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Creative Team

Co-Creator

Diller Scofidio + Renfro

Diller Scofidio + Renfro is an interdisciplinary design studio with a focus on cultural and civic projects that addresses the changing role of institutions and the future of cities. The studio is responsible for two of the largest recent architecture and planning initiatives in New York City: the High Line and the transformation of Lincoln Center’s half-century-old performing arts campus. Other notable completed projects around the country include the Roy and Diana Vagelos Education Center at Columbia University; The Broad, a contemporary art museum in Los Angeles; the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive at UC Berkeley; The Granoff Center at Brown University; and the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston. The studio’s international work includes the 34-acre Zaryadye Park adjacent to the Kremlin in Moscow and the Museum of Image and Sound currently in construction in Rio de Janeiro. DS+R was recently selected to design a new home for the London Symphony Orchestra and conductor Simon Rattle.

Co-creator, Composer

David Lang

When in 2008 David Lang received the Pulitzer Prize for music for the little match girl passion, the New Yorker deemed that the former “post-minimalist enfant terrible” had “solidified his standing as an American master.” His recent work includes his Academy Award and Golden Globe nominated score for Paolo Sorrentino’s Youth; man made, a concerto for So Percussion and orchestra, co-commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the BBC Symphony; his opera anatomy theater, written in collaboration with visual artist Mark Dion, at Los Angeles Opera; the public domain, a commission from Lincoln Center for 1000 amateur singers; and his opera the loser, based on the novel by Thomas Bernhard, which opened the 2016 Next Wave Festival at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. His opera prisoner of the state will premiere June 6-8, 2019 in New York, conducted by Jaap van Zweden. Lang is a Professor of Music Composition at the Yale School of Music and is Artist in Residence at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton. He is co-founder and co-artistic director of New York's legendary music festival Bang on a Can.

Librettist

Anne Carson

Anne Carson is a Toronto-born poet, translator, essayist, and professor, whose work has been described as “unclassifiable, even by today's motley, genre-bending standards” (Daphne Merkin in the New York Times). After studying ancient Greek in high school, her interest in classical and Hellenic literature grew through her scholarship at the University of Toronto and University of St. Andrews, and she has since taught the classics at Princeton University, McGill University, and the University of Michigan. Carson’s original works, hybridizing poetry, prose, and essay, and harnessing references ancient and contemporary in restrained language include Autobiography of Red (1998), The Beauty of the Husband: A Fictional Essay in 29 Tangos (2001), Red Doc> (2013), and Float (2016). Carson’s published translations of the classics include Electra (2001), If Not, Winter: Fragments of Sappho (2002), An Oresteia (2009), Antigonick (2012), and Bakkhai (2017). She is the recipient of the Lannan Literary Award, the Guggenheim Fellowship, the MacArthur Fellowship, the T.S. Eliot Prize, the PEN Award for Poetry in Translation, and the Griffin Poetry Prize. Carson frequently collaborates with her husband, artist and “randomizer” Robert Currie, on interdisciplinary performance works derived from her texts.

Essayist

Claudia Rankine

Claudia Rankine was born in Jamaica, and is the author of five books of poetry, including the bestseller Citizen: An American Lyric, (Graywolf, 2014) which won the National Book Critics Circle Award; was a finalist for the National Book Award; and which the New York Times praised for “brilliantly pushing poetry’s forms to disarm readers and circumvent our carefully constructed defense mechanisms.” Her four earlier collections include: Don’t Let Me Be Lonely (Graywolf, 2004); PLOT (2001, Grove); The End of the Alphabet (1998, Grove); and Nothing in Nature is Private (1995). Her new play, The White Card directed by Diane Paulus, opened at ArtsEmerson in Boston on February 24th 2018. A recipient of fellowships from the Academy of American Poetry, the National Endowments for the Arts, the Lannan Foundation, and a 2016 MacArthur Fellow, she is the Frederick Iseman Professor of Poetry at Yale.

Director

Elizabeth Diller

Elizabeth Diller is a founding partner of Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R), a New York-based design studio whose practice spans the fields of architecture, urban design, installation art, multi-media performance, digital media, and print. Liz’s cross-genre work has been distinguished with Time Magazine’s "100 Most Influential People" list and the first MacArthur Foundation fellowship awarded in the field of architecture. In addition to directing The Mile-Long Opera, she is currently leading two cultural works significant to New York: The Shed—the first multi-arts center designed to commission, produce, and present all types of performing arts, visual arts, and popular culture—and the expansion of the Museum of Modern Art (both opening 2019). Liz has designed three art installations that are currently on view: the Costume Institute’s "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination" exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and two installations at the 2018 Venice Biennale. Liz is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and an International Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects. She is a Professor of Architecture at Princeton University.

Director

Lynsey Peisinger

Lynsey Peisinger is a performer and choreographer interested in constructing communities and shared experiences through the artistic process. In 2017, she collaborated with Marina Abramović on The Cleaner, a collective performance at the Eric Ericssonhallen, presented by Moderna Museet. In 2014, she collaborated with Abramović at the Serpentine Gallery in London for the show 512 Hours. She has cast and trained performers for Abramović on more than 15 projects. The Abramović Method, a large-scale public participatory work, has been created in collaboration with Peisinger, who has developed each iteration. Recent theatre works include the research performance Rochambeau at Uferstudios Berlin and MIDNIGHT, at Radialsystem V Berlin, Mannheim Mozartsommer, Alexandrinsky Theatre St. Petersburg and Auezov Theatre Almaty; both collaborations with director Tilman Hecker. She was assistant director on Zinnias: The Life of Clementine Hunter and The Old Woman, both directed by Robert Wilson. She has presented performative works at the Fondation Beyeler in Basel, Switzerland, Performa Paço at Paço das Artes in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Robert Wilson's 2nd Annual Berlin Benefit, Hyeres Fashion and Photography Festival, Kunstfest Weimar, SESC Pompeia, Eric Ericsson Hallen/Moderna Museet. She received her MFA in choreography from the Dance Conservatory at Purchase College.

Assistant Director

Matthew Johnson

Matthew Johnson is a New-York based architect and designer. He joined Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R) in 1999, and has been the Project Architect for the High Line since its conception in 2004, through to its current expansion and development. He has also contributed to DS+R’s transformation of public spaces at the Lincoln Center for Performing Arts, leading the design of the campus’s media infoscapes and its special commission Fashion Week marquee in 2010. Matthew has also led DS+R’s independent art projects spanning installation art, multi-media performance, digital media, and print. He was involved in the design and realization of Travelogues, a narrative series of lenticular displays at New York’s JFK Airport (2001); Pure Mix: The Snow Show, a temporary art piece cast in ice in Finland (2004); and Facsimile, a multi-media public art installation in San Francisco (2004). Matthew’s most recent site-specific installation designs include: Charles James: Beyond Fashion at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York (2014); Musings on a Glass Box at the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain in Paris (2015); Liquid Antiquity: Conversations at the Benaki Museum in Athens (2017); and Pierre Chareau: Modern Architecture and Design at the Jewish Museum in New York (2017).

Music Director

Donald Nally

Donald Nally is responsible for imagining, programming, commissioning, and conducting at The Crossing, the Grammy-winning, internationally recognized new-music choir in Philadelphia. He is also the John W. Beattie Chair in Music and director of choral organizations at Northwestern University. Nally has held distinguished tenures as chorus master for Lyric Opera of Chicago, Welsh National Opera, Opera Philadelphia, Spoleto USA, The Chicago Bach Project, and for many seasons at the Spoleto Festival in Italy, and has served as artistic director of the Vocal Arts Ensemble of Cincinnati and the Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia. Among the many ensembles Donald has guest conducted are the Latvian State Choir in Riga, the Grant Park Symphony Chorus in Chicago, the Philharmonic Chorus of London, and the Santa Fe Desert Chorale. His ensembles have sung with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Pennsylvania Ballet, Spoleto USA, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia Cymru, RAI National Symphony Orchestra, and ICE. He is the only conductor to have two ensembles receive the Margaret Hillis Award for Excellence in Choral Music - in 2002 with The Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia, and in 2015 with The Crossing. His book, Conversations with Joseph Flummerfelt, was published in 2011.

Assistant Music Director

Kevin Vondrak

Kevin Vondrak is the communications & artistic associate for The Crossing, where he is also assistant conductor. Additionally, he is the assistant conductor at the Big Sky Choral Initiative, The Crossing's annual residency in the mountains of Montana, and will start in the fall of 2018 as conductor of the Beaumont Chorus in Bryn Mawr, PA. He has served most recently as the assistant conductor of the Bienen Contemporary/Early Vocal Ensemble (BCE) and University Singers, conductor for the Chamber Opera Initiative and The Renaissance Singers, and prepared choirs for Donald Nally, Alan Pierson and Albert Pinsonneault while a graduate student at Northwestern University. An accomplished pop a cappella musician, Kevin has won awards for his directing, arranging, and recordings with the Washington University Stereotypes and Niles West High School's Echo Effect. He has sung with the St. Louis Symphony Chorus, Madison Choral Project, Mastersingers of Wilmington, and as a Vocal Fellow at the Big Sky Choral Initiative, where he was also a 2017 Conducting Fellow. Kevin holds a MM in Choral Conducting from Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music, and a BA from Washington University in St. Louis.

Assistant to the Director

Jean Sophie Kim

Pianist and conductor Jean Sophie Kim has performed as a concerto soloist, recitalist and chamber player throughout the world. She has performed at the Alcazar Palace in Seville, National Arts Center in Seoul, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Fine Arts Building in Chicago, and the Banff Centre in Canada, among others. Ms. Kim is recipient of numerous awards and grants including The Honor Scholarship from the Korean Embassy in Washington DC, and a Board of Governors Scholarships in London, Canada. Her degrees are from the Manhattan School of Music and the University of Western Ontario. As a choral conductor and educator she works in New York City at the Brooklyn Youth Chorus. In addition to arranging and composing for several choral divisions she has performed as a pianist for Lady Gaga honored at the Ali Forney Foundation Awards, Bernstein Mass Project: A Choral Exploration in 2008 among other performances. Jean Sophie Kim is on faculty at the Borough of Manhattan Community College.

Sound Designer

Jody Elff

Jody Elff is a Grammy Award winning audio engineer, sound artist and designer. His live-concert engineering includes work with Yo-Yo Ma, Laurie Anderson, Hall & Oates, Paul Simon, Diana Krall and many others. In addition, Elff has mixed countless televised concert events for ABC, NBC, MTV and others, including NBC’s Peter Pan LIVE. His recording work with Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble includes recording and mixing for 3 albums: Off The Map (2010 Grammy nominee for Best Classical Crossover Album), Playlist for an Extreme Occasion, and Sing Me Home (2017 Grammy Award for Best World Music Album). Elff’s fine art sound works have been presented at museums and galleries internationally, including the 2015 collaboration with David Lang and Diller & Scofido & Renfro on “Musings on a Glass Box” at Foundation Cartier in Paris. He was commissioned to create a sound art installation - “Strata” - which is permanently on display in Lyon, France.

Lighting Designer

John Torres

John Torres’s work includes lighting designs for dance, theatre, music, fashion and print. In collaboration with Robert Wilson, productions have included: EDDA (Det Norske Teatret Oslo), Cheek to Cheek Live! With Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga (PBS Great Performances) and Hermes: Here/Elsewhere (Cedar Lake, NYC). Other opera projects include La Traviata and Orfeo et Euryidice at Opera Orchestre National Montpellier and in 2019, Tristan and Isolde at La Monnaie / de Munt in Brussels. In Music, he’s designed for Taylor Mac: A 24 Decade History of Popular Music and Solange Knowles // Cosmic Journey. His dance design credits include Toss and Rogues with choreographer Trisha Brown, Theatre National de Chaillot/Paris and Available Light with choreographer Lucinda Childs, Walt Disney Concert Hall/Los Angeles. In fashion, he’s designed for Givenchy S/S 2015 (New York), Yeezy 3 by Kanye West at Madison Square Garden. Torres is a frequent collaborator with photographer Steven Klein. Nytelytedesign.com

Costume Designer

Carlos Soto

Carlos Soto is a director, designer and performer based in New York City. He has presented performances at Performa 09, The Guggenheim Museum, Columbia University, Palais de Tokyo, and has been artist-in-residence at Kampnagel, Willem de Kooning Studio, and The Watermill Center. Soto has collaborated with American artist and director Robert Wilson since 1997 as a performer, designer, and assistant on numerous productions including Adam’s Passion, Einstein on the Beach, The Life and Death of Marina Abramovic, among others. Soto performed in Shara Nova (My Brightest Diamond) and Andrew Ondrejcak’s opera You Us We All (2013). In 2016, he designed costumes for the retrospective Lucinda Childs: A Portrait. In 2017, he designed Sulayman al Bassam’s The Petrol Station at the Kennedy Center, DC. Soto has collaborated with recording artist Solange as associate director and costume designer on multiple projects, including her multi-city concert tour, Cosmic Journey/Orion’s Rise and her performance work, Scales at the Chinati Foundation in Marfa, TX. In 2018 Soto will design costumes for Robert Wilson’s Oedipus Rex; UR by Sulayman al Bassam at Residenztheater, Munich; and The Black Clown, a new opera by Davone Tines and Michael Schachter, directed by Zack Winokur, at American Repertory Theater, Boston.

Partnerships and Public Engagement

Peoplmovr

Peoplmovr is a creative studio specializing in engagement and communications. They partner with artists, organizations, and communities on the development and delivery of strategies designed to bring arts and culture closer to people and people closer to arts and culture. Peoplmovr center the principles of equity and inclusion in all areas of their work as part of our commitment to undoing racism. This commitment is grounded in the belief that a more just, equitable, and inclusive world is possible. We all benefit when oppression is recognized and eliminated. Geoffrey Jackson Scott, Creative Director Aaron Cedolia, Communications Director Kristen McCallum, Staff Director Luis Paez, Photographer

Collaborator

Robert Currie

Robert Currie is an artist who frequently collaborates with Anne Carson and others.

Creative Advisor

Ragnar Kjartansson

Ragnar Kjartansson draws on the entire arc of art in his performative practice. The history of film, music, theatre, visual culture and literature find their way into his video installations, durational performances, drawing and painting. Pretending and staging become key tools in the artist's attempt to convey sincere emotion and offer a genuine experience to the audience. Kjartansson's work has been exhibited widely. Recent solo exhibitions include the Barbican Art Gallery in London, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington DC, the Palais de Tokyo in Paris and the New Museum in New York. Kjartansson was born in 1976 in Reykjavík and studied at the Iceland Academy of the Arts and The Royal Academy, Stockholm.

Choirs

A — F

Abrons Arts Center Choir

A diverse group of singers which was formed out of the Henry Street Settlement, from classes at the Abrons Arts Center in the Lower East Side by Choir Director Michael Inge. The choir sings a variety of styles of music and are involved in community events in the Lower East Side.

The Astoria Choir

The Astoria Choir's story began in 2010. Founded by artistic director, Adam Eggleston, they were just 35 singers known as The Astoria Symphonic Choir, and worked under the auspices of the Astoria Symphony Orchestra. The choir collaborated with the ASO for performances of major works by Beethoven, Bernstein, Brahms, Britten, Handel, Haydn, Lauridsen, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Poulenc, Vivaldi, and more. Over their first four years they grew considerably in strength, size, and ability, so much so that in the fall of 2014 they established themselves as an independent non-profit arts organization known simply as The Astoria Choir. The Astoria Choir is now a warm community of nearly 100 strong singers looking forward to a bright and prosperous future.

The Brooklyn Interdenominational Choir

The Brooklyn Interdenominational Choir (BIC) is an ensemble committed to bringing people together through artistic expression in appreciation and celebration of the diverse cultures which make our world great. BIC’s repertoire includes gospel, inspirational, popular, classical, and world music. BIC performs for worship services, interfaith/peace gatherings, gospel shabbats, holiday programs, educational institutions, hospitals, shelters, disaster relief benefits, municipal agencies, fashion shows, weddings, private affairs, clubs, rock, jazz, and blues venues, live movie showings, community events, block parties, yoga, ecology, and green festivals, artistic organizations, philharmonic orchestras, philanthropic groups, and fraternal associations. Internationally, BIC has performed in Italy, Egypt, and China. Founder Frank A. Haye, conductor, choral director, flutist, composer, and producer states, “We believe the power of music transcends our cultural, political, financial, and religious differences to expose that which we truly share: faith, hope, and love.”

Bobby Lewis New Light Baptist Choir

Bobby Lewis New Light Baptist Choir has been performing for more than twenty-five years, around New York and and the world. Conceived and directed by Pastor Bobby Lewis, the choir is composed of members of New Light Baptist Church in Harlem, many of whom are professional singers and entertainers. The choir has sung at prestigious venues, including Shakespeare in the Park and Jazz at Lincoln Center, and with artists Barbra Streisand and Broadway's Norm Lewis. They also do community outreach, performing at Manhattan's Veterans Hospital and retirement and nursing homes. The choir has done concert tours in Barcelona in partnership with its sister churches in Spain.

C4

C4 exists to enrich artists and audiences alike through passionate advocacy of new choral works, performing pieces written within the last 25 years, premiering and commissioning new choral works, and mentoring emerging singers, composers, and conductors of today’s choral music. C4’s adventurous programming fills an important niche in the cultural life of New York, and the ensemble has proven its commitment to presenting high-caliber music in a welcoming atmosphere.

CantaNYC

Already familiar with David Lang’s choral music as a group leader in the 2016 “the public domain” Mostly Mozart world premiere, Claude Lévy was thrilled to be given the opportunity to create his own choral group “Cantanyc” for a new piece by the same composer. The modus operandi of the choir is still in progress, but they plan to expand their numbers and continue their musical journey after the MLO project.

Cerddorion Vocal Ensemble

Founded in 1995, Cerddorion (the name is Welsh for “musicians”) is one of New York’s most highly regarded chamber choral ensembles. Comprising 24 to 28 mixed voices, the group is known for its eclectic repertoire, encompassing music from the Renaissance to the contemporary. Audiences have come to appreciate Cerddorion’s interpretive depth and technical excellence in many styles. Central to Cerddorion’s mission is promoting choral music as a living, evolving art. The group has commissioned new works by prominent composers including Lisa Bielawa, Robert Dennis, David Lang, Elliot Z. Levine, Paul Moravec, and David Schober. Cerddorion also nurtures developing talent in new music through its annual Emerging Composers Competition. Besides presenting its own varied programs, Cerddorion performs frequently with other acclaimed artists. Past collaborators include the Shakespeare Society of New York; Voces Nordicae (Sweden’s foremost professional choir); the Baroque Ensemble of Queens College; youth ensembles from the Special Music School of Kaufman Music Center; the early music instrumental ensemble Concert Royal; and the Christopher Caines Dance Company. Cerddorion also has performed by invitation at regional and state conventions of the American Choral Directors Association. Cerddorion’s first commercial recording is A Handful of World (Tzadik label, September 2007). The album is dedicated to vocal works by New York composer Lisa Bielawa and includes Cerddorion’s performance of her Lamentations for a City, which was commissioned and first performed by Cerddorion in 2004. Cerddorion is a proud member of the New York Choral Consortium, Chorus America, and Vocal Area Network.

Choral Chameleon

Founded in 2008 by Artistic Director Vince Peterson, Choral Chameleon champions New Music for voices within mixed-genre, thematic programming and experiments in non-traditional staging. The organization encompasses: a roster of professional ensemble singers, a volunteer chorus of 30-40, an annual week-long Summer Institute for composers and conductors in Brooklyn. The company’s culture marries informality, loving support and joyful curiosity with the expectation of solidly technical musicianship, constant learning and openness towards the unexpected.

Coro Hispano de Nueva York

Founded 28 years ago by hispanic immigrants based in New York City, Coro Hispano de Nueva York is a chorus of the Spanish-speaking communities dedicated to exploring and performing the choral liturgy of the peoples of Latin America. Currently directed by the Music Director Joaquin Maria, the choir is formed by 30 volunteers from 12 different nationalities and rehearses every Friday at the Church of Holy Name of Jesus. Performing together as a rich and diverse voice ensemble Coro Hispano de Nueva York provides a rich and vibrant energy that makes every performance an hispanic celebration.

Downtown Voices

Praised by The New York Times for its “incisive, agile strength,” Downtown Voices is a semiprofessional choir made up of volunteer singers from the New York metro area and members of the Grammy®-nominated Choir of Trinity Wall Street. Directed by Stephen Sands, Downtown Voices’ first two seasons included performances featuring the works of Beethoven, Alberto Ginastera, Benjamin Britten, James MacMillan, Philip Glass, and a large-scale commission for the 250th anniversary of St. Paul’s Chapel, Spire and Shadow, by Zachary Wadsworth. Downtown Voices’ third season presented similarly ambitious programming with Rachmaninoff’s All Night Vigil in November, a Candlelight Christmas program in December, and Masses for double choir this spring; all of which can be viewed at Trinity’s website: trinitywallstreet.org/downtownvoices.

Edison Chinese Chorus

Edison Chinese Chorus is a non-profit organization founded in 2001 in New Jersey and is active in Greater NY Metropolitan area. On top of 100 plus regular choral members, Edison has a Symphony Orchestra with 30 plus instrumental players to accompany their choral singing. Under conductor Maestro Zhang Chunhe, pianists Chen Binuo and Fan Cuiyu, Edison has organized over 14 performances in the past year.

Empire City Men's Chorus

Empire City Men's Chorus is a volunteer chamber chorus originally founded in 1993 to perform classical men’s repertoire. Since then, ECMC has evolved to include eclectic and modern works with emphasis on living composers and themes of social justice, and to inspire an intimate musical dialogue with its audiences. ECMC values fraternity, diversity, and musical versatility. The choir welcomes male identifying folk of all sexual orientations, men whose musical talents and spirit embellish the strengths of our current mission and members.

The Choir at First Unitarian Congregational Society of Brooklyn

The Choir at First Unitarian Congregational Society of Brooklyn is a robust community choir, mostly volunteer, led by Adam Podd, and sings every Sunday during the regular program year at First Unitarian (from September to June). Their repertoire spans from Bach to Beatles, including a monthly Jazz Service on the Second Sunday of each month with a 6-piece band.

G — O

The Glass Menagerie Chorus

In 1984 Susan Glass founded The Glass Menagerie Chorus with a group of eight parents and teachers from the Little Red School House. From this modest beginning the chorus has grown in number, repertoire, and musical accomplishment. Their members, who come from throughout the metropolitan area and every walk of life, include enthusiastic amateurs as well as professional music educators and performers. The Glass Menagerie's concerts highlight classical masterworks, folk and vernacular musical traditions, and the work of living composers.

Grace Chorale of Brooklyn

Grace Chorale of Brooklyn is an 85-member chorus based in Brooklyn Heights dedicated to the art of choral singing. Their concerts offer a wide variety of choral music from classical to contemporary, including newly commissioned works from rising young composers. The chorale's musical partners - orchestras, string quartets and other ensembles - are drawn from New York City's many talented musicians. Grace Chorale welcomes amateur singers with varying levels of expertise and provides them with the opportunity to study the art of choral singing under the dynamic and professional leadership of Music Director Jason Asbury and Assistant Director Matt Podd.

Haiyun Chorus

Haiyun Chorus has been a New York State registered not-for-profit organization for the past 33 years. Its goal is to introduce Chinese vocal music to the audience of New York metropolitan areas 
and, through various performances and vocal renditions, to create a better understanding of Chinese culture, arts and tradition.

Harlem Japanese Gospel Choir

Harlem Japanese Gospel Choir was established in 1997 in Harlem, and has appeared at various churches, senior centers, hospitals and community events for 21 years with their unique gospel style singing in English & Japanese. Members of the choir are comprised of Japanese homemakers, office workers and students who live in NYC. The Choir became the first Japanese Choir to win the “BEST CHOIR Award” at one of the biggest Gospel Festivals in the U.S. in 2010, has performed at the NYC Marathon stages, Carnegie Hall, Off Broadway Gospel musicals, Harlem Week stage, JAPAN DAY in Central Park, and featured at the Apollo Theater as a “special guest.” They were also part of "NFL Super Bowl Multicultural Choir 2014" at the Madison Square Garden Theater, Times Square Super Bowl Stage, and the Met Life Stadium. The choir has been featured on the NBC Sunday Morning Show, CBS News, The New York Times, The Daily News, and Japanese Media.

Huaxia Chinese Chorus

Huaxia Chinese Chorus is a 501(c)3 organization. They strive to bring people together and enriche lives by sharing Chinese folk songs, as well as songs from all over the world. Established in 1996, HXC is a non-political, non-religious, cultural organization. Over the years, HXC has organized and participated in many concerts, cultural and musical events in the greater New York area. The chorus has continually worked toward high quality performance through vocal training by professional musicians.

Inspire

Inspire is New York City based chamber choir dedicated to cultivating compassion and action for diverse social issues through the power of song. In partnership with organizations seeking positive social change, Inspire encourages individual and collective action on socially pressing issues. They seek to inspire a spirit of unity among their artists, audiences, and wider community. Inspire's concerts seek to amplify the work of their community partners through the performance of evocative music carefully curated to encourage reflection on the social issues captured by their concert themes. Our 2017-2018 inaugural season has included rewarding partnerships with Sandy Hook Promise, 350NYC, and Sing for Hope in support of their valuable missions to combat gun violence, reverse climate change, and provide quality arts programming to all.

Jackson Heights Community Chorus

JHCC is a diverse and inclusive Community Chorus from Jackson Heights, NY. Their goal is to culturally enrich the community through the art diverse vocal music by giving concerts, participating in festivals, parades, and community events. The organization is in its 5th concert season with Juan Valencia as the Musical, Artistic Director and founder.

The Jalopy Chorus

The Jalopy Chorus is resident vocal ensemble of The Jalopy Theatre & School of Music, led by Musical Director Eva Salina. The chorus explores a variety of international harmony singing, including American, Corsican, East European, and Caucasus Georgian musical traditions.

The Manhattan Choral Ensemble

The Manhattan Choral Ensemble is an intimately sized community-based choir dedicated to the passionate performance of historically varied repertoire. In celebration of New York City’s rich and diverse heritage, the MCE strives to connect its programs to the city it calls home through performances in historic New York spaces and fostering the musical life of the city through a commitment to commissioning new choral music focused on New York City composers.

The Mount Sinai Choir

The Mount Sinai Choir are a combination of two choirs that operate within The Music Ministry: The Cathedral Choir and The Evangelical Choir. The Evangelical Choir has been operating for over 20 years and focuses on contemporary gospel music. The newer Cathedral Choir has a special eye for the traditional gospel music that has kept the church grounded through generations past. These are just two of the fleet of music ministry groups that operate under the auspices of the Mount Sinai United Christian Church where the Bishop Dr. Victor A. Brown is the Senior Pastor and Bishop Laverne Larkins acts the Executive Pastor.

Navatman Music Collective

Navatman Music Collective (NMC) is a one-of-a-kind choir that aims to bring out the depth and beauty of Carnatic (South Indian classical) music while imbuing it with a soul and energy that borrows from the members' contemporary and diverse influences. Their sound is simultaneously nostalgic and boundary-breaking, aiming to engage the discerning and uninitiated alike. Their respect for rich musical tradition is paired with an honest joy for the music they sing and a desire for self-expression, quirk, and judgment-free community. Come and celebrate the power of group voice! Artistic Director Roopa Mahadevan works with her team of singers and musicians to bring together sounds and sights unseen to the classical music scene.

Open Hydrant Theater Company

Open Hydrant Theater Company @ The Point’s mission is to maintain an ensemble-based, Equity theater company in the densely populated, yet under-served, community of the South Bronx. Our purpose is to produce yearly seasons of creative works based largely on, but not limited to, non-traditional, interactive interpretations of Shakespeare’s plays, as well as other classics and work by new playwrights. Making theater a family experience is the priority. We are committed to empowering a diverse group of creative artists, especially the youth, whose work is designed to educate, entertain and help revitalize urban communities. We want to be the bridge to the next phase of a professional career. Our most recent ensemble members collaborative work includes Shakespeare High and From Bronx To Yale Produced by The Guardian.

Opera on Tap

Opera on Tap (OOT) was born in 2005 at Freddy’s Bar and Backroom in Brooklyn and incorporated in 2007 to promote opera as a viable, living and progressive art form and to support the developing artists who continue to keep the art form alive. What began as a small monthly gathering of ambitious, classically trained singers looking for more performance opportunities, has grown into a producing organization that has gained a loyal audience base and national recognition as an innovative force on the classical music scene. Through its Chapter program, which now has over twenty-two vibrant national (and international) chapters, OOT has created a large network of performers, creators, and supporters. OOT NYC maintains a busy and diversified performance schedule. Currently OOT presents 3 programs: The Bar Shows- our flagship international opera-in-bars program, The Playground Operas- our in-school education program for 3rd and 4th grade NYC public school students, and ROADWORKS- our commissioning, development and full production program.

Os Ensemble

Led by conductor Raquel Acevedo Klein, Os Ensemble is a group of adventurous and committed young singers who interpret and transform new works for voice. With an inaugural commission by composer Eve O’Donnell, Os Ensemble made its performance debut at leading arts incubator National Sawdust. Since its launch in September 2017, Os Ensemble has premiered works by composers including world-renowned Guido López-Gavilán, and performed with members of Sō Percussion and Harlem Quartet among others.

Our Chorus NYC

Our Chorus NYC (OCNYC), directed by Carmen Roman, was assembled for the purpose of participating in the Mile Long Opera. Singers were hand selected from Roman's various "choir families" to take part in this original work.Participants of Our Chorus NYC include alumni from La Guardia High School, All-City High School Chorus, as well as former members of the NYCHA Youth Chorus. The Our Chorus singers - individually and in various configurations - have appeared live on stage in venues and at locations such as Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, Washington DC, Europe, Japan and Africa. Most participants have also recorded collectively on award-winning studio projects and are individual singer/songwriters in their own right. Our Chorus NYC is honored to have the opportunity to participate in the Mile Long Opera alongside of as part of the 1000 voice choir!

P — Z

The Park Slope Singers

The Park Slope Singers celebrated their 25th year this season! Park Slope Singers is a community chorus of approximately 75 singers. Its members, who include some of the original group, primarily reside in Park Slope and other Brooklyn neighborhoods, but do include people from other boroughs. Timothy Parsons is currently the Musical Director/Conductor of the Park Slope Singers with Balint Varga as accompanist. The chorus usually performs two concerts a semester in Park Slope and Bay Ridge. Repertoire ranges from the traditional choral oratorios to mixed programs containing songs from the Renaissance, American folk songs, contemporary composers and spirituals.

Peace of Heart Choir

Peace of Heart Choir (Robert René Galván, conductor) is a volunteer New York City chorus that came together shortly after 9/11. Their aim is to promote healing, diversity, community bonding, and mutual understanding through music, with a belief that the power of music is universal. Peace of Heart's repertoire reflects the ethnic, racial, and cultural backgrounds and traditions of their membership and audiences. The choir offers free performances for service organizations, as well as public concerts for all New Yorkers.

R.Evolución Latina

Since R.Evolución Latina's beginning they have had a choir as part of their educational programming. Participants have come and gone, some of them have made a career in the performing arts, but the mission and heart of the choir has always stayed true. RL's choir has performed for dignitaries and world leaders at the International Conference on Population & Development at the Ford Foundation and the United Nations. The choir is also featured on the album Dare to Go Beyond produced by R.Evolución Latina and Rocket-it Science Records.

Songs of Solomon

Founded in 2001 by veteran conductor, Chantel Renee Wright, SONGS OF SOLOMON remains true to its mission to serve the world community through its music. Bishop Wright is a firm believer that arts education stimulates children, spiritually, emotionally and intellectually, builds the family through its commitment to a child’s development, and gives a sense of pride and ownership to a community. From the steps of the York College Auditorium where the founders met on a hot August afternoon, SONGS OF SOLOMON today is thriving in the Harlem Community serving all children in the tristate area and beyond. The Ensemble has performed with Jessye Norman, Ashford and Simpson, Elton John, toured major cities in the United States and abroad, and are the winners of many competitions in the metropolitan area. Beyond performance SONGS OF SOLOMON is committed to programing that fosters creativity, civic involvement, career development in the arts and community outreach. SONGS OF SOLOMON offers courses in songwriting, music theory, movement debutante cotillions, and applied voice to mention a few. To date they have committed their every resource to the development of the artists mind, body and spirit.

SRC All-City Chorale

The SRC All-City Chorale is a New York based choir comprised of some of the tristate area’s finest gospel talent. The SRC All-City Chorale has performed all over the country for a variety of events, including the Lincoln Center Christmas Tree Lighting, CBS Saturday Morning Show, Subway Series Mets vs Yankees at Shea Stadium to name a few. They were featured on Pastor Donnie McClurkin's Grammy award winning album - Psalms, Hymns, & Spiritual Songs (Verity Records).

Ukrainian Village Voices

Ukrainian Village Voices is a culturally diverse group of folk singers based in New York City, uniting members of the Ukrainian and larger folk music communities through ancient Ukrainian polyphony. Since 2013, the ensemble has performed in venues that have ranged from folk music and seasonal festivals to museums, theaters, libraries, church halls, parks, and the radio. UVV has been featured at Brooklyn Folk Festival, Zlatne Uste Golden Festival, Roots n' Ruckus Fest, and Saint George Ukrainian Festival.

Vy Higginsen’s Sing Harlem Choir

Vy Higginsen’s Sing Harlem Choir is a celebrated group of performers elevated from the Mama Foundation for the Arts’ Music School of Gospel, Jazz and R&B. This award winning and nationally recognized choir has accompanied many of today's pop icons including Ariana Grande, Chance the Rapper, Pharrell Williams, Alessia Cara, SZA, and Madonna. Recent television performances: The Grammy Awards, SNL, VH1 Trailblazer Honors, First Look, Nickelodeon Halo Awards, Wonderama, The View, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

The Wadleigh Choir

Kimberly Walton joined the faculty of Wadleigh Secondary School for the Performing and Visual Arts in 2008. She teaches vocal music and piano classes to students in grades 6-12. Under her leadership, the Wadleigh Choir has performed at Carnegie Hall, Symphony Space, the Apollo Theater, the Harlem State Building, the Morgan Library, Colgate Palmolive, the Riverside Church, First Corinthian Baptist Church, the National Chorale Festival, and the Manhattan Borough Arts Festival. Wadleigh vocal music students have been selected to sing for Senator Bill Perkins, presidential adviser and civil rights lawyer Vernon Jordan, and NYC comptrollers John Liu and Scott Stringer. The Wadleigh Choir was the recipient of grants from the Grammy Foundation and the Riverside Sharing Fund. In 2010, the Wadleigh Choir put on a fully staged production of Menotti's Amahl and the Night Visitors. Wadleigh vocal music students are regularly selected to participate in prestigious programs such as Rosie O'Donnell's Broadway Kids, Songs of Solomon Gospel Choir, the NYC All-City Chorus, and the NYC Summer Arts Institute. The vocal music program maintains active partnerships with Carnegie Hall, the Apollo Theater, New York Festival of Song, the Metropolitan Opera, the National Chorale, and Lincoln Center Jazz.

The West Village Chorale

Praised by The New York Times as possessing a “well-blended sound”, The West Village Chorale is an auditioned ensemble of 70+ amateur singers performing a variety of traditional and contemporary choral music, including commissions and premieres of works by local composers, such as Jerome Jolles, David Goldstein, Michael Conley and current Artistic Director and Conductor, Colin Britt. Since its establishment in 1971, the chorale is committed to musical service for the community, which includes conducting the popular, audience-participation Summer Sings of great choral works, an open sing of Handel’s Messiah in December, and an annual holiday West Village Caroling Walk.

Willow

Willow is an interfaith women's ensemble under the direction of Farah Chandu. They are mothers and grandmothers, working and retired, weho represent several different faith traditions and have discovered tremendous common ground and joy in sharing each other's sacred music. Willow has carried this joy to concert venues such as hospitals, hospices, nursing homes, houses of worship, Federal Court and the United Nations Headquarters. They use their music and performance to actively support dialogue, social justice and peace.

Partners

Anchor PartnersHubs for engaging local audiences and hosting Community Events.
Community Partners

Producing Team

Funding

Presenting Sponsor

Target

Producing Support

Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund

Anonymous (1)

Lead Support

Dunard Fund USA

Frederick J. Iseman

The Julis-Rabinowitz Family

Major Support

Roman Abramovich

Brodsky Family Foundation

Catherine and Paul Buttenwieser Foundation

Caroline and Paul Cronson

Dan and Alisa Doctoroff

Katherine Farley and Jerry Speyer

Perry and Marty Granoff

Agnes Gund

DuBose & Dorothy Heyward Memorial Fund

Wendy Keys

Bruce and Suzie Kovner

Marie-Josée and Henry R. Kravis

Prior Family Foundation

Steven Roth

Sciame Construction LLC

Roy and Diana Vagelos

Witkoff

Dasha Zhukova

Ann Ziff

Anonymous (2)

In-Kind Support

Javits Center

Meatpacking Business Improvement District

Meyer Sound

Whitney Museum of American Art

Off-Site Locations

515 West 29th Street

520 West 28th Street by Zaha Hadid

Avenues: The World School

exposed.nyc

The Shed

The Standard, High Line

Fundraising Counsel

Koszyn & Company