Spring Lecture: Scott Tucker and Theodore Thorpe III, Sacred Music in the Western Classical and African-American Traditions

Scott Tucker and Theodore Thorpe III, Sacred Music in the Western Classical and African-American Traditions
May 1
1:30 PM
In-Person at OLLI

Theodore Thorpe III is a dynamic force in Washington’s music community—conductor, vocalist, pianist, organist, composer, arranger, and choral master. He has appeared as artistic director, conductor, and soloist at venues such as the Carnegie Hall and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. He serves as music director at Alfred Street Baptist Church, an artistic director for Washington Performing Arts, and director of choral activities at Alexandria City High School, where his ensembles earn top ratings and national recognition. A Yamaha “40 Under 40” music educator (2023), Thorpe is celebrated for inspiring students and leading performances for nationally televised events and historic occasions.

Scott Tucker is an accomplished choral conductor known for preparing choruses for leading orchestras and conductors worldwide. As Artistic Director of the Choral Arts Society of Washington (2012–2022), he led more than two dozen collaborations with the National Symphony Orchestra at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, earning critical acclaim, including for Britten’s War Requiem. He has also prepared choruses for appearances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Tucker conducts a broad repertoire spanning major choral masterworks and distinctive contemporary pieces.

Reservations are required to attend in-person lectures. In-person lectures will be held in the Spring Valley Building, 4801 Massachusetts Ave. NW, in Room A on the First Floor. Registration for the above lecture will open here at 10:00 AM on the Friday prior to the lecture. The direct registration link will also be included in the Friday newsletter the week prior. You must have an OLLI account to register. If you do not have one, you can create an account when going to register. Each registrant may reserve up to two seats. Your name must be on the list of registrants to enter the lecture and you must be in your seat five minutes before the lecture starts to guarantee your seat.