Scribner was born on February 25, 1936 in Washington, D.C. He attended the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, graduating with honors in 1961. He studied organ with Paul Callaway and music theory with Walter Spencer Huffman. While still a student at Peabody, he formed the Baltimore Choral Society.
In 1960, he accepted a position as musical staff assistant for the Washington National Cathedral, choirmaster of St. Alban's Episcopal Church, and chapel organist for the St. Albans School for Boys. In 1960 he also joined the faculty at American University, serving there until 1963. He later joined the faculty at George Washington University from 1963–1969, and served on the faculty of the College of Church Musicians of Washington National Cathedral.
Scribner first received significant public attention while serving as assistant organist at the Washington National Cathedral. That year, Scribner was appointed as staff keyboard artist for the National Symphony Orchestra, a post he would hold until 1967.
With funding from several grants received in 1970, the Choral Arts Society was able to retain Scribner on an annual salary for the first time. In 1971, Scribner assembled a professional choir (the "Norman Scribner Choir") for the premiere of Leonard Bernstein's MASS, commissioned for the opening of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. He served for a season as chorus master of the Washington Opera, and was a member of the Choral Panel of the National Endowment for the Arts from 1974–1976.
Scribner founded The Choral Arts Society of Washington in 1965 and served as its artistic director for 47 years. Since its founding, the Choral Arts Society has grown to become a prominent cultural institution in Washington, D.C., and is one of approximately 32 major choral organizations in the United States with annual budgets exceeding $1 million.
As artistic director, Scribner directed the chorus in its regular concerts at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and other locations in the Washington area. He also regularly prepared the chorus for guest appearances with the National Symphony Orchestra and other national and international orchestras. The Choral Arts Society also produced or performed on at least sixteen commercially-released recordings during his tenure.
Scribner retired as artistic director of the Choral Arts Society on August 31, 2012. Scribner died March 22, 2015 at the age of 79.
Source: Wikipedia
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