The Choral Arts Society of Washington, led by its founder and music director Norman Scribner, is one of the major symphonic choruses in America and a moving force in Washington's cultural scene. Since the 1971 opening of the Kennedy Center it has presented its own season subscription series in the Concert Hall, and also often appears with the National Symphony Orchestra. In recent seasons the Choral Arts Society has collaborated in performances of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with the National Symphony Orchestra under Robert Shaw, and in the world-première performances of John Corigliano's A Dylan Thomas Trilogy under Leonard Slatkin at the Kennedy Center and at Carnegie Hall. Among numerous recordings are several under Mstislav Rostropovich, including Rachmaninov's Vespers and, with the National Symphony Orchestra, Shostakovich's Thirteenth Symphony (Babi Yar) and Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov, as well as the Grammy Award-winning recording of John Corigliano's Of Rage and Remembrance with Leonard Slatkin and the National Symphony Orchestra, featuring the men of the Choral Arts Society. Available on the Naxos label is the recently released CD There Shall Be A Star: Choral Jewels for Christmas. The Society has performed in New York City under Leonard Bernstein, Mstislav Rostropovich and Leonard Slatkin and toured widely throughout Europe including appearances at St Peter's in Rome, Notre Dame in Paris and Red Square in Moscow, this last before an audience of 100,000. The Choral Arts Society received a 1994 Award for Excellence from the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities.