Choral Arts, under the direction of conductor Marie Bucoy-Calavan, will present “From Darkness to Light” on Saturday, April 18, 2026 at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center in Alexandria, VA.

The program opens with Ralph Vaughan Williams’ “Dona Nobis Pacem” featuring soprano Amy Broadbent and bass-baritone Edmund Milly. Also on the program is Gustav Holst’s “Two Psalms” (1912) with tenor Allan Palacios Chan, organist Matthew Steynor, strings, and symphonic chorus.

Midway through the program, Peter Loge, Associate Professor of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University, will lead a guided audience discussion on the work’s contemporary resonance and the role of music in processing conflict.

“Music has always been a way for communities to process difficult moments together,” said Bucoy-Calavan, per an official press release. “Vaughan Williams’ ‘Dona Nobis Pacem’ asks timeless questions about war, peace, and our responsibility to one another. Creating space for a guided conversation during the performance allows the audience not only to hear the music but also to engage with its message, with each other, and realize its relevance in our world today.”

The performance kicks off at 5:00 p.m. local time.

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