The Choral Arts Society of Washington

What The Choral Arts Society of Washington does

The Choral Arts Society of Washington is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 52-0895826) founded in 1965 by Norman Scribner and headquartered at 1666 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. The organization operates one of the nation's leading symphonic choruses, presenting a curated season of choral-orchestral performances and supplementary chamber and family programs at flagship regional venues including the Kennedy Center, Strathmore Music Center, Church of the Epiphany, the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, and Capital Turnaround. Its 2026-2027 season "Embrace the Unknown" comprises seven distinct programs, ranging from symphonic masterworks and staged concert experiences to holiday galas and a Family Christmas with Tea with Mrs. Claus add-on, plus an international collaboration with Madrigalchor München culminating in tour dates in Munich, Leipzig, and Berlin.

The ensemble is supported by the Choral Arts Orchestra and Choral Arts Chamber Ensemble, with artistic leadership since 2024 provided by Artistic Director Marie Bucoy-Calavan (DMA, Choral Conducting, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music). Operational technology is limited and non-proprietary: a Salesforce Sites-based ticketing and donation platform, Chorus Connection for chorus member and audition management, and a YouTube channel for recorded performances. The organization does not develop or deploy any proprietary software products; its "products" are live concert experiences and education programs for pre-professional singers.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid of transaction-based ticket sales (individual and subscription) and recurring donor contributions to the 501(c)(3). Distribution runs direct-to-consumer via the Salesforce ticketing platform and venue box offices, with two formal subscription tiers — Ambassador (20% discount across all six concerts, premium seating, receptions) and Diplomat (15% discount across three chosen concerts) — providing recurring revenue and audience lock-in. The organization supplements earned income with donations, charitable contributions, and institutional partnerships with the National Symphony Orchestra, the German Embassy, and Washington Performing Arts, and holds a Grammy Award for its recorded collaboration on William Bolcom's Songs of Innocence and of Experience.

Name

The Choral Arts Society of Washington

Legal name

The Choral Arts Society of Washington

Website

https://choralarts.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Choral Arts Society of Washington is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1965 that presents symphonic choral-orchestral concerts, holiday galas, and education programs to D.C.-area audiences, generating revenue through ticket sales, subscriptions, and donor contributions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts / Choral Music

NAICS

Musical Groups and Artists (71113), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM), Concert Halls & Music Venue Operations (Symphony Halls, Recital Venues) (MPAGALAC)

Keywords

• Choral performances
• Symphonic chorus
• Classical music concerts
• Choral-orchestral works
• Vocal ensemble

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Direct ticket sales for individual performances and subscription packages. Single tickets and season subscriptions provide the primary revenue stream from concert attendees.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 52-0895826), Choral Arts relies on donor support and charitable contributions to fund artistic operations and programs.
3. Subscription Revenue: Ambassador and Diplomat subscriber tiers provide discounted tickets and exclusive benefits, generating recurring revenue while building loyal audience base.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Choral Arts Society of Washington is a nonprofit symphonic choral organization that presents a curated subscription season of choral-orchestral performances, including classical masterworks, holiday concerts, and contemporary premieres. The society partners with major orchestras and international choirs to stage live concerts and supports education programs for emerging vocalists in the Washington, D.C. region.

Product overview

The Choral Arts Society of Washington is a nonprofit symphonic choral organization founded in 1965, offering a unified portfolio of live choral performances and cultural experiences. The core offering centers on the Choral Arts Symphonic Chorus and Choral Arts Orchestra, supplemented by the Choral Arts Chamber Ensemble for intimate performances. The 2026-2027 season 'Embrace the Unknown' features seven distinct concert programs: Community Sing, In Search of Home, Wonder (Holiday Concert and Gala), Family Christmas, O Night Divine, Spring Collaboration Concert with Madrigalchor Munchen, Facing the Unknown: Brahms' Requiem, and Echoes and Horizons. Two subscription tiers (Ambassador and Diplomat) provide ticketing access to these performances. The organization also operates education programs for pre-professional singers and conducts regular collaborative performances with major orchestras and international partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Subscription Concert Season

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Symphony OrchestracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegular performance collaboration with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center, one of America's premier orchestral ensembles. The relationship positions Choral Arts as a key choral partner for major symphonic performances.
• German EmbassycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Community Sing event and German Embassy partnership for Brahms' Requiem as centerpiece of the season. Collaboration includes cultural exchange programming.
• Washington Performing Arts (WPA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership concert 'Living the Dream, Singing the Dream' featuring collaborative programming.
• Madrigalchor München (Munich Madrigalchor)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpring collaboration concert featuring shared American and German repertoire with Unity Sing audience participation. The partnership includes international touring component with performances in Munich, Leipzig, and Berlin.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Washington Bach Consort: DC-based nonprofit choral ensemble performing primarily Baroque repertoire; comparable nonprofit performing-arts operating model and competing for the same regional choral audience.
• New York Choral Society: New York-based nonprofit symphonic chorus performing major choral-orchestral masterworks; directly comparable nonprofit performing-arts operating model and subscription-based revenue structure.
• The Washington Chorus: Direct DC-based symphonic chorus (formerly Oratorio Society of Washington) performing major choral-orchestral works in the same regional market with overlapping subscriber and donor pools.
• Cathedral Choral Society: DC-based symphonic chorus resident at Washington National Cathedral, performing large-scale choral-orchestral masterworks and competing directly for the same audience, donor base, and orchestral partnerships.

Broad incumbents

• San Francisco Symphony Chorus: Resident symphonic chorus of the San Francisco Symphony; comparable role as professional symphonic chorus partnered with a major orchestra, though backed by a larger institutional parent.
• Chicago Symphony Chorus: Resident symphonic chorus of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra; broader institutional backing but directly comparable in mission, repertoire, and orchestral partnership role.
• Los Angeles Master Chorale: Professional symphonic chorus resident with the LA Philharmonic and Hollywood Bowl Orchestra; comparable repertoire and orchestral partnership, with significantly larger scale and endowment.

Others

• Washington Performing Arts: DC-based nonprofit performing arts presenter; not a direct choral competitor but an active collaborator and fellow DC arts organization competing for overlapping donor and audience pools.

Regional players

• Baltimore Choral Arts Society: Mid-Atlantic regional symphonic chorus based in Baltimore; comparable scale, repertoire, and nonprofit structure serving a neighboring but distinct metro market.
• The Philadelphia Singers: Philadelphia-area symphonic chorus performing choral-orchestral masterworks; comparable nonprofit choral organization with similar subscription and donor revenue model in an adjacent East Coast market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCfRvQZqdTkYJs1XScHngQBA
• Facebookfacebook.com/ChoralArtsDC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/choralartsdc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Choral Arts Society of Washington