ENSEMBLES
Our singers are placed into one of our eight different chorus levels, depending on their age, musical skills, and choral experience. You can read more about the levels below.
PRIMARY DIVISION
PREP CLASS
An open-entry, non-auditioned class for students in kindergarten through grade 1. Through singing games, simple songs, and other playful activities, children learn basic vocal awareness, practice using their head voice and matching pitch, and explore contrasts such as high and low, fast and slow, and a variety of rhythmic patterns. Students share what they have learned with family and friends twice each year.
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Prep Class NW A
Venue: St. Columba's Episcopal Church (4201 Albemarle St NW)
Director: Erin Riley
Grade Cohort: K-1
Times: Sundays 1:20 - 2:20pm
Enrollment Fee: $50
2026-27 Season Tuition: $1,440
Prep Class NW B
Venue: St. Columba's Episcopal Church (4201 Albemarle St NW)
Director: Erin Riley
Grade Cohort: K-1
Times: Sundays 2:30 - 3:30pm
Enrollment Fee: $50
2026-27 Season Tuition: $1,440
Prep Class SW
Venue: St. Matthew Lutheran Church (222 M St SW)
Director: Anne Tyler
Grade Cohort: K-1
Times: Wednesdays 4:00 - 5:00pm
Enrollment Fee: $50
2026-27 Season Tuition: $1,440
TRAINING ENSEMBLE
An open-entry, non-auditioned ensemble recommended for students in grades 2–3. Singers strengthen the foundational skills introduced in Prep Class, with greater attention to individual singing, expression, head voice, and pitch matching. They learn to follow a lead sheet or simple score, develop their voices through unison singing, and practice ensemble habits such as posture, following a conductor, and blending. Choristers perform in small share outs for friends and family in the fall and spring, and additionally at Flower Mart at the Washington National Cathedral in the spring. Singers generally spend one or two years in Training Ensemble before being invited to audition for Treble Chorus.
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Training Ensemble NW A
Venue: St. Columba's Episcopal Church (4201 Albemarle St NW)
Director: Erin Riley
Grade Cohort: 2-3
Times: Sundays 3:40 - 4:55pm
Enrollment Fee: $50
2026-27 Season Tuition: $1,530
Training Ensemble NW B
Venue: St. Columba's Episcopal Church (4201 Albemarle St NW)
Director: Erin Riley
Grade Cohort: 2-3
Times: Tuesdays 4:45 - 6:00pm
Enrollment Fee: $50
2026-27 Season Tuition: $1,530
Training Ensemble SW
Venue: St. Matthew Lutheran Church (222 M St SW)
Director: Para Perry
Grade Cohort: 2-3
Times: Wednesdays 4:00 - 5:15pm
Enrollment Fee: $50
2026-27 Season Tuition: $1,530
JUNIOR DIVISION
TREBLE CHORUS
CCW’s introductory performing ensemble for elementary singers meets once a week for 1.75 hours. Through a friendly audition, singers demonstrate pitch-matching and the ability to maintain a tonal center. The ensemble develops strong unison singing before moving into simple two- and three-part repertoire, while also building ear-training, notation-reading, score-navigation, and healthy vocal-technique skills. Choristers also begin to study Levels 1-3 of CCW’s music theory curriculum, developing sight-reading and aural skills. Treble Chorus performs in CCW major performances in the fall and spring. Singers generally spend one or two years in Treble Chorus before promoting to Beginning Bel Canto.
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Treble Chorus NW
Venue: St. Columba's Episcopal Church (4201 Albemarle St NW)
Director: Christen Hernandez
Grade Cohort: 3-5
Times: Tuesdays 4:45 - 6:30pm
Enrollment Fee: $50
2026-27 Season Tuition: $1,750
Treble Chorus SW
Venue: St. Matthew Lutheran Church (222 M St SW)
Director: Christen Hernandez
Grade Cohort: 3-5
Times: Wednesdays 5:15 - 7:00pm
Enrollment Fee: $50
2026-27 Season Tuition: $1,750
BEGINNING BEL CANTO
CCW’s primary performing ensemble for upper-elementary singers meets once a week for 1.75 hours. Singers enter after demonstrating that they can blend with a choir and independently sustain a part in a simple two-part song or accompanied unison piece. They build on healthy vocal technique while studying more complex two- and three-part music and continuing their work in ear-training, notation-reading, and score-navigation. Choristers also continue to study Levels 3-4 of CCW’s music theory curriculum with increasingly sophisticated sight-reading and aural skills. Beginning Bel Canto performs in CCW major performances in the fall and spring as well as selected other community or civic performances. Most singers spend one or two years at this level before promoting to Intermediate Bel Canto.
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BBC NW
Venue: St. Columba's Episcopal Church (4201 Albemarle St NW)
Director: Dr. Margie Woods
Grade Cohort: 5-6
Times: Thursdays 5:00 - 6:45pm
Enrollment Fee: $100
2026-27 Season Tuition: $1,750
BBC SW
Venue: St. Matthew Lutheran Church (222 M St SW)
Director: Dr. Margie Woods
Grade Cohort: 5-6
Times: Wednesdays 5:15 - 7:00 pm
Enrollment Fee: $100
2026-27 Season Tuition: $1,750
INTERMEDIATE BEL CANTO
CCW’s progressive performing ensemble for middle-school singers meets once a week for 2.25 hours and introduces more advanced repertoire and expanded performance opportunities. Singers accepted at this level are able to demonstrate that they can blend within a choir and hold an independent part in complex two-part music. They continue advancing their vocal technique, ear training, notation reading, score navigation, and experience with complex two- and three-part repertoire. Choristers continue to study Levels 4-5 of CCW’s music theory curriculum with increasingly sophisticated sight-reading and aural skills challenges. Intermediate Bel Canto performs in CCW major performances in the fall and spring as well as regular other community or civic performances. Singers in this ensemble are invited to participate in three- to five-day domestic tours and are also eligible for other special ensembles. Most singers spend one or two years at this level before promoting to Advanced Bel Canto.
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Venue: St. Columba's Episcopal Church (4201 Albemarle St NW)
Director: Christen Hernandez
Grade Cohort: 6-8
Times: Sundays 4:00 - 6:15pm
Enrollment Fee: $100
2026-27 Season Tuition: $1,750
YOUNG BOYS ENSEMBLE
Before their voices have fully changed and they are ready to audition for YME, treble and cambiata choristers may participate in the Young Boys Ensemble, led by Margaret Nomura Clark, where they can celebrate singing in the treble range with other boys and build friendships in a supportive setting. With occasional opportunities to sing with the Young Men’s ensemble, the YBE helps the young boys approach their vocal change with support and keeps singing through the voice change.This special ensemble is open to invited choristers from across the CCW program, meets for six additional rehearsals during the semester and performs twice a year.
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Venue: St. Columba's Episcopal Church (4201 Albemarle St NW)
Director: Margaret Nomura Clark
Times: Sundays
SENIOR DIVISION
ADVANCED BEL CANTO
CCW’s preliminary advanced ensemble meets twice a week for a total of 2.75 hours. These experienced singers continue developing through more challenging repertoire, advanced sight-singing and music reading, additional performances, and approximately six concerts or events each season. Choristers continue to study advanced Levels 6-7 of CCW’s music theory curriculum with significant emphasis on strengthening sight-reading and aural skills. Advanced Bel Canto performs in CCW major performances in the fall and spring as well as frequent other community or civic performances. Choristers in this ensemble participate in domestic tours, and are also eligible to sing in summer choruses and other special ensembles. International tours may also be available to singers in this ensemble. Most students spend two years at this level before promoting to Concert Chorus.
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Venue: St. Columba's Episcopal Church (4201 Albemarle St NW)
Director: Margaret Nomura Clark
Grade Cohort: 6-9
Times: Sundays 4:00 - 5:45pm AND Thursdays 5:15 - 6:45pm
Enrollment Fee: $100
2026-27 Season Tuition: $2,150
CONCERT CHORUS
CCW’s flagship performing ensemble meets twice a week for a total of three hours. Its singers have established healthy vocal technique, strong sight-reading ability, and the independence to sing music in four or more parts. Choristers at this level have demonstrated achievement by either completing Level 7 of CCW’s music theory curriculum, or its equivalent, and continue to practice advanced sight-reading skills and theory content following an independent curriculum. Students receive leadership opportunities and work collaboratively in small groups, sectionals, and smaller performance ensembles. Most contracted performances are assigned to Concert Chorus. Advanced singers may audition for the Chamber Ensemble, which performs as a separate ensemble as well as with the Young Men’s Ensemble. Concert Chorus performs at least six times each season and tours internationally every two to three years.
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Venue: St. Columba's Episcopal Church (4201 Albemarle St NW)
Director: Margaret Nomura Clark
Grade Cohort: 8-12
Times: Sundays 5:10 - 6:45pm AND Tuesdays 6:45 - 8:15pm
Enrollment Fee: $250
2026-27 Season Tuition: $2,150
YOUNG MEN’S ENSEMBLE
This ensemble for singers with changed voices meets once a week for two hours, plus one additional weekend rehearsal per month. This ensemble performs both independently as well as in collaboration with Concert Chorus and Chamber Ensemble on SATB repertoire. Singers in this ensemble have established healthy vocal technique, strong sight-reading ability, and the independence to sing music in four or more parts. Students receive leadership opportunities and work collaboratively in small groups, sectionals, and smaller performance ensembles. YME performs approximately four times each season and tours internationally every two to three years.
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Venue: St. Columba's Episcopal Church (4201 Albemarle St NW)
Director: Don Cotton
Grade Cohort: NA - Changed Voices
Times: Tuesdays 7:00 - 9:00pm
Enrollment Fee: $250
2026-27 Season Tuition: $1,950