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SOCIETY FOR PRESERVATION & ENCRGMNT OF BARBERSHOP QUARTET SINGING AMER
New York, NY · EIN 900402357 · Form 990 · FY2025 · Micro (<$100K)
revenue
$63K
expenses
$61K
net assets
$12K
employees
0
volunteers
120
program ratio
100%
mission · from form 990

Founded in 2008, the Hell's Kitchen, NY chapter of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America, Inc. (SPEBSQSA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the rich American tradition of barbershop harmony. As a chapter of SPEBSQSA-also known as the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS)-we are part of an international organization of more than 20,000 members committed to advancing barbershop as an art form, enriching lives through singing, and serving our communities. The chapter performs, competes, and operates as Gotham Chorus and Voices of Gotham. With more than 120 members and growing, the chapter is a dues-paying organization that includes high school and college students, professional actors and musicians, and people of all ages and diverse socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds who share a love of singing.

profile · synthesized from sources

Chorus organization based in Hell's Kitchen, New York, dedicated to preserving and promoting barbershop harmony through performances, competitions, and community engagement. As a chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, it operates under the names Voices of Gotham and Gotham Chorus, serving local audiences and supporting singers of all ages. The group performs in seasonal concerts and hosts novice quartet contests to advance the barbershop tradition.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2025

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $260
    Voices Revue: A spring concert featuring Voices of Gotham, Smoke Ring, and other musical ensembles. Location: Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis High School, NYC.
  2. #2 $2K
    INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION SENDOFF SHOW: Sendoff show for Voices of Gotham as they prepared to compete in at the Barbershop Harmony annual international competition. This show also featured Sirens of Gotham. The event included various chapter quartets, promoting the barbershop craft in this local community.
named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION SENDOFF SHOW
Sendoff performance for choruses preparing to compete at the Barbershop Harmony Society’s international competition, featuring multiple ensembles and promoting local barbershop talent
TAKE ME BACK TO MANHATTAN
Winter concert in partnership with Sirens of Gotham, showcasing barbershop arrangements and promoting the craft to the local community at Church of St Luke in the Field
TIN PAN ALLEY NOVICE QUARTET CONTEST
Annual public contest for novice barbershop quartets, open to participants inside and outside the organization, judged by BHS-certified judges and featuring new arrangements
Voices Revue
Spring concert featuring Voices of Gotham, Smoke Ring, and other ensembles performing barbershop music at Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis High School in NYC
WINTER IN HARMONY
Winter concert featuring Voices of Gotham, Gotham Chorus, Sirens of Gotham, and Smoke Ring quartet at the New York Society for Ethical Culture Auditorium
activities · 3 groups

What they do

  • Community Choral Rehearsals & Performances 3 activities
    • Host novice quartet contests to promote barbershop harmony
      Organizes the Tin Pan Alley Novice Quartet Contest annually, featuring men's, women's, and mixed novice quartets judged by Barbershop Harmony Society-certified judges. Events have included performances by 32 quartets in 2020 and 13 in 2021, with recognition for new arrangements such as "Everybody Loves My Baby."
    • Host send-off performances for competing choruses
      Organizes pre-competition send-off events for choruses participating in the Barbershop Harmony Society’s international competitions, featuring performances by Voices of Gotham, Sirens of Gotham, and other chapter quartets. Events have been held in support of choruses competing in Cleveland, Louisville, and other locations to promote local barbershop harmony.
    • Participate in barbershop harmony competitions
      Competes in the Barbershop Harmony Society International Chorus Convention, achieving 3rd place in 2024. The organization prepares and fields choruses for annual international contests as part of its mission to advance barbershop quartet singing.
  • Theatrical Casting and Audition Programs 1 activity
    • Conduct auditions for new members
      Operates a structured audition process for prospective members that includes a guest registration form and progresses through pre-visit, visit, and audition stages to select new participants into the organization.
  • Classical and Chamber Music Performances 1 activity
    • Organize and host barbershop harmony concerts
      Produces seasonal and themed concerts featuring barbershop ensembles such as Voices of Gotham, Gotham Chorus, Sirens of Gotham, and Smoke Ring quartet at venues including Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis High School and the New York Society for Ethical Culture Auditorium. Events include "Voices Revue" and "Winter in Harmony" concerts aimed at promoting barbershop harmony.
financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$63K
Contributions & grants$39K61%
Program service revenue$25K39%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$61K
Program expenses100%
Admin / overhead0%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$1K
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$12K
Cash$9K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$12K
Liquid reserves1.7 mo
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue -44.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025

Who runs it

board members · 5
  • Jackie Sunderland — Board Member
  • Kara McGee — Board Member
  • Mika Nagashima — Board Member
  • Rachel Graf Evans — Board Member
  • Stephanie Taglianetti — Board Member
relationships · 6

Who they work with

  • Barbershop Harmony Society Network — Chapter member of the Barbershop Harmony Society (formerly SPEBSQSA), participating in its international competitions and programming framework.
  • Barbershop Harmony Society Partner — Participates in the Barbershop Harmony Society International Chorus Convention.
  • JKO High School Partner — Venue partner hosting performances by the chorus.
  • Pacific Connection Chorus Partner — Featured collaborator in a sendoff show for Voices of Gotham prior to an international competition.
  • Pig Beach Astoria Partner — Venue partner hosting the Tin Pan Alley Novice Contest.
  • Sirens of Gotham Partner — Collaborates on concerts and sendoff events to promote barbershop harmony in the local community.
strategies · 3

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.

  • Cultural Preservation Through Performance
    methodology: cultural_preservation_through_performance
    By organizing public concerts, competitions, and sendoff events, the organization engages participants and audiences to preserve and advance barbershop harmony as a living art form, because active public participation reinforces tradition and inspires intergenerational continuity.
  • Inclusive Ensemble Learning Model
    methodology: inclusive_ensemble_learning
    By fostering an inclusive, ensemble-based environment that encourages authentic participation, the organization builds community and achieves musical excellence, because collective belonging increases engagement and artistic growth.
  • Staged Member Onboarding
    methodology: staged-member-onboarding
    By using a staged audition and onboarding process with guest registration and personalized follow-up, the organization increases integration and retention of new members, because gradual, supported entry reduces barriers and builds commitment.