D.C. Labor Chorus

Where Did It All Begin?

The D.C. Labor Chorus was formed on February 18, 1998 by Elise Bryant who at the time was a professor at the George Meany Center. It did not take long for the choir to grow and continue to add members to its ranks. The choir then and now continues to be comprised of people from all walks of life. Community activists and labor activists imbue the music they present with the spirit of equality, equity, and the spirit of change for the common good of all people.

There is little that can affect our souls like the sound of harmonious voices. When the chorus performs it invokes feeling of joy and laughter and yes, sometimes sadness when songs are sung of those in terrible need

The DC Labor Chorus is a musical ensemble representing union members from the Washington, DC area. Some of us are professional musicians but most of us are union members and activists who just love to sing!

The DC Labor Chorus sings for rallies, demonstrations, and picket lines. We welcome union members to the annual Great Labor Arts Exchange each summer, and we hold an annual “Sacred/Favorite Songs” concert every winter and a community benefit concert every spring.

Our mission is to strengthen the labor movement, raise awareness of social injustice and be an agent of change through the use of music and arts. The DC Labor Chorus is a program/affiliate of the Labor Heritage Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We welcome you to join us. Rehearsals are Monday evenings at the Washington Ethical Society from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

The DC Labor Chorus is a program/affiliate of the Labor Heritage Foundation, a 501(c) 3 non profit organization.

May 14th Spring Concert 2016

For the first time ever, two of DC’s premier singing groups, the DC Labor Chorus and Not What You Think, will join forces in solidarity for “Peace, Jobs and Justice,” a concert of their best songs! For tickets, click here!

 

December 12 – DC Labor Chorus Concert

ATU Training and Education Center (10000 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring) at 7:30 pm

 

May 2nd, 2015 DC Labor Chorus Concert

Singing in Solidarity! DC Labor Chorus & In Process… in Concert. Celebrating International Workers’ Day.
Saturday, May 2 * 7:30 p.m. * First Trinity Lutheran Church, 501 4th St. NW, Washington, DC 20001.

Join the DC Labor Chorus and women’s a cappella ensemble In Process… in a celebration of International Workers’ Day with songs to lift the spirits, including traditional labor and civil rights songs.

Tickets are $20.00 if purchased at the door or from a choir member–If purchased on-line there is a $1.50 service fee for processing per ticket.

Click here for tickets!

 

 

The DC Labor Chorus in Joyful Solidarity 2013

dc-labor-chorus-holiday-2013On December 1st, “Joyful Solidarity” was the theme this year as the voice of the DC area labor movement closed out 2013 with favorite songs (holiday and other) selected by various Chorus members, along with sacred songs from a range of faith and cultural traditions. The audience was also treated to our ever-popular medley of holiday carols … reworked to make you laugh out loud as you think about how we move through our communities and the world in which we live.

There were two FREE concerts (at 3 and 7:30 pm) that day.  The two show times gave people a chance to come before holiday festivities or after.   We hope that the progressive music lovers who’ve made the DC Labor Chorus’s annual Winter concert one of their favorite holiday traditions enjoyed the concert!  We hope to post some photos of this energizing day soon, so stay tuned.

If you would like to support the chorus you can purchase their music from the Labor Heritage Foundation store by clicking here.

 

 

2012 Spring Concert

Our Spring 2012 Concert was an amazing evening. While photographs can in no way do justice to  the concert, we’ve created a gallery that gives a small taste of the evening.

Visit the gallery here of the DC Labor Chorus

2012 DC Labor Chorus Concert

The DC Labor Chorus is a musical ensemble representing union members from the Washington, DC area. Some of us are professional musicians but most of us are union members and activists who just love to sing!

The DC Labor Chorus sings for rallies, demonstrations, and picket lines. We welcome union members to the annual Great Labor Arts Exchange each summer, and we hold an annual “Sacred/Favorite Songs” concert every winter and a community benefit concert every spring.

The DC Labor Chorus is a program/affiliate of the Labor Heritage Foundation, a 501(c) 3 non profit organization.

dclc1

Current Members:

Sopranos: Mary Best, Susan Clark, Jackie Fralley, Sonia Kassambara, Kathleen Sutcliffe, Pam Parker, Junette Pinkney, Allie Rosenblatt.

Altos: Connie Cordovilla, Sari Finn, Lakeisha Harrison, Melanie Jones, Tyler Jones, Liz Krainman, Laura Larco, Lisa McGowan, Mkawasi Mcharo-Hall, Pam Larson,, Brianna Morgan, Karen Newman, Joy Nicholas, Robyn Robbins, Fran Owens.

Tenors: Elise Bryant (Director), Emanuel Finn, Don Pelles, Warren Williams, Darryl! L.C. Moch, David Sands.

Bass/Baritones: Ken Giles, Larry Katzman, Peter Jones, Steve Jones, Will Rice, Abelardo Sandoval, Fred Soloway, Fred Stollnitz.

Interested in joining the DC Labor Chorus? Contact our Director, Elise Bryant at execdir@laborheritage.org

Additional photographs from the 2012 DC Labor Chorus Concert can be viewed here

DC Labor Chorus Music

DC Labor Chorus CDs are for sale through the Labor Heritage Foundation store.  Click Here

Play a Sample – I Feel Like Going On

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