The Washington Chorus (TWC) and the National Philharmonic have announced a partnership to present “Universal Longings | Anhelos Universales.”

The Washington Chorus’ Artistic Director Eugene Rogers will conduct the concert featuring guest soloists tenor Scott Piper and baritone Juan Tomás Martínez Yépez. They are joined by the Reservoir High School Chamber Choir.

The program begins with the East Coast premiere of composer James Lee III’s 2023 “Breaths of Universal Longings” and concludes with Venezuelan composer Antonio Estévez’s 1954 “Cantata Criolla.”

Rogers said in a press release, “TWC is excited to collaborate with the National Philharmonic to celebrate voices of both the past and present. I chose both pieces as a way for us all to celebrate the human voice and to recognize our human desire and struggle to win the battle with ourselves.” He adds, “It is important to me that TWC strives to lift up voices of color to connect and build a world where every voice is heard and included; we commit to this via our Mahogany Initiative that seeks to center the voices and visions of creators of color across the entire spectrum of our programming.”

“Universal Longings | Anhelos Universales,” the first of two collaborations with the National Philharmonic this season. This concert takes place at The Music Center at Strathmore on Nov. 5 at 3 p.m.