OUR MISSION
To spark greater human connections through musical storytelling, providing unforgettable performances that reflect the world around us and reimagine what the choral experience can be.
HOW WE DO IT
Our dedicated volunteer chorus partners with the world’s most talented, multi-disciplinary artists to create exceptional presentations that cross genres and promote deeper engagement with our audiences. We revive neglected masterpieces, energize the traditional repertoire through innovative collaborations, and commission new works on timely topics. We draw upon the rich diversity within our community to inspire us artistically and help guide us as members of our board, chorus, and staff.
WHY WE DO IT
(OUR VALUES)
We believe that – as our founder Robert Shaw wrote in 1941 –
“beautiful music is not the privilege of a few, but a necessity of us all.”
We believe the human voice raised in communal song has a unique power
to unite and inspire the best in all of us.
We believe that working together toward artistic excellence
can lift the human spirit and foster stronger interpersonal connections.
We believe it is our responsibility to create art that is relevant to and resonates with our many audiences, bringing together voices from all backgrounds and walks of life.
We believe in keeping our art form vibrant by engaging and involving
the next generation of singers, creative artists, and audiences.
About the Chorus
The MasterVoices Chorus is made up of volunteers who have a love and appreciation for performing great music. Many members have formal musical training, and some pursue careers in the performing arts, but all are proficient in the skills required for a challenging choral repertoire.
The Chorus rehearses every week for two and a half hours during the concert season. Chorus membership is varied. Some singers are in the performing arts, and others in education, medicine, law, and business. They range in age from high school students to singers who can boast participation for more than 30 years.
In addition to rehearsing and performing, the Chorus contributes to the MasterVoices family as donors, selling tickets and providing administrative and logistical support to the staff. The Chorus elects a formal Singers Council that supports the membership, staff, and Board in executing their missions. The commitment of the Chorus to performing exceptional music contributes immeasurably to the cultural life of New York City.
Get to know some of our choristers
A BRIEF HISTORY
Under the leadership of Tony Award-winning maestro Ted Sperling since 2013, MasterVoices’ 80+ year legacy began with the breaking of barriers as one of the nation’s first interracial choruses – “the melting pot that sings”. We performed at the opening of the United Nations, and on multiple recordings under the batons of conductors such as Arturo Toscanini, Leonard Bernstein, Riccardo Muti, and Zubin Mehta.
In the following decades, we expanded beyond the classical choral repertoire, and are now known for lively multidisciplinary concert productions of opera, musical theater, and newly commissioned work. We have premiered works by Philip Glass and Paul McCartney, presented critically-acclaimed restorations of “forgotten” gems such as Scott Joplin’s TREEMONISHA, Kurt Weill’s LADY IN THE DARK, and the Gershwins’ LET ‘EM EAT CAKE; and commissioned new works by Ricky Ian Gordon, Marisa Michelson, Tariq Al-Sabir, and Randall Eng.
Under Sperling’s leadership, we’ve moved toward even more inclusive programming. We’ve performed with such artists as John Holiday, Julia Bullock, Nicolas Phan, Jose Llana, Nicole Cabell, Justin Austin, Shereen Pimentel, Take 6, and Jennifer Holliday. Recent cross-disciplinary collaborators have included the Veteran Artist Program, Kevork Mourad, Sammi Cannold, Lear deBessonet, Anthony Roth Costanzo, and Zac Posen. Since 2018 over 50% of our collaborators and soloists have been artists of color and our audience has increased exponentially – in 2019 our live audience increased by 45%, and our 2021 Drama League Award-nominated digital concert production, MYTHS AND HYMNS, has drawn over 60,000 individual views to date.
Interested in joining the chorus?