WASHINGTON, DC—The Thomas Circle Singers (TCS) and Orchestra closes its 30th Anniversary Concert Season with What Sweeter Musick. This concert will feature 20th century American and European sacred choral works by Adolphus Hailstork, Leos Janacek, Arvo Pärt, Jehan Alain, and Randall Thompson, as well as a commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the birth of Mozart. All of the concert proceeds will benefit DC Habitat for Humanity, a local non-profit organization that builds affordable homes for low-income families living in the District.

The concert will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday, May 21, at National City Christian Church, 5 Thomas Circle, NW, Washington, DC.

Among the selections TCS will perform is Stages by Virginia composer Adolphus Hailstork. The Choral Arts Society of Washington originally commissioned this 12-minute work for chorus, harp, organ, baritone soloist and handbells. The texts of this work include a poem by Hermann Hesse, a paraphrase of Psalm 23 by George Herbert, and the “In paradisum” from the Latin Requiem Mass. 

The women of TCS will perform Jehan Alain’s Messe Modale, a four-movement Missa Brevis accompanied by flute and strings. Alain was one of the great French organists and composers of the last century who was tragically killed at the age of 29 in combat at the beginning of World War II.

The singers will also honor the 250th anniversary of the birth of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart with performances of his Veni sancte spiritus  (K 47) and his popular motet Ave verum corpus (K 618).
 
TCS has long striven to "Transform the City through Song," with an unparalleled commitment to both music and community service. TCS performances have raised over $100,000 for local non-profit organizations in the last seven years alone. This season, TCS continues the tradition by donating all concert ticket proceeds to DC Habitat for Humanity. DC Habitat for Humanity seeks to create affordable homeownership opportunities by building houses with low-income District of Columbia families. In a current initiative, DC Habitat is working on a 53-home development in Northeast Washington. This project is the largest ever for the 16- year-old affiliate. Fourteen families are already living in their new homes, five more homes are under way, and DC Habitat is striving to reach and maintain a 10-home-per year pace of construction. As of July 2005, DC Habitat had completed 81 homes and renovated 75 low-income cooperative units, housing nearly 300 people. Visit www.dchabitat.org for more information.

TCS continues to receive recognition for its musical excellence and its unique service to the Washington community. Awards include Washingtonian Magazine's "Washingtonian of the Year" in 2000 and Artistic Director James Kreger's honor as a WETA-FM Hometown Hero award in 2001.

A free reception will follow the performance. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for seniors and students.  To order concert tickets call 202-232-3353 or to order tickets online, visit www.thomascirclesingers.org or e-mail: info@thomascirclesingers.org.

Don’t miss the Thomas Circle Singer’s What Sweeter Musick concert on May 21!