About Choralis
Choralis is an auditioned symphonic chorus with more than 100 singers. Ēchos is a semi-professional chamber chorus drawn from the Choralis membership. Together they present an annual concert season that features beloved masterworks as well as compelling contemporary voices and lesser-known repertoire.
Recognized for its artistry by reviewers from The Washington Post and other publications, education and mentorship are central to the organization's mission. Choralis provides professional development opportunities for emerging soloists and conductors, offers education and training for young choristers, and extends its impact through community outreach programs that make choral music accessible to a broad audience.
Now under the new artistic leadership of Todd Fickley, Choralis continues to build on the strong legacy established in 2000 by its founder, Gretchen Kuhrmann, while looking toward the future with dynamic programming, exceptional performances, and a continued dedication to artistic excellence and community impact.
Our Mission
We exist to bring choral masterworks to life—creating meaning for audiences of all ages and experience.
We do this with passion and artistic excellence and use these works to connect our patrons and performers to each other and to the revealed majesty of this music.
We prioritize the growth and success of local artists and seek to inspire a love of classical music in the next generation.

Meet the Team
Board of Directors
Hollice Looney
Chair
Scott Carlson
Vice Chair
Janet Hanlon
Treasurer
Marti Olson
Secretary
Gosia Bochenek
Counsel
Derek Walker
Chorus President, ex officio
Tanya Hoffmann
Erich Knausenberger
Julie R. Jernigan
Marcy Owens Test
Advisory Board
Gisele Becker
Music Director, Emerita, Cantate Chamber Singers
William Carroll
Educational Consultant, Hinshaw Music
Bob Chilcott
Composer
Thomas Colohan
Artistic Director, Washington Master Chorale
Dennis Edelbrock
Founder/Director, The National Trumpet Competition
Stan Engebretson
Conductor Laureate, National Philharmonic Chorale
Anne Hodges
Director, Graduate Arts Administration Program, Florida State University
Jean Fritter Jawdat
Independent Arts Consultant
Donald McCullough
Composer and Conductor
Cecilia McDowall
Composer
Mark Ohnmacht
Performing Arts Consultant
Francis Pott
Composer
Robert Shafer
Artistic Director Emeritus, The City Choir of Washington
André Thomas
Associate Artist, London Symphony Orchestra
Scott Tucker
Artistic Director, Washington Men's Camerata; Co-Artistic Director, Washington Douglass Chorale
Val Withams
Choral Connections
Staff
David Welch
Executive Director
Zain Shariff
Operations Manager
(zshariff@choralis.org)
Jeannette Oliver
Chorus Manager
(joliver@choralis.org)
Sarah Damers
Marketing
Elizabeth Torla
Stage Manager


