The Magic Flute

As a choral organization, we feel it is only right to give a shout-out to Herr Mozart....

On this day in 1791 Mozart's revered opera, The Magic Flute premiered in Vienna, Austria. 

The Magic Flute is noted for its Masonic elements and Mozart himself was a Freemason. The opera is also influenced by philosophy of the Enlightenment era. The Queen of the night represents a dangerous darkening and prevention of facts and was debuted by Mozart's own sister-in-law, the virtuosic soprano Josepha Hofer. Her antagonist, Sarastro symbolizes the sovereign leader who rules with wisdom and enlightened insight.

Mozart conducted the orchestra himself. Mozart Scholar Maynard Solomon writes of the premier:

"Although there were no reviews of the first performances, it was immediately evident that Mozart and Schikaneder had achieved a great success, the opera drawing immense crowds and reaching hundreds of performances during the 1790's."

Choruses Lead the Way!

We all understand the power of music. You don't have to make a career of performing to be a "musician." Music touches all of us through radio, concerts, church, movies.. even cell phone ring tones. Whether you like it or not, music is all around us. Did you know that approximately 32 MILLION Americans sing in a choir? Take a look at this video, referred to us by our music director J. Reilly Lewis, showcasing the many ways choral music in particular can enrich our lives, education and the quality of our community. Enjoy the CBS Sunday Morning piece, and look closely to see some familiar CCS faces!

Benefit Bash!

 Shop to support the 

Cathedral Choral Society!

Tuesday, NOVEMBER 10th: 
CCS supporters can shop at the Washington/Chevy Chase and White Flint Lord and Taylor locations to benefit the Cathedral Choral Society! Tickets for store-wide discounts are on sale in the CCS office for $5 each, or 5 for $20. Tickets are also available at CCS rehearsals and concerts! You will receive a discount coupon for 20% off a single sale or full-priced item, and 15% off your entire purchase. These discounts have little to no exclusions! Make-up, fragrances, designer hand bags and suits are all eligible! CCS retains 100% profit from ticket sales, and a portion of sales at the door – so be sure to spread the word! Remember – more shoppers = more money to CCS! The top 2 sellers will receive an additional check from Lord and Taylor for $1,000! Please help us make this event successful!

*Tickets may only be redeemed at White Flint and Washington/Chevy Chase locations  

Call Victoria at (202) 537-5526 for tickets or questions.

Complete with Music!

Do we arrive "Out of the Box" complete with musical ability?

Click on the header of this post and watch as Bobby McFerrin demonstrates the power of the pentatonic scale using audience participation.

Staying Connected

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."
        Matthew Broderick, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, 1986


With an unprecedented number of new ways to communicate with our singers, patrons and supporters, CCS is responding to demand. We can be found on Twitter and Facebook - and  now here on Blogspot. We are very excited to offer an informal elaboration on news, special events, our concert program, music history and even the occasional photo of Katherine the Cat. CCS is a vibrant and current organization, committed to making the most of the world around us. In these troubling times, it becomes even more important to stay connected to the people who make us great. This year marks an incredible milestone for CCS, and we are brimming with excitement. We will celebrate 25 years with music director J. Reilly Lewis. Stay tuned for news about concerts, events, and special ways to celebrate this momentous occasion.

With the world moving so quickly, it's important to look around and make sure we make the most of the opportunities around us. With that, welcome to our blog, and a unique look into the Cathedral Choral Society.