Norman Scribner

Norman Scribner is the founder and Artistic Director Emeritus of the Choral Arts Society of Washington. Considered an institution among his choral contemporaries, he is one of Washington's most versatile and respected musical figures. In 1965, Mr. Scribner founded The Choral Arts Society of Washington, and over the last several decades has led and prepared the Choral Arts chorus for numerous performances with the world’s leading conductors and orchestras, television appearances, recordings and tours, performing the standard repertoire, world premieres, and new works commissioned by the Society.

After graduating with honors from the Peabody Conservatory, Mr. Scribner taught at George Washington University, American University, and the College of Church Musicians at Washington National Cathedral, and became organist/choirmaster of St. Alban's Episcopal Church, a position he held until May of 2007. Among his many career highlights, Mr. Scribner served as staff keyboard artist for the National Symphony Orchestra from 1963 to 1967, chorus master for the Washington Opera, and a member of the Choral Panel of the National Endowment for the Arts from 1974 to 1976. He also prepared the Handel Festival Chorus for 11 years and produced the annual Christmas and Spring Festivals at the Kennedy Center from 1972 to 1976.

Mr. Scribner is well known as a composer with his compositions including commissioned pieces for the United Methodist Church and The British Institute, as well as numerous shorter instrumental, solo, vocal, and choral works. Notable honors include Washingtonian magazine’s 1984 “Washingtonian of the Year,” the Cultural Alliance Founder’s Award in 2001, an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from the Virginia Theological Seminary in 2002, and the Peabody Distinguished Alumni Award in 2006.