellency Oksana Markarova, Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States, will stand as Honorary Patron of the concert.

Our partner organizations for this concert include the Embassy of Ukraine, American Purpose, and the ACSA Ivano-Frankivsk Network.

As the City Choir of Washington began rehearsals for the Brahms Requiem, the terrible war in Ukraine raged. Robert Shafer, Artistic Director of City Choir, was heartsick over the devastation visited upon Ukraine. Shafer felt that supporting the Ukrainians through music would make his last concert as artistic director, the Brahms Requiem, especially meaningful. In addition to dedicating the concert to the people of Ukraine, Shafer, a composer, felt that one of the most significant gestures he could make was to write a new piece, a prayer for Ukraine in this time of war. The world premiere of Shafer's A Prayer for Ukraine will open the June 26 concert. The Ukrainian text translates as, "God, protect Ukraine. Give us strength, faith and hope, our Father. Amen."

Brahms wrote his "Human Requiem" not only in memory of the dead, but also to comfort those who mourn. City Choir's dedication of the concert, "in memory of the victims of war in Ukraine, and for those who mourn," pays tribute to Brahms's intention.

Join American Purpose at 12:00 p.m. TODAY, May 26, 2022 to hear conductor and composer Robert Shafer discuss the City Choir of Washington’s upcoming Washington National Cathedral concert dedicated to the victims of war in Ukraine. The performance with full orchestra and chorus, under the honorary patronage of Her Excellency Oksana Markarova, Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States, includes the Brahms Requiem and a new work, composed by Shafer, titled A Prayer for Ukraine.

This event is free, but registration is required. Please register at the link: https://www.americanpurpose.com/events/may-26-2022-a-pre-concert-talk-with-robert-shafer-on-playing-brahms-for-ukraine/

Maestro Robert Shafer finds the Brahms Requiem to be especially meaningful for its message of warmth and comfort, and—in

thinking about his own retirement—the text in Movement VII: “That they rest from their labors, and that their works follow after them.”

To read more, please click here.

A Moment of Music with the City Choir of Washington presents: Sneak Peek at Brahms

The reception will take place at the Cafritz Refectory of the St. Albans School, adjacent to Washington National Cathedral. For tickets, please click here.

The City Singers, the volunteer outreach choir of the City Choir of Washington, is thrilled to be singing before live audiences again. With safety precautions in place, the City Singers and director Katie Jagielski have taken their upbeat and heartfelt programs of American standards, spirituals, and Broadway tunes back to audiences in retirement homes who are unable to attend regular City Choir concerts.

Not all of our venues are able to welcome performance groups back safely, however, so the City Singers held its first-ever recording session in March and has started new digital initiatives—including its own dedicated YouTube channel—to bring music to all our audiences. Please check out our introductory video (above lower right), and other videos (with new additions to be uploaded throughout the summer) on our YouTube channel.

Season Underwriters Program & Fundraising Efforts

The City Choir of Washington's Season Underwriters are, in the words of Robert Shafer, the "backbone of City Choir." We are looking for special individuals willing to underwrite a portion of our exciting new 2022-2023 season, incoming artistic director Erin Freeman's first with City Choir. For a pledge of $5,000 or more (or $2,500 to become a half-underwriter) in new money between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023, you will be entitled to a few additional perks and have the satisfaction of keeping the City Choir of Washington on a firm financial footing.

For additional information about the Season Underwriters, go to the Support page of our website and scroll down to the underwriters section. You can fill out an online Season Underwriter pledge form here. Barbara Greene, Season Underwriter Liaison to the Board, oversees the program and is happy to answer any questions. You can reach her at essexroad@aol.com.

We are grateful for the ongoing generosity of our 2022-2023 and 2021-2022 Season Underwriters!

Many thanks to all who supported the City Choir of Washington for Do More 24 on May 18, the regional day of giving organized by the United Way of the National Capital Area. For the 6th year in a row, City Choir was #1 in its class of "Arts Organizations with Budgets under $1 Million"! Thanks to the generosity of our members, friends, and patrons, we exceeded our goal and raised $23,444.