Who We Are
Mission
The Cecilia Chorus of New York cultivates a rich and diverse community of musicians, composers, and concert-goers to create distinctive choral experiences and performances that inform, challenge, and uplift the human spirit.
Who We Are
The Cecilia Chorus of New York is a widely recognized, diverse, multigenerational, mixed 150-member chorus that has been enriching New York's musical life since 1906. Each season we perform two major concerts at Carnegie Hall and a third concert at another venue. Spanning five centuries, our imaginatively curated repertoire includes standard works, neglected gems, and exciting commissions. Membership by audition is open to all.
Chorus History
| 2023 | First-ever Carnegie Hall performance of Dixit Dominus (1774) by Marianna von Martines |
|---|---|
| 2021 | First-ever Carnegie Hall performance of The Ballad of the Brown King (1954) by Margaret Bonds |
| 2020 | Pandemic. Digital series You Heard Them First and Staycations |
| 2019 | Author, neuroscientist, and Ted Talk phenomenon Jill Bolte Taylor celebrates her 60th birthday with us in Carnegie Hall at the world premiere of 50 Trillion Molecular Geniuses by The Brothers Balliett |
| 2018 | New York premiere in Carnegie Hall of The Prison (1930) by Dame Ethel Smyth |
| 2015 | Chorus America/ASCAP Alice Parker Award |
| 2013 | New York premiere in Carnegie Hall of Mass in D (1891) by Dame Ethel Smyth |
| 2012 | World premiere of the chorus's first-ever commissioned work for a Carnegie Hall performance, Divis Cetera by Raphael Fusco |
| 2012 | New name: The Cecilia Chorus of New York |
| 2006 | St. Cecilia Collection of Recorded Concerts established in NY Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center |
| 1996 | Appeared in The Preacher’s Wife (starring Whitney Houston and Denzel Washington, nominated for an Academy Award for Best Music) |
| 1993 | Benefit recording with Liza Minnelli for AIDS research; appeared with her at the United Nations |
| 1991 | NYC mayor David Dinkins proclaims St. Cecilia Chorus Day (May 10): "In recognition of the great performances it has given in our city for 85 years.” |
| 1988-2001 | South Street Seaport Singing Christmas Tree |
| 1986 | US premiere of Oratorium nach Bildern dem Bibeln by Fanny Hensl |
| 1969 | First performance at Carnegie Hall |
| 1964 | Became a mixed chorus |
| 1945 | New name: The St. Cecilia Club, Inc. Victor Harris, Founder |
| 1939 | Concert celebrating the World's Fair |
| 1922 | The estate of John H. Flagler makes a substantial bequest in memory of his wife, Alice Mandelick Flagler, a founding member of the Chorus. |
| 1922 | New York premiere of Symphony No. 3 by Gustav Mahler |
| 1908 | World premiere of The Chambered Nautilus by Amy Beach |
| 1906 | New name: The St. Cecilia Chorus, Inc., our official founding |
| 1900 | The Tuesday Morning Singing Club |
Premieres
| 2024 | Power in the Blood by Cyrus Chestnut
world premiere* |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Everyone, Everywhere by Daron Hagen
world premiere* |
| 2023 | Neither Separated, Nor Undone by Derrick Skye
world premiere* |
| 2022 | With Streaks of Light by Caroline Mallonee
world premiere* |
| 2021 | The Ballad of the Brown King: A Christmas Cantata by Margaret Bonds
Carnegie Hall premiere |
| 2019 | Fifty Trillion Molecular Geniuses by The Brothers Balliett
world premiere* |
| 2018 | One Hour to Madness and Joy by Jorge Martin
world premiere, revised version |
| 2018 | Messe Romane (2014) by Thierry Escaich
US premiere |
| 2017 | A Garden Among the Flames by Zaid Jabri
world premiere* |
| 2017 | Oedipus the King by The Brothers Balliett
world premiere* |
| 2016 | Der Zippelfagottist by Jonathan Breit
world premiere* |
| 2016 | Messiahs: False and True by Rex Isenberg
world premiere, revised version |
| 2014 | Credo for a Secular City by Tom Cipullo
world premiere* |
| 2013 | Mass in D (1891) by Dame Ethel Smyth
New York premiere |
| 2012 | Divis Cetera by Raphael Fusco
world premiere* |
| 1986 | Oratorium nach Bildern der Bibel by Fanny Hensl
US premiere |
| 1981 | Great Mass No. 1 in D by Antonio Salieri
US premiere |
| 1931 | The Highwayman by Deems Taylor world premiere |
| 1922 | Symphony No. 3 by Gustav Mahler
New York premiere |
| 1908 | The Chambered Nautilus by Amy Beach
world premiere* |
| *commissioned by The Cecilia Chorus of New York |
Music Directors
| 2011 | Mark Shapiro |
|---|---|
| 1965 | David Randolph |
| 195? | David L. Buttolph |
| 1942 | Hugh Ross |
| 1937 | Willard Sektberg |
| 1936 | Leon Barzin |
| 1906 | Victor Harris |
Music Director
photo credit: Jessica Osber Photography
Mark Shapiro, Music Director
Six-time ASCAP Award-winner Mark Shapiro is active as a conductor of choruses, orchestras, and opera. He is Music Director of The Cecilia Chorus of New York, Artistic Director of Cantori New York, Principal Conductor of Marshall Opera, and Conductor Emeritus of The Prince Edward Island Symphony Orchestra, which he served as Music Director for a decade. Characterizing his leadership as “insightful,” The New York Times has praised his “virtuosity and assurance”; Opera News has noted his “superb pacing and great confidence.” Favorite venues include Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Le Poisson Rouge, the Guggenheim and Rubin Museums, Charlottetown’s Confederation Centre of the Arts, and the amphitheater at Vaison-la-Romaine, France.
Opera credits include five productions with Juilliard Vocal Arts and appearances with American Opera Projects, Center for Contemporary Opera, Encompass New Opera, Opera Company of Middlebury, and Underworld Opera, as well as the opera programs of Hofstra and Rutgers. Stage directors include Ed Berkeley, Mary Birnbaum, John Giampietro, Crystal Manich, Louisa Muller, and Emma Griffin.
Shapiro has recorded for Albany, Arsis, Newport Classics, and PGM. His recording of Frank Martin’s oratorio Le vin herbé was an Opera News Editor’s Choice. An album of music by Philip Glass with Irish violinist Gregory Harrington and Shapiro conducting the Janacek Philharmonic was released in 2020. Radio appearances have included WQXR, WNYC, Minnesota Public Radio, and Sirius.
Shapiro has been a teaching artist with the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Program and teaches conducting at the Juilliard School (Julliard Extension Division), Mannes (The New School), and Teachers College (Columbia). Each summer he directs the conducting program of the European American Musical Alliance in Paris.
Shapiro is represented by Athlone Artists.
markshapiromusic.com
Accompanist
Marijo Newman, Pianist
As official accompanist for the Cecilia Chorus of New York, Marijo Newman has the pleasure of serving as pianist, assistant conductor, and continuo player for the chorus on its musical performances from Bach to the newest contemporary music.
In addition, Ms. Newman has served as assistant conductor for The New York City Opera, where she prepared both traditional and contemporary repertoire and participated for nine seasons in the VOX Festival of Contemporary Opera.
Recent engagements include: Opera New Jersey, American Composers Alliance, The Flexible Orchestra, Bar Harbor Music Festival, pianist for the American final of the Elizabeth Connell competition-Joan Sutherland foundation held at the Metropolitan Opera, and NYLyric Opera Theater Summer Workshop faculty.
As a collaborative pianist, she has appeared on distinguished stages in and outside New York, including Merkin Concert Hall, Town Hall, Alice Tully Hall and the Tilles Center.
Her coaching clients sing at The Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, and many American regional companies.
She has taught for the New York City Opera education department and served on the faculty of both Manhattanville College and Mannes the New School for Music. Ms. Newman holds degrees from The Mannes College of Music and The City University of New York.
Board of Directors
Board of Directors
2023-2024 Season
President
Meghan Marks
Vice President
Angela Borreggine
Secretary
Susan McLaughlin
Treasurer
Anthony Terrano
Membership Co-Chairs
Adriana Reis
David Rust
Music Chair
Beverly Brooks
Marketing and Publicity Chair
Nolan Gear
Tickets Co-Chairs
Aithne Bialo-Padín
Jess Thompson
Logistics Chair
Helen Barahal
Development Chair
Belinda Glass
Members at Large
Juliette Ducasse
Zach Schapire
Natalie Alper-Leroux
Erin Duggan
Judi Landon
Joseph Tesoro
Elizabeth Shepard
Community Engagement
Our Commitment to Engagement
Supported by more than 90% of our members, our educational engagement program has brought thousands of New York’s young people and social service clients to Carnegie Hall to hear great classical music, often for the first time.
Hear From Past Participants
Thank you so much...it was an incredible learning experience...they are still raving about it! The best review was from Sheneka: "When can I see them again?"
Erika, Global Kids Senior Trainer
I was really impressed at the interaction of the singers, chorus, and the orchestra!
Claudio, Early Stages Participant
Incredibly beautiful...what a great evening. Thanks!
Olga, Early Stages Participant
I really enjoyed the whole performance. [T]he musicians were fantastically talented. [I loved] watching the percussionist frantically racing around to hit each note.
Jan, Early Stages participant
Join Our Engagement Program
We welcome inquiries from schools, youth groups, and social service organizations. Please email us at engagement@ceciliachorusny.org or click the button to apply.
Students at the Life Mission Center in Hammonton, NJ, traveled 100 miles in the snow to hear us in Carnegie Hall. Leah Trevillyan memorialized the experience in this drawing.
Program Participants
We are proud to have invited the following organizations to experience our electrifying concerts at Carnegie Hall.
The 52nd Street Project
Arthur Eugene & Thelma Adair Community Life Center
Camphill Village
The Children's Village
Early Stages
Fort George Community Enrichment Center
Global Kids
Harlem Congregation for Community Improvement
Harlem Children's Zone
The Harlem School of the Arts
Hell's Kitchen AIDS Project
Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts
Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation
On Your Mark
PS 149: The Christa McAuliffe School
Ronald McDonald House
The Valley
The Young Adult Institute
Concert Archives at the New York Public Library
You can hear our past concerts in the Rodgers and Hammerstein Recorded Sound Archives at Lincoln Center’s New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. The official name of the collection is “The St. Cecilia Chorus Collection of Sound Recordings, 1967 -.” Click here to view or download the catalog.
The New York City Public Library building.
Kosboot CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Performances
Recent Performances
December 2023
Ralph Vaughan-Williams Dona Nobis Pacem
Daron Hagen Everyone, Everywhere (world premiere)
*Briana Robinson, soprano
*Gabrielle Barkidjija, mezzo soprano
*Brian Murray, baritone
April 2023
Derrick Skye Neither Separated, Nor Undone (world premiere)
Marianna von Martines Dixit Dominus (Carnegie Hall premiere)
W.A. Mozart Dixit Dominus K. 193
Béla Bartók Three Village Scenes
*Meredith Wohlgemuth, soprano
*Natalie Lewis, mezzo soprano
*Richard Pittsinger, tenor
December 2022
Margaret Bonds The Ballad of the Brown King: A Christmas Cantata
J.S. Bach Christmas Oratorio (Part V)
J.S. Bach Magnificat
*Kearstin Piper Brown, soprano
*Melisa Bonetti, mezzo soprano
Aaron Crouch, tenor
*Markel Reed, baritone
May 2022
Caroline Mallonee With Streaks of Light (world premiere)
works by Vaughan Williams, Prokofiev, and Bacri
Michael St. Peter, tenor
Tomina Parvanova Lyden, harp
Doori Na, violin
Mark Dover, bass clarinet
April 2022
Carl Orff Carmina Burana
Igor Stravinsky Rite of Spring (arr. by Seann Alderking)
Maria Brea, soprano
Martin Bakari, tenor
Joshua Conyers, baritone
Margaret Kampmeier, pianist
Blair McMillen, pianist
Marilyn Nonken, pianist
Cory Smythe, pianist
December 2021
Margaret Bonds The Ballad of the Brown King: A Christmas Cantata (Carnegie Hall premiere)
G.F. Handel Messiah
*Brandie Sutton, soprano
Joshua Blue, tenor
Justin Austin, baritone
2020-2021 Virtual Season
May 2021
Staycation: London!
April 2021
Shakespeare!
Chauncy Thomas, actor
March 2021
You Heard Them First, Episode 6
Naomi Louisa O’Connell, mezzo-soprano
February 2021
Staycation: Mexico!
January 2021
You Heard Them First: Episode 5
Tom Cipullo, composer
February 2021
Staycation: France!
October 2020
You Heard Them First: Episode 4
Sidney Outlaw, baritone
August 2020
Staycation: Italy!
July 2020
You Heard Them First: Episode 3
Amanda Lynn Bottoms, mezzo-soprano
June 2020
You Heard Them First: Episode 2
The Brothers Balliett, composers
June 2020
You Heard Them First: Episode 1
Jennifer Rowley, soprano
Live Performances
March 2020
The Belshazzar Project
Chance Jonas-O’Toole, tenor
Thomas West, baritone
Liana Harper Cruz, vocalist
Bryan C. Paredes, vocalist
Watch the Concert
December 2019
J.S. Bach Christmas Oratorio
Mireille Asselin, soprano
Annie Rosen, mezzo-soprano
*Jessica Niles, echo soprano
*Dashuai Chen, tenor
Erik Van Heyningen, bass-baritone
May 2019
Johannes Brahms Alto Rhapsody
Edward Elgar The Music Makers
The Brothers Balliett Fifty Trillion Molecular Geniuses (world premiere)
Amanda Lynn Bottoms, mezzo-soprano
Naomi Louisa O’Connell, mezzo-soprano
Renée Tatum, mezzo-soprano
Read the Conductor’s Notes
Watch an interview with the composers and Dr. Taylor
Listen to a podcast about Music and the brain
Watch an interview with soloist Amanda Lynn Bottoms
March 2019
Walt Whitman Bicentennial Concert
John Knowles Paine Mass in D minor
Jorge Martín One Hour to Madness and Joy
Vincent Persichetti Celebrations
Nicole Joy Mitchell, contralto
Michael St. Peter, tenor
December 2018
G. F. Handel Messiah
*Shakèd Bar, soprano
Nicholas Tamagna, countertenor
*Michael St. Peter, tenor
William Guanbo Su, bass
May 2018
Dame Ethel Smyth The Prison (New York premiere)
Mozart's Requiem
Chelsea Shephard, soprano
*Tobias Greenhalgh, baritone
*Danielle Beckvermit, soprano
*Kathleen Reveille, mezzo-soprano
*John Chongyoon Noh, tenor
*Paul Whelan, bass
Read the Conductor’s Note
Read the Program Note
March 2018
Thierry Escaich Messe Romane (US premiere)
works by Fauré, Gounod, and Messiaen
Balint Karosi, organist
December 2017
J. S. Bach Christmas Oratorio
Rebecca Farley, soprano
Renee Tatum, mezzo-soprano
*Vivian Yau, soprano
*Charles Sy, tenor
*William Guanbo Su, bass
May 2017
Johannes Brahms Requiem
Zaid Jabri A Garden Among the Flames (world premiere)
*Chelsea Shephard, soprano
Sidney Outlaw, baritone
Every Voice Children’s Chorus
March 2017
The Brothers Balliett Oedipus the King (world premiere)
with The Deviant Septet
December 2016
J.S. Bach Magnificat
Jonathan Breit Der Zippelfagottist (world premiere)
*Rebecca Farley, soprano
*Rihab Chaieb, mezzo-soprano
*Nicholas Tamagna, countertenor
Matthew Swenson, tenor
Cody Quattlebaum, bass-baritone
Read the Conductor’s Note
Read the Program Note
May 2016
L. v. Beethoven Missa Solemnis
*Christine Taylor Price, soprano
*Amanda Lynn Bottoms, mezzo-soprano
Alex Richardson, tenor
*André Courville, bass-baritone
March 2016
Rex Isenberg Messiahs: False and True (world premiere)
December 2015
G. F. Handel Messiah
Liv Redpath, soprano
*Siman Chung, countertenor
Theo Lebow, tenor
Daniel Miroslaw, bass
* Carnegie Hall debut
Highlights
Composers
of commissioned works
Cyrus Chestnut
Power in the Blood (April 2024)
Daron Hagen
Everyone, Everywhere (December 2023)
Derrick Skye
Neither Separated, Nor Undone (April 2023)
Caroline Mallonee
With Streaks of Light (May 2022)
The Brothers Balliett
Fifty Trillion Molecular Geniuses (May 2019)
Oedipus the King (March 2017)
Zaid Jabri
A Garden Among the Flames* (May 2017)
Jonathan Breit
Der Zippelfagottist* (December 2016)
Rex Isenberg
Messiahs: False and True (March 2016)
Tom Cipullo
Credo for a Secular City* (May 2014)
Raphael Fusco
An Ode from Horace: Divis Cetera* (December 2012)
Amy Beach
The Chambered Nautilus (1908)
Actors
(spoken word)
Chauncy Thomas
Shakespeare! (April 2021)
Kathleen Chalfant
The Belshazzar Project (April 2020)
Stephen Spinella
Messiahs: False and True (March 2016)
Oedipus the King (March 2017)
* denotes Carnegie Hall debut
What They're Saying
Select Press Reactions
"….(A)dmirable….The chorus, one of the most venerable amateur ensembles of its kind, sang Mr. Cipullo’s 30-minute work with spirit….(T)he passage near the end of the Brahms, as the chorus sings that all beauty must fade, was handled by Mr. Shapiro and his singers with a gentle, memorable hush."
"….a bright, big-boned, robust sound….velvety tone and precisely calibrated balances.... irresistible…"
"The Mozart was an exquisite highlight, singers and orchestra bathing the music in a radiant glow."
“Reliably venturesome”
“Sublime…revelatory…ravishing. The [soloists] were outstanding. An incredibly rewarding evening of great music. Flawless.”
"The dignity that all composers demand and many deserve is exactly what The Prison has finally received behind the proscenium arch of Stern Auditorium in Carnegie Hall."
“Singing to a happily packed Carnegie Hall….chorus, orchestra and soprano were in near perfect balance….The orchestra was crisp on the one hand and sensuous on the other. The Cecilia Chorus, as always, was keenly attuned to Shapiro’s direction."
"A THRILLING PERFORMANCE IN CARNEGIE HALL….superb….magnificently performed….BRAVO to conductor Mark Shapiro and The Cecilia Chorus of New York….Shapiro is to be lauded for the excellent preparation of the choral forces and the inspired performance he gave of this work."
"[F]ine performances…. very moving…..sheer delight."
Select Audience Reactions
“A great message of hope and inspiration throughout the entire evening.”
“Outstandingly beautiful. A spiritual and profound experience like it is very rare to see nowadays.”
“You delivered a wonderful evening. The soloists were magnificent. The chorus rose to every occasion and sounded strong and tender and clean and rich-in-tone. It was a beautiful concert.”
“Marvelous programming. So engaging from the first piece to the closing notes.”
“Fifty Trillion Molecular Geniuses completely blew me and my friend away. What a piece! What a performance!”
“The new piece was just wild, with alternating patterns of beauty and weird effects. The Elgar (delivering the beautifully de-gendered O’Shaughnessy text) gave me the purest dose of sound The Cecilia Chorus can produce.”
“The show last night was phenomenal!! It was incredible to hear Dr. Taylor’s writing put to music and to experience the symbolism in the other pieces. I was speechless.”