named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Assistant Conductor Fellowship
Program to train emerging conductors, expanding Dessoff's educational mission
Messiah Sing
Interactive holiday event where audience members join the choir in performing Handel's Messiah choruses
Singing Scholar Program
Educational initiative offering intergenerational singing opportunities for NYC public high school students
Welcome Yule
Annual holiday concert of readings and carols, presented in December each year
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Arts Professional Advocacy & Equity Initiatives 1 activity
- Champion underrepresented composers and inclusive programmingActively champions music by Black composers and provides performance opportunities for musicians and soloists of color. Has presented world and U.S. premieres, introduced Renaissance composers to U.S. audiences, and created initiatives such as "Dessoff Dialogues" during the pandemic to foster dialogue and inclusion in choral music.
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Community Choral Rehearsals & Performances 1 activity
- Maintain and rehearse multiple choral ensemblesConducts weekly rehearsals on Monday evenings on the Upper West Side of Manhattan for its core ensemble of approximately 60 singers, a larger Symphonic Choir for orchestral collaborations, and a Chamber Choir for smaller-scale works. These ensembles prepare for performances and recordings throughout the season.
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Classical and Chamber Music Performances 1 activity
- Present choral concerts spanning historical and contemporary repertoireProduces and presents a seasonal concert series featuring choral works from the pre-Baroque, Renaissance, and Baroque eras through the 21st century, including artistically rigorous and pioneering performances. Collaborates with major New York and visiting orchestras, and performs in venues across the city, including themed festivals integrating music, dance, storytelling, and community engagement.
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Nonprofit Music Recording and Distribution 1 activity
- Produce and release choral recordingsRecords and releases critically acclaimed albums featuring both historical and underrepresented composers, including two recordings of Margaret Bonds’ music—_The Ballad of the Brown King and Selected Songs_ and _Credo_ and _Simon Bore the Cross_—and a live recording titled _Glories on Glories_ showcasing American choral music from Billings to Ives.
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Community Music Performances & Education 1 activity
- Support intergenerational and educational singing programsOffers the Singing Scholar Program, providing intergenerational singing opportunities for New York City public high school students, and hosts community sing-ins and participatory events such as Messiah Sing, where audience members join the choir in performance. Also organized United in Song: A Celebration of American Music, featuring artists across generations exploring American musical heritage.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Publish choral music editionsPublished 48 editions in the Dessoff Choir Series and previously published a collection of choral editions edited by Paul Boepple between 1936 and 1967, many of which remain in circulation and contribute to broader awareness of Renaissance composers such as Palestrina, Dufay, and Josquin des Prez.
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financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$223K
Contributions & grants$128K57%
Program service revenue$50K22%
Investment income$48K22%
Other revenue$-3K
expenses
Total expenses$238K
Program expenses77%
Admin / overhead20%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$90K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$532K
Cash$71K
Investments$457K
Liabilities$4K
Net assets$528K
Liquid reserves26.6 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2023 · YoY revenue +7.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
board members · 11
- AMANDA KELLY — DIRECTOR
- BARBARA SCHARF SCHAMEST — PRESIDENT
- CHRISTOPHER EBERT — SECRETARY
- CHRISTOPHER PLATT — TREASURER
- CYNDEE SOCCI — DIRECTOR
- DIANA YOUNG — DIRECTOR
- DON HARRISON — DIRECTOR
- HELEN KAPSTEIN — DIRECTOR
- JOHN STOLEN — DIRECTOR
- JON LOWY — VICE PRESIDENT
- RYAN MESINA — DIRECTOR
relationships · 13
Who they work with
- Abyssinian Baptist Church Cathedral Choir Partner — Partnered on a performance of Mendelssohn’s Elijah.
- Brooklyn College Partner — Co-produced the event "United in Song: A Celebration of American Music".
- Brooklyn College Conservatory Partner — Collaborates by inviting conservatory students to join the choir for a concert cycle.
- Christ & Saint Stephen’s Church Partner — Venue host for the Messiah Sing concert event
- Church of St. Luke and St. Matthew Partner — Venue host for the annual Welcome Yule concert.
- Footprints Dance Company Partner — Collaborated with The Dessoff Choirs to create and perform dance sequences for the concert.
- Malcolm J. Merriweather Partner — Music director leading The Dessoff Choirs in performances and artistic direction.
- New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Government — Provides public funding to support The Dessoff Choirs' programs
- New York Philharmonic Partner — Collaborated on performances including Gustav Holst’s The Planets in November 2023 and Britten’s War Requiem in 2009.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Supports The Dessoff Choirs' season with funding from the state
- Roomful of Teeth Partner — Collaborated on Eve Beglarian’s None More Than You for the Whitman Bicentennial celebration.
- The Theodore Presser Company Partner — Distributes selected published editions of The Dessoff Choirs.
- Trinity Church Partner — Partnered on a production of Verdi’s Requiem in May 2025.
strategies · 4
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.
- Artist Training Through Professional Integration Develops Future Leadersmethodology: artist-training-through-integrationBy embedding advanced music students in professional rehearsals and performances, the organization advances artistic development, because immersive experience with seasoned performers accelerates skill growth and professional readiness.
- Championing Neglected Repertoire to Expand Access and Representationmethodology: championing_neglected_repertoireBy programming new, underrepresented, or rarely performed choral works, the organization increases access to diverse choral classics and amplifies historically marginalized voices, because artistic inclusion fosters deeper cultural engagement and educational impact.
- Integrated Arts Festival Model Deepens Community Engagementmethodology: integrated_arts_festival_modelBy combining choral performances with educational and community events in themed festivals, the organization strengthens audience connection, because immersive, multi-format experiences increase public investment in choral art.
- Interdisciplinary and Intergenerational Collaboration Enhances Musical Interpretationmethodology: interdisciplinary_collaborationBy integrating dance, readings, and collaborations across generations and artistic disciplines, the organization deepens the relevance and accessibility of choral music, because diverse artistic inputs renew traditional forms and broaden audience resonance.