WELCOME
Welcome to THEARC Theater for our 17th annual cabaret, Sing, Sing, Swing. Welcome to our loyal family and friends who have supported the Congressional Chorus for over 36 wonderful years. Welcome to those who recently joined us and those for whom this is your first concert; we are so happy to have you here! Thank you all for coming.
THEARC stands for Town Hall Education Arts & Recreation Campus. It is part of Building Bridges Across the River, which was incorporated as a (501-c-3) nonprofit organization in 1997. In 2005, THEARC opened its doors as Building Bridges’ first facility serving families east of the Anacostia River. Building Bridges continues to expand its footprint, leading programming and partnerships at THEARC, THEARC Theater, THEARC Farms, Skyland Workforce Center, and the 11th Street Bridge Park. Through these collaborations, Building Bridges provides access to high-quality educational, health, cultural, recreation, and social service programs that contribute to revitalizing the community in southeast Washington. We are proud to be here tonight with you supporting this growing state-of-the-art epicenter of the DC community.
Congressional Chorus selects programming that reflects DC’s history, culture, and distinctive position as the U.S. Capitol city. We believe in music for all and by all Americans. Our current +152 singers create a diverse and welcoming membership of voices and experiences. We want everyone throughout the DC Metro area to hear, see, and feel the shared humanity through our performances and the unique power of American music.
Washington, DC isn’t just known as a hub for politics – it has a rich history in the arts, especially when it comes to music. From its moniker as the “bluegrass capital of America” in the 1950s to its distinct go-go music that emerged in the mid-1960s, DC has deeply influenced music history throughout the years.
Perhaps its most notable contribution, however, is its prominence in jazz history, calling itself home to some of the genre’s greats like Duke Ellington, singer and pianist Shirley Horn, pianist Billy Taylor, and saxophonist Frank Wess, and hosting stages where Ella Fitzgerald and many other jazz legends performed over the years. In fact, during the first half of the 20th century, the U Street Corridor became the economic, cultural, entertainment and jazz hub of the District of Columbia, earning it the nickname "Black Broadway.”
We are excited to honor this unique history with our Sing, Sing, Swing concert, which features many pieces by Duke Ellington, including “Caravan” and “It Don’t Mean a Thing.” Get ready to be transported back to the golden age of jazz as the chorus performs some of America’s most beloved standards with a live band and brass section featuring some of DC’s finest jazz players, scat solos, solo ballads, tap dance, and fully choreographed pieces; this concert promises to be an electrifying performance showcasing our signature blend of song and dance.
If you are interested in hiring the Chorus for a private performance or if you are moved to get more involved with Congressional Chorus as a chorister, volunteer, board member, or donor, please get in touch with me at execdirector@congressionalchorus.org.
To learn more about the Congressional Chorus, please visit our website congressionalchorus.org
And now, onto the show!