What they call their work
What they do
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Classical and Chamber Music Performances 2 activities
- Presenting concerts of new and rarely performed choral worksEnriches the community through concerts featuring unusual, unfamiliar, and rarely performed choral repertoire, including new works and premieres. The ensemble performs at major venues in New York City such as Lincoln Center, Zankel Hall, and National Sawdust, and participates in external concert series and special events as a featured performer.
- Rehearsing and performing challenging choral repertoireRehearses and performs demanding choral music in a focused and stimulating environment, maintaining a high level of artistic excellence across diverse styles and periods, including contemporary and avant-garde works.
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Original Music-Theater and Opera Production 1 activity
- Collaborating with artists and ensembles on performances and productionsEngages in artistic collaborations with professional composers, conductors, choreographers, and theater companies, including performances with American Ballet Theater, La MaMa Experimental Theater, Musicatreize, and guest appearances on recordings by other artists.
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Commissioning New Musical Works 1 activity
- Commissioning and premiering new musical compositionsCommissions and presents world, U.S., and New York premieres of new choral works by living composers, with a documented history of commissioning over 100 compositions. Recent commissions include works by Jessica Meyer, Derrick Skye, Stuart Greenbaum, Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate, Caroline Shaw, and David Del Tredici.
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Live Music Performances & Concerts 1 activity
- Planning and producing seasonal and thematic concert programsPlans to present holiday concerts and multi-concert seasons centered on innovative themes, such as human connection and renewal, with a planned six-concert season for 2026–2027 including holiday and guest engagement programming.
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Nonprofit Music Recording and Distribution 1 activity
- Recording and releasing commercial albumsProduces and releases commercial recordings of choral music, including original commissions and performances of contemporary works. Has released six albums as a primary artist, including "Echoes and Shadows" (1997), "Le Vin Herbé" (2000, recognized as Opera News Editor’s Choice), "Global Voices" (2005), and "Found Again" (2025), with recordings featured on Naxos and other labels.
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Music Education and Training Programs 1 activity
- Supporting artistic development of ensemble membersProvides ensemble members with opportunities to develop as soloists, conductors, and composers, fostering individual artistic growth within the collaborative choral context.
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Who runs it
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Shapiro | Artistic Director | 8 | $39K |
| Janara Kellerman | Administrative Director | 10 | $11K |
- Benjamin Keiper — Director
- Chelsea Harvey — President, Grant Writer, Director
- Daniel Lowen — Treasurer and Director
- Dawn Jordan — Operations Manager & Director
- Eli Zaleznik — Director
- Jasmine Galante — Director
- Kimberly DiNicola — Director
- Madison Schindele — Director
- Margaret Dobbins — Director
- Pamela Reich — Vice-President and Director
- Richard Berg — Secretary, Technology Coordinator, and Director
- Richard Hill — Director
- Stephen Buck — Director
Who they work with
- ASCAP Network — Recipient of the ASCAP/Chorus America Adventurous Programming Award multiple times.
- American Ballet Theater Partner — Collaborated as a presenting partner.
- American Ballet Theater Partner — Collaborated in the production of The Tempest, singing to Jean Sibelius's Incidental Music, Op. 109.
- American Ballet Theater Partner — Collaborated on co-produced performances or events.
- American Opera Projects Partner — Collaborated as a presenting partner.
- American Opera Projects Partner — Collaborated on co-produced performances or events.
- Ann Stookey Fund for New Music Funder — Partnered with to support commissioning projects through a national consortium.
- Arts at the Park Partner — Collaborated on co-produced performances or events.
- Carl Schurz Park Conservancy Partner — Collaborated on performances or events held in Carl Schurz Park.
- Carnegie Hall Partner — Collaborated as a presenting partner.
- Carnegie Hall Partner — Performed in events or concert series presented in collaboration with Carnegie Hall.
- Chorus America Network — Recipient of the ASCAP/Chorus America Adventurous Programming Award multiple times.
- Church of the Holy Trinity (Episcopal) Partner — Performed in concerts or events hosted at or co-produced with the church.
- Death Of Classical Partner — Collaborated on the performance of Fauré's Requiem in the 2021 outdoor concert series, Angel’s Share.
- Death of Classical Partner — Collaborated on performances within the Death of Classical concert series.
- Disney’s Kingdom Hearts Orchestra Partner — Participated in performances with Disney’s Kingdom Hearts Orchestra.
- Encompass Arts Funder — Represented by Encompass Arts.
- European American Musical Alliance Partner — Directs the conducting program of the European American Musical Alliance in Paris each summer.
- Every Voice Concert Choir Partner — Collaborative performing partner
- Gotham Early Music Series Partner — Collaborated as a presenting partner.
- Gotham Early Music Series at Le Poisson Rouge Partner — Performed as part of the Gotham Early Music Series hosted at Le Poisson Rouge.
- Great Performers at Lincoln Center Partner — Collaborated as a presenting partner.
- Great Performers at Lincoln Center Partner — Featured in performances under the Great Performers series at Lincoln Center.
- Juilliard School Partner — Teaches conducting at the Juilliard School Extension Division.
- La MaMa Experimental Theater Partner — Collaborated on experimental or interdisciplinary performances at La MaMa.
- La MaMa Experimental Theater Partner — Participated in the theater's production of “Bach & Bleach” with a chorus of members performing on June 5, 2019.
- La MaMa Experimental Theatre Partner — Collaborated as a presenting partner.
- MATA Festival Partner — Participated in contemporary music programming during the MATA Festival.
- Manhattan Detention Center Partner — Performed in concerts or outreach events at the Manhattan Detention Center.
- Mannes (The New School) Partner — Teaches conducting at Mannes College of Music, part of The New School.
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Artistic Excellence and Innovation to Enrich Communitymethodology: artistic-excellence-and-innovationBy maintaining high artistic standards and creating innovative choral programming, the organization enriches the community culturally, because excellence and creativity in performance inspire deeper public engagement and meaning.
- Collaborative Programming and Performance to Expand Reachmethodology: collaborative-programmingBy partnering with other choral and instrumental organizations and integrating guest artists, the organization broadens its artistic scope and audience engagement, because collaboration multiplies resources, perspectives, and access to new communities.
- Commissioning and Promoting New Works to Advance Choral Musicmethodology: commissioning_new_worksBy commissioning and premiering new choral works and prioritizing music by living composers, the organization expands the contemporary choral repertoire, because direct investment in living artists fosters innovation and ensures the art form’s evolution.
- Music as Education for Social Changemethodology: music-as-education-for-changeBy using music as an educational vehicle, the organization fosters pathways to justice and equity, because musical engagement cultivates empathy, awareness, and collective action toward a more just society.
- Thematic Programming to Deepen Meaning and Connectionmethodology: thematic_programmingBy organizing concerts around unifying themes—such as nature, light, human invention, and spiritual reflection—the organization enhances audience and performer engagement, because thematic coherence creates a more resonant and transformative artistic experience.