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Erin Freeman Named Next Artistic Director of The City Choir of Washington
Washington, D.C. (December 6, 2021) - The City Choir of Washington (TCCW) is honored to announce the appointment of Erin Freeman as its next Artistic Director, beginning with the 2022-2023 season. She will succeed Robert Shafer, who will retire in July 2022 after a distinguished 54-year career as a conductor in the Washington, D.C. area. Shafer, a Grammy-winning conductor, has led TCCW since 2007, and was Artistic Director of The Washington Chorus for over 35 years.
Freeman’s appointment concludes a 20 months-long search process that included 49 superb candidates from all over the United States and Europe. The process was delayed by the pandemic, and TCCW wishes to thank all the candidates for their understanding and commitment.
“We are delighted to welcome Erin into the City Choir family; she is an outstanding conductor who shares our commitment to artistic excellence, innovative programming, education, and expanding access to music,” says TCCW President and Chair of the Search Committee Benjamin Tsai. “We are deeply grateful to Bob Shafer for his leadership in the past 15 years. Under his baton, we have earned critical acclaim for high quality and creative programming.”
“Erin Freeman is known as one of the most outstanding young choral conductors in our country,” says Shafer. “With her wide knowledge, irresistible enthusiasm, and tireless energy, she has accomplished many great things. I cannot think of any other conductor capable of taking the City Choir to the next level in a very short time. I am proud to welcome her to the Washington choral community.”
“I’m thrilled to join the City Choir as Artistic Director. Bob Shafer has built an ensemble of exceptional artistry and a supportive community of dedicated singers. I look forward to continuing that legacy and contributing to the rich, vibrant artistic scene of the Nation’s Capital,” says Freeman.
Freeman is currently Director of the Richmond Symphony Chorus, Director of Choral Activities at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), Artistic Director of Wintergreen Music, and Resident Conductor of the Richmond Ballet. She will step down from her positions at the Richmond Symphony Chorus and VCU at the end of the 2021-2022 season.
Freeman says: “My time with the Richmond Symphony Chorus and VCU have been some of the best years of my life. I have learned so much from my singers and students – lessons of leadership, grace, humor, and empathy. Their spirit will always be a part of how I approach my work with any group, and for that I am so grateful! And, I won’t be a stranger. I’ll be in the audience cheering away! I’m thankful that I will still be a part of the Richmond community through my work with the Richmond Ballet, and I know I’ll see many musical friends at Wintergreen over the summers!”
Freeman will be sorely missed at the Richmond Symphony and VCU. Valentina Peleggi, Music Director of the Richmond Symphony, writes: "In 15 years as Director of the Richmond Symphony Chorus, Erin has nurtured and developed a truly inspiring choral tradition, and the high numbers of singers and their absolute dedication is testimony to her kindness and talent. We are grateful for her leadership, passion, and commitment in all these years; everyone at the Symphony and Chorus will deeply miss her. We are all thrilled and proud that she is moving to become Artistic Director of The City Choir of Washington and wish her every success in her new position.”
Terry Austin, Chair of the VCU Music Department, says: “It is with a heavy heart that the VCU Department of Music bids farewell to Dr. Erin Freeman as our Director of Choral Activities. Her work at VCU has been exemplary in every regard, and she is well-loved by her students, the faculty, and the community. The impact that she has had on our department cannot be overstated. Her students would do anything for her and she changed them, not only as musicians, but as people. Her influence will last a lifetime. We, at VCU Music, are very sad to lose her as our colleague. Our loss is most certainly [the City Choir’s] gain.”
Freeman will remain Artistic Director of Wintergreen Music and Resident Conductor of the Richmond Ballet; both organizations have congratulated her:
"On behalf of the Wintergreen Music community, we are thrilled for Erin's new venture as Artistic Director of The City Choir of Washington,” says Julianne Akins Smith, Executive Director of Wintergreen Music. “Erin brings such versatility of talent to Wintergreen Music as Artistic Director – through her unique commitment to education and outreach and her ability to create a welcoming and inviting community through music making. Over the last six years, she has simply transformed the Wintergreen Music Festival experience and has made a tremendous impact on the positive growth of our organization. I know she has wonderful ideas in store for the City Choir. We wish her the very best!"
Stoner Winslett, Artistic Director of the Richmond Ballet, writes, “I sincerely congratulate The City Choir of Washington on their appointment of Erin Freeman because they are getting not only a fine musician but also a fine person as their new artistic director. She will be greatly missed in the Richmond community but we look forward to following an exciting new chapter for both Erin and the Choir in Washington. Richmond Ballet is very grateful for the cooperation that allows Erin to also retain her position as our resident conductor as she is a very important part of our artistic team.”
Maestra Freeman will conduct her first concert as Artistic Director of TCCW in the fall of 2022. The programming for her inaugural season will be announced in the next several months. Following his retirement, Shafer will be named Artistic Director Emeritus.
About Erin Freeman
Erin Freeman serves in multiple capacities throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia and maintains a national, international, and online presence through guest conducting and speaking engagements. Freeman is Director of the Richmond Symphony Chorus, Artistic Director of Wintergreen Music, Resident Conductor of the Richmond Ballet, and Director of Choral Activities at Virginia Commonwealth University. Guest conducting includes the Buffalo Philharmonic, Orchestra Symphonique Bel’Arte, Portland Symphony Orchestra, South Carolina Philharmonic, Savannah Symphony, Charlottesville Symphony Orchestra, Virginia Symphony Orchestra, and additional ensembles throughout the United States. She has conducted at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, La Madeleine in Paris, and Boston Symphony Hall, was recently named nominee (2021) and finalist (2019) for Performance Today’s Classical Woman of the Year, and has received accolades in Opera News, ClevelandClassical.com, and Musicweb-International.com, among others. Freeman holds degrees from Northwestern University, Boston University, and Peabody Conservatory.
More information can be found on her website at http://www.erinrfreeman.com/.
About The City Choir of Washington
Founded in 2007, The City Choir of Washington is a symphonic chorus composed of 120 experienced volunteer singers from throughout the greater Washington metropolitan area. The City Choir seeks to inspire singers, audience members, and the community at large to discover the rich musical and cultural heritage of choral music. For more information on the choir, please visit: https://www.thecitychoirofwashington.org/
