1987

• Eric Torain joins Washington Performing Arts staff

1989

• Washington Performing Arts presents its first gospel music showcase at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

1991

• Women of the Gospel Choir formed in tribute concert to the late Dr. Pearl Williams-Jones, artistic director.
• Evelyn Simpson-Curenton, co-artistic director.

1992

• Gentlemen of the Gospel Choir formed in tribute concert to Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rev. James Cleveland
• Men and Women of the Gospel Choir established
• Evelyn Simpson-Curenton named artistic director

1993

• Children of the Gospel Choir formed

1995

• Men and Women of the Gospel Choir performs an Evelyn Simpson-Curenton arrangement with the Canadian Brass

1996

• Children of the Gospel Choir performs at the inauguration forPres ident William J. Clinton

1997

• Children of the Gospel Choir perform at the opening of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain

1998 – 2000s

• Men and Women of the Gospel Choir participate in Christmas in Washington and the Kennedy Center Honors

2000

• First combined Men, Women and Children of the Gospel Choir concert

2001

• Arphelius Paul Gatling named artistic director 2002 Choir featured among noted jazz legends in 80th birthday celebration for Billy Taylor at the Kennedy Center

2005

• Choir performs for the opening of The Music Center at Strathmore

2006

• Indaba, written by Sweet Honey in the Rock, commissioned in honor of Doug Wheeler and performed at the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall
• Choir begins annual Gospel Brunch at University of Maryland
• Stanley J. Thurston named artistic director

2007

• Choir performs for the opening of the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Sidney Harman Hall

2008

• Washington, D.C. premiere of Done Made My Vow by Adolphus Hailstork
• Children of the Gospel Choir performs for the inaugural prayer service of President Barack Obama

2011

• Annual co-presentation of Living the Dream… Singing the Dream begins with the Choral Arts Society of Washington

2012

• Choir performs for the National Tree Lighting at the White House with President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama
• Choir performs in DC Jazz Festival Gospel Brunch at The Hamilton
• Choir performs at the ambassadorial swearing-in ceremony of Gina Abercrombie Winstanley, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Malta

2013

• Choir featured on Sirius XM
• Choir performs Gospel Brunch at the renovated Howard Theatre

2014

• Choir wins Choral Excellence award from Choralis

2016

• Washington Performing Arts Gospel Choirs release first album, Why Do We Sing?
• Choir performs for National Cherry Blossom Festival

2017

• Theodore Thorpe III named artistic director
• Choir performs the world premiere of Water by Toshi Reagon

2018

• Choir performs Gospel Thanksgiving concert at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts

2020

• Virtual Session

2021

• Choir performs for the 10th anniversary of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial on the National Mall

2022

• Men and Women of the Gospel Choir celebrate 30 years