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Get the inside scoop... Established in 1966 and recently recognized in the U.S. Congressional Record, The Metropolitan Chorus makes its home in Arlington, Virginia. The Chorus provides Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia residents an opportunity to hear great choral works...and perform! Today, the 100-voice Chorus presents concerts featuring music of all ages, from the renaissance to the 21st century, with a strong emphasis on American composers. The Metropolitan Chorus regularly performs in venues throughout the D.C. area, including the Kennedy Center, Constitution Hall and the National Building Museum. They also join forces with other musical organizations for unique performances and presents several free concerts each year as a special service to the community.
Mr. Hemphill has a wide variety of musical experience to his credit including conducting singing, composing and arranging for voice and instrumentation. He retired from the United States Army (U.S. Army Band & Chorus) in 1991, ending his career as Sergeant Major of the Chorus after nearly 23 years of service as baritone soloist and conductor. Upon retirement he was presented with the Legion of Merit -- awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. Mr. Hemphill has conducted the massively popular and annual Messiah sing at the Kennedy Center since 1994. This yearly Washington event attracts more than 3,000 amateur and professional singers worldwide. He also serves as an adjudicator and clinician throughout the United States. Since 1983 the First Presbyterian Church of Arlington has benefited from his direction where a strong music program contributes to a growing congregation with significant community involvement. Supporting Maestro Hemphill on piano is Terry Sisk. Terry Sisk, a native of Leesburg, Virginia, earned a degree in piano performance from Florida Southern College and studied organ in Germany at the Julius-Maximilians-Üniversität (Würzburg) with Günther Jena. Terry has served as accompanist for several community choruses, including the Reston Chorale, Vienna Choral Society and Fairfax Choral Society. Mr. Sisk was Dean of the Northern Virginia Chapter of the American Guild of Organists from 1996-1998 and has been a faculty member of the Potomac Organ Institute. Since 1991 He has served Vienna Presbyterian Church in Vienna, Virginia, where he is organist, handbell director and manager of its resident string orchestra. He is organist for the Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation, as well. Aside from musical interests, he owns a travel company that specializes in musical performance tours of Europe, Canada and South America. Carol Dunlap, Managing Director, has been involved as a singer with choral music since the age of eight. She was a singer and officer of the board of directors with the Fairfax Choral Society for 25 years, and was Managing Director from June 1996 to November 2001. Ms. Dunlap joined The Metropolitan Chorus as its first Managing Director in December 2001. She was a semi-finalist for the Washington Council of Agencies' Shayne Leadership Award in 2001. In January 2003 she served as a panelist on volunteer leadership in the arts for Leadership Arlington, a ten-month program which brings together Arlington leaders in the business, non-profit and public sectors in a form which they can experience issues and opportunities facing Arlington. Ms. Dunlap also serves as organist at St. John's Episcopal Church in Arlington. Support for The Metropolitan Chorus comes from Arlington County's Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Resources, Cultural Affairs Division; grants from the Arlington Commission for the Arts and the Virginia Commission for the Arts; and contributions from individuals like you. If you would like to donate to The Metropolitan Chorus through the United Way our designation number is 8681; through the Combined Federal Campaign our designation number is 63552.
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