The Cathedral Choral Society is a 200-voice symphonic chorus based at the Washington National Cathedral

Washington National Cathedral

The Washington National Cathedral, officially named the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, is a cathedral of the Episcopal Church located in Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. Of neogothic design, it is the sixth-largest cathedral in the world, the second-largest in...

. J. Reilly Lewis

J. Reilly Lewis

J. Reilly Lewis, a native of Washington, D.C., is the founding conductor of the Washington Bach Consort and the music director of the Cathedral Choral Society. He is recognized internationally as a conductor and keyboard artist as well as a specialist in baroque music, particularly the music of J. S...

 has been music director since 1985. He succeeded Paul Callaway

Paul Callaway

Paul Smith Callaway was a prominent American organist and choral conductor, particularly well-known for his thirty-eight years at the Washington National Cathedral, Washington, D.C., between 1939–1977...

, who founded the group in 1941. The ensemble performs primarily at the Washington National Cathedral

Washington National Cathedral

The Washington National Cathedral, officially named the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, is a cathedral of the Episcopal Church located in Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. Of neogothic design, it is the sixth-largest cathedral in the world, the second-largest in...

, and also appears regularly at such venues as the Kennedy Center and Wolf Trap

Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts

Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, known locally in the Washington, D.C. area as simply Wolf Trap, is a performing arts center located on 130 acres of national park land in Wolf Trap, Virginia...

.

In 2006, the Society announced the establishment of an endowment fund in memory of Richard Wayne Dirksen

Richard Wayne Dirksen

Richard Wayne Dirksen was an American musician and composer, who served as Organist and Choirmaster of the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., from 1977 to 1988. Previously he was Assistant Organist and Choirmaster from 1942 to 1964...

, who served the society in wide-ranging capacities during his half-century tenure at the Cathedral. The endowment will commission new carols and help support the ensemble's annual Joy of Christmas concerts.

External links

• Cathedral Choral Society official website