Founded in 2009, Washington Master Chorale (WMC) is a vibrant professional and volunteer chorus that focuses on accompanied choral repertoire from the 19th century onward, with a particular emphasis on music of the 20th and 21st centuries. Equally at home singing the work of both American and European masters, the Chorale uses interdisciplinary collaboration to present choral works within the context of their culture and time. The Chorale is also dedicated to the expansion of the choral canon, and maintains that commitment through its annual commissioning of new choral works by leading American composers. Commissioned artists have included, Julian Wachner, Donald McCullough, Lori Laitman, Russell Nadel, Robert Kyr, Jennifer Higdon and Joshua Fishbein. WMC also employs one of the largest regular assemblies of professional singers in the Baltimore/Washington region second only to the Washington National Opera. Through its live performances, commissions, recordings, and collaborations, WMC enhances the cultural literacy of the community it serves and advances the art of choral music as a contemporary American artform.
