New York is home to many wonderful amateur and semi-professional choral groups whose enthusiasm and accomplishment are part of the city’s lifeblood yet whose work goes largely unheralded. Here are a few of the best.
1. Named for the patron saint of music, the St. Cecilia Chorus sings an array of musically challenging and inspiring works. This year is all about masses: Mozart, Hummel, Schubert and Bach are all on the docket.
2. The Young People’s Chorus of New York City offers children and teens from 7 to 18 years old an extraordinary musical education and performance opportunities in the city and around the world.
3. New York City may seem far from the Appalachians, but down-home singing is never closer than at the Lower East Side Shape Note Sing. The group meets monthly to explore this uniquely American a cappella style that dates from the 18th century.
4. The Collegiate Chorale was founded by the late dean of American choral conductors, Robert Shaw. The group carries on his extraordinary legacy. Upcoming performances range from Handel’s Israel in Egypt to Ricky Ian Gordon’s new opera The Grapes of Wrath.
5. The New York City Gay Men’s Chorus celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Its incredible work includes world premieres of music by John Corigliano, Ned Rorem, and William Bolcom.
Comments [5]
The 17 year old Empire City Men's Chorus is NYC's only gay men's chorus that sings predominately classical music.Their upcoming concert on Dec. 13th at 157 Montague St. in Brooklyn Heights at the Church of St. Ann & the Holy Trinity at 4pm features works composed for the chorus and other gay choruses. Composers include Rorem, Hoiby, Paulus, Adamo, and Hurd. For more info go to: empirecitymenschorus.org
Thanks for this article.
The New York Choral Society (www.nychoral.org) recently celebrated its 50th anniversary.
New York is also home to the Zamir Chorale, one of the premier Jewish choirs in the world. Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, Zamir performs a variety of old and new Jewish music under the leadership of the incomparable Matthew Lazar.
The Oratorio Society of New York (www.osny.org) is the second-oldest performing arts group in New York City. Andrew Carnegie served as President of the Society and built Carnegie Hall so that the group would have someplace to perform. This year marks the 136th annual performance of Handel's "Messiah", plus works by Mendelssohn, Britten, Vaughan Williams, and Cherubini.
The Collegiate Chorale was run for over 20 years by the late Robert Bass, who, more than anyone else, saw to maintaining Shaw's legacy while building the Chorale's reputation through opera.
Leave a Comment
Register for your own account so you can vote on comments, save your favorites, and more. Learn more.
Please stay on topic, be civil, and be brief.
Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments. Names are displayed with all comments. We reserve the right to edit any comments posted on this site. Please read the Comment Guidelines before posting.