VIVA ITALIA! A Benefit Celebration for the City Choir of Washington

February 24, 2024 | The Woman’s Club of Chevy Chase

Please enjoy a slideshow from City Choir’s festive celebration of the influence of Italy on classical music! Guests enjoyed music by strolling accordionist Frank Plumer, welcome drinks (the Funiculì and Funiculà) created by Erin Freeman, a musical surprise performed by Erin Freeman and City Choir soprano Rachel Tester (scroll down for the video), delicious Italian-inspired food and wines, the exciting conclusion of City Choir’s online auction, Italian music trivia games, an amazing performance of Italian songs and arias by Washington National Opera Cafritz Young Artist Tiffany Choe, accompanied by Adriano Spampanato, and a singalong of Italian songs led by Erin Freeman. A wonderful time was had by all!

The City Choir of Washington is very grateful to our generous Event Sponsors for underwriting a significant portion of the event costs.

Table Games: Italian music bingo!

Accordionist Frank Plumer

Katie Jagielski and Ben Tsai check in alto Susan Gryder and husband Ted

Alto Annabel Hunter & dad Bruce choose a welcome drink

Welcome drinks created by Erin Freeman: The Funiculì (with blood orange & Prosecco) and the Funiculà (blood orange & Pellegrino)

Soprano Tiffany Choe & pianist Adriano Spampanato

Erin Freeman & fashion designer Nina McLemore

Baritone Bill Gilcher & wife Kay with Season Underwriter Judy Berglund

Left to right: Drew Cahoon, Emily Tsai, Frank Plumer, Adriano Spampanato & Tiffany Choe

Tenor John Clewett, his wife Cindy Speas, and bass Joe O'Leary

Alto Griffin Hellebuyck & soprano Rachel Tester

Bass Edison Muirairi, altos Carly Trachtman & Emily Schutz, soprano Reshmina William & Kevin Anderson

Alto Joanna Wulfsberg & Karen Garlick

Operations Director Zain Shariff helps soprano Lani Kanakry with the online auction

Erin Freeman & soprano Rachel Tester relax after singing Rossini's "Cat Duet"

Baritone Steve Briggs with sopranos Marie Hyder and Brandy Clark

Susan Schreurs & Erin Freeman

Treasurer/soprano Jessie Robbins with fiance Andre Gobbo

Season Underwriter Judy James & Alto Jenny Gerbi

Baritone Matthew Sudnik, soprano Harin Song, alto Griffin Hellebuyck & soprano Rachel Tester

Steve Briggs with sopranos Amy Solomon & Emily Tsai

Season Underwriters Barbara Greene & Judy Berglund

Alto Helene Jow & baritone Owen Rathbone

Emily Tsai, Erika Singer & Karen Garlick

Alto Morgan Kull & Jacob Schweizer

Erin Freeman, Katie Jagielski, Rachel Tester, Zain Shariff & Emmi Olson

Amy Solomon enjoys the appetizer buffet

Lizzie Iribe & Barry Mersky try the risotto bar (with Ed Grossman, far right)

TCCW President David Flaxman (left) & Mike Copley check out the dinner buffet

Alto Connie Ridgway, Deborah Wallis, and bass Ben Wallis

Matthew Sudnik, Rachel Tester, Kevin Boteler, Helene Jow, Erin Freeman, Owen Rathbone, Bob Olson & Emmi Olson

Tenor Bob Barnes & soprano Marie Hyder

Kathryn Clark (hidden: Joanna Wulfsberg), Erin Freeman, Reshmina William, Kevin Anderson, Bob Barnes (hidden: Marie Hyder), Cindy Speas & John Clewett

Erin Freeman, Lynn Kaplan, Annabel Hunter, Connie Ridgway, Deborah Wallis & Ben Wallis

Katie Jagielski, Al Giraldi, Pat Giraldi, Ariel Giraldi, Mike Copley (hidden: Ted & Susan Gryder), Erin Freeman & Zain Shariff

Shelley Stanfield, Audrey Bigelow, (hidden: Emily Schutz), LJ Williams, Brandy Clark & Rod Sterling

Tommy O'Leary, Jan Carson, Al Bradfield, Ted & Susan Gryder, and Nell Jeter

City Choir staff & leadership: Erin Freeman, Katie Jagielski, Ben Tsai, Zain Shariff, Peter Uhlir, Rod Sterling, Jessie Robbins, Emily Tsai, Emmi Olson & David Flaxman

City Choir staff and leadership-goofy.JPG

VIVA ITALIA! Event, February 24, 2024

VIVA ITALIA! A Benefit Celebration for the City Choir of Washington

February 24, 2024 | The Woman’s Club of Chevy Chase

The City Choir of Washington, a nonprofit corporation under §501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, is supported in part by funding from the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities

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