WASHINGTON, DC -- On a recent rainy night in downtown DC, the weather could not prevent a group of young professionals from slowly assembling inside the warm rehearsal space. While some had arrived before the downpour, others arrived soaked -- but still smiling. "This is my sanctuary," says Amy Strouse, who sings alto, "I put the day behind me and get to make music with friends."

As the artistic director, Benjamin Olinsky, begins to warm up the members of the 18th Street Singers with vocal exercises, the chaotic weather outside disappears for the assembled group of young adults. For the next two and a half hours, all eyes are on Olinsky. The combination of deep breathing and intense concentration melt away their worries, and the mutual goal of preparing for the group's debut appearance at the Kennedy Center is all that is on their minds. "Singing challenges me in ways that nothing else in life does," says Strouse, "It's a full-body exercise, one that requires me to run through a mental checklist every few seconds to ensure I'm still producing my best voice."

Not everyone joined the choir solely to make music, though. For many members, the choir is a natural social outlet -- bonds form easily over a post-rehearsal beer or occasional Friday happy hour. "We call it an 'urban family'," says Olinsky, "You'll see e-mails go out to the group during the week asking for help moving into a new apartment, or inviting everyone over for an evening of Rock Band."

The membership of the 18th Street Singers represents a wide swath of the District's burgeoning population of young professionals. Members work on Capitol Hill and for various NGOs, but just as many are employed in the private sector — people working in law, medicine, web design, education, journalism, and even oceanography. As with many young people who flock to the District for work, the singers also come from all over the United States, so many of them are happy to find a choral home. "I have a built-in social network," notes soprano Wuryati Morris.

Make no mistake, though; this group may have fun together, but they are also serious musicians who have received a great deal of praise in the choral community. "Their beautifully blended voices and sense of musicality were truly delightful," says Betty Scott, Grammy award-winning choir director for the Music Center at Strathmore, of a performance last year by the 18th Street Singers at the Strathmore's Open House. The choir was invited back to perform at the Strathmore Mansion in May; they also sang to a packed-in audience at the National Gallery of Art this past April and sold out a show at the Swiss Embassy earlier in the year. Now finishing their fifth year, the choir is forty-five members strong, with ever-increasing numbers auditioning to compete for the two or three open slots every season.

While the nationwide recession is hitting some arts organizations hard, the 18th Street Singers is thriving, and it's no secret why. By creating an environment in which they can contribute to the cultural mosaic of the region, these singers do more than just wow audiences with their incredible tone, blend, and challenging repertoire -- they have found a place where they belong.

The 18th Street Singers are celebrating their fifth anniversary on June 20th with a performance of their spring program "Haunted" at the Terrace Theater in the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The performance is at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $10-$18 and can be purchased at: http://www.kennedy-center.org/calendar/?fuseaction=showEvent&event=RJXDV or by calling 202-467-4600. Group discounts are available.

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