The Thomas Circle Singers presents A 20th Century American Tapestry
Local Non-Profit Will Benefit from All Ticket Sales

WASHINGTON, DC - February 21, 2005 - The Thomas Circle Singers (TCS) presents A 20th Century American Tapestry on March 12, 2005.  All proceeds of the March 12 concert will assist the Downtown Cluster Geriatric Care Center, a local non-profit organization.

The Thomas Circle Singers will present a broad range of music from American composers, including works by Mechem, Pinkham, Smith, Convery, and Walker. TCS, a 32-voice mixed choral ensemble, will fill the air with these sounds at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 12, at St. Patrick's Episcopal Church , 4700 Whitehaven Pkwy, NW, Washington, DC. 

The concert will feature Choral Variations on American Folk Songs by Kirke Mechem.  For four decades, the choral music of Kirke Mechem has received the highest praise from international music journals, audiences, conductors and singers. Many of his 200 published choral works have become American classics, sung by professional choirs (Dale Warland, Roger Wagner, The BBC Singers, The Royal Welsh Men's Choir). Richard Coffey of Choral Journal wrote: [Variations on American Folk Songs] "...one of America's most prolific and imaginative composers...a real stroke of genius...Skip to My Lou is a genuine toe-tapper, guaranteed to generate wide smiles and bring down the house. Let Us Break Bread is heartbreakingly beautiful...Love and Pizen will spring to life in stunning fashion."

Come hear TCS as they sing Daniel Pinkham's Bugs, a collection of five a cappella settings of original texts by the composer.  Pinkham has been a major influence in American choral music for more than fifty years, his output includes symphonies, cantatas and oratorios, concertos, theater works, chamber music, film scores, and choral works.

The Singers will also present Robert Convery's Five Madrigals. Convery is among the handful of American composers today writing effectively for the voice. Convery has written four one-act operas, eighteen cantatas, MASS for choir and orchestra, choral works of every description, seven song cycles, and more than 150 songs for voice and piano.
 
Finally, TCS sings Gwyneth Walker's River Songs. Reviewer Carson P. Cooman of NewMusica, states, "There are few composers with the ability to bring together a total synthesis of traditional material and their own musical ideas"…Walker displays that she very well may be the greatest living exponent of this art."  Walker's music catalog includes over 130 commissioned works for orchestra, band, chorus and chamber ensembles.  Come and greet composer Gwyneth Walker at the concert!

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 six years alone. This season, TCS continues the tradition by donating all concert ticket proceeds to groups that provide critical programs and services to Washington, DC's elderly population.

An Award-Winning Organization
TCS combines superb musical artistry and compassionate social service, donating all ticket proceeds to non-profit organizations that serve Washington residents in need.  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.

Downtown Cluster Geriatric Care Center
The Downtown Cluster is a non-profit, ecumenical association founded in 1972 for the purpose of cooperatively meeting pressing human service needs in the District of Columbia.  A key program of the Downtown Cluster is the Geriatric Day Care Center that serves as an activity Center for disabled seniors.  The organization provides art and physical therapy, social services, and recreational activities to persons who might otherwise be shut-ins.  It especially seeks to assist those families and persons struggling with Alzheimer's Disease. To learn more, visit www.downtowncluster.org.

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.

Come celebrate A 20th Century American Tapestry with the Thomas Circle Singers!

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