About Us: Based out of the Northern Virginia/Washington D.C. area, the professional, Christian male ensemble, Brethren, is a group comprised of 30 singers from all walks of life and includes professional military musicians, free-lance artists, financial planners, s... moreBased out of the Northern Virginia/Washington D.C. area, the professional, Christian male ensemble, Brethren, is a group comprised of 30 singers from all walks of life and includes professional military musicians, free-lance artists, financial planners, school teachers, church musicians, a surveyor, a defense contractor, a park ranger, a flight attendant and a member of the Metropolitan Opera Company in New York City. In addition, they hail from eleven different states in the Union: Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and, of course, Washington, D.C.
The group actually began in October 2005 recording a small project of a cappella hymns (The Hymn Project) as a Christmas gift for one of their mothers. Well, long story short, nine singers met for the first time in a small, basement studio, spent about 10 hours recording some of their favorite hymns and the rest is, as they say, history. In fact, the group had never intended to continue singing together after the project was completed - but God had other plans.
In September 2006, the group Brethren was officially founded with 12 singers, and a desire to share their ministry of music with the people of the DC/MD/VA area. Little did they know what opportunities lay ahead for this new adventure, but they stepped out in faith. In June of 2007, they recorded their second album, Then Christmas Comes, and continued to sing together about once a month in local churches. Later that fall, they grew to 16 members and began to receive invitations to travel outside of the Northern Virginia region, and travel, they did. Over the remainder of 2007, concerts took them to North Carolina, Texas, South Carolina and West Virginia.
How Sweet the Sound (June 2008) was released while the group headlined Music and Liturgical Arts Week at Lake Junaluska Assembly in Lake Junaluska, North Carolina. In July and August, concerts with the Bemidji Symphony (Minnesota) and a mini-tour to the Portland, Maine region rounded out their summer travel. Music Week yielded still more invitations and over the next 18 months concerts would be given in Georgia, Pennsylvania, North Dakota, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and in the Washington, D.C area.
In June 2009, Homeland, was released during a tour in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex. This compilation includes music celebrating our freedom and celebrating our God who gave us this freedom. In the fall, they were invited to sing with the Bismarck Symphony (North Dakota) and finished the year singing concerts in Richmond, VA and Annandale, VA for their home crowd.
In March of 2010, they were privileged to be invited to sing at the American Choral Directors Southern Division Convention held in Memphis, Tennessee. In addition to the convention, they sang concerts in Cookeville, TN and at Brentwood UMC in Nashville, TN to finish out their mini-tour.
In the summer of 2010, Brethren received word that the American Choral Directors Association would like them to perform in Chicago at the National Convention held in March, 2011. They began their preparations in the fall and recorded their fifth album, Prayers and Praises (2011), which was released in conjunction with their National Convention performance. This recording was the first all a cappella recording since The Hymn Project was released in 2006, and included a cross-section of genres and styles.
Since then, they have been preparing to sing for various concerts in the VA/DC area, and are excited about future invitations which will take them to North Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, New Jersey, Colorado, Texas, Oregon and Washington state.
Brethren is a versatile ensemble. At any given time, they may be found singing for a corporate function on the ‘hill’ in Washington, D.C., performing the National Anthem at a professional sporting event or presenting a full length concert at any number of churches in the DC/MD/VA area. They also spread the love of Christ in many different configurations. From Southern Gospel quartet to doo-wop group to chamber ensemble to a full choir, they have the ability to provide music for many different venues. Their repertoire is as eclectic as their configurations and encompasses all main stream genres of choral music - from Renaissance polyphony to traditional hymnody to spirituals to patriotic standards to southern gospel. less
Location: Annandale UMC 6935 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA 22003, Annandale, Virginia, United States [map]
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