named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Commissioning New Works
Commissions and performs new compositions and arrangements from professional composers, with sixteen commissions completed over twenty years to support artistic innovation and repertoire diversity
Rehearsal Program
Weekly rehearsals open to all without audition, designed to be accessible to untrained singers while offering meaningful artistic challenge
Winter and Spring Concerts
Presents two major standing-room-only concerts annually, each built around a thematic program exploring historical events, cultural traditions, or composer spotlights
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Community Choral Rehearsals & Performances 2 activities
- Operates a community chorus program with seasonal rehearsals and concertsHosts fall and spring rehearsal seasons for over 100 singers, including weekly Monday rehearsals at the Church of the Holy Apostles in New York City, culminating in two annual concerts attended by over 400 audience members each. The fall 2026 season begins September 14, 2026.
- Provides inclusive access to chorus participationWelcomes individuals of all backgrounds, ages, and abilities into a non-sectarian singing community and removes financial barriers through a Sheet Music Fund and free access to rehearsal materials for those unable to contribute. Has sustained this inclusive model since 1994.
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Commissioning New Musical Works 1 activity
- Commissions and performs diverse musical repertoirePerforms over 15 songs per season across folk, gospel, Broadway, pop, and global traditions, including commissioned works—16 new pieces over 20 years—and concerts that explore historical events, cultural themes, and individual composers.
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Event and Production Volunteer Coordination 1 activity
- Manages rehearsal logistics and volunteer supportCoordinates rehearsal space setup including chair arrangement, manages Zoom connections for virtual participation, and organizes a nut-free snack program during breaks, supported by volunteers.
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Music Education and Training Programs 1 activity
- Produces and distributes rehearsal support materialsPrepares and distributes professionally recorded rehearsal MP3s with vocal parts and provides sheet music to support learning, with approximately 120 singers per season each incurring a $25 cost for materials.
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Digital Music and Performance Archiving 1 activity
- Produces virtual concerts and pandemic-era performancesCreated and released 12 virtual concert videos during the pandemic by compiling remotely recorded individual vocal parts into a live-streamed performance in November 2020.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$127K
Contributions & grants$94K74%
Program service revenue——
Investment income——
Other revenue$17K
expenses
Total expenses$106K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$36K
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$69K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$69K
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +27.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Eppler | Founder, Exec. Director | 15 | $25K |
| Ok Kyun Kang | Associate Music Director | 25 | $8K |
board members · 4
- Laurie Leonard — Board Member
- Mary Beth Minton — Board Member
- Michael Ottley — Board Member
- Winnie Lee Bowman — Board Member
relationships · 5
Who they work with
- Church of the Holy Apostles Partner — Host and longtime supporter of the New York City Community Chorus, providing institutional backing rooted in social justice.
- Church of the Holy Apostles Partner — Hosted the founding of the chorus in 1994 and provides a home for the organization based on shared commitment to social justice.
- Church of the Holy Apostles Partner — Hosts chorus rehearsals at its facility located at 296 Ninth Avenue at West 28th Street.
- Church of the Holy Apostles Partner — Hosts the chorus's weekly rehearsals and performances at its location on Ninth Avenue in New York City.
- Jack Eppler Partner — Founder and Artistic Director of the New York City Community Chorus
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.
- Financial Accessibility as Inclusion Strategymethodology: financial_accessibility_modelBy covering the cost of sheet music and removing financial barriers, the chorus ensures equitable access to participation, because economic constraints should not determine who can join and contribute to communal music-making.
- Inclusive Community Choir Modelmethodology: universal_inclusionBy using a non-audition, universally inclusive approach, the chorus fosters community connection and belonging among singers of all skill levels, identities, and backgrounds, because removing traditional barriers to participation enables broader engagement and affirms the value of every voice.
- Music as Healing and Reconnectionmethodology: music_for_healing_and_reconnectionBy engaging isolated populations—such as people in incarceration—in choral singing, the organization facilitates emotional healing and social reconnection, because collective music-making restores dignity and rebuilds human bonds disrupted by marginalization.
- Peer-Supported Learning for Accessibilitymethodology: peer-supported_learningBy pairing new singers with peers and providing professionally recorded rehearsal materials, the chorus lowers barriers to learning and integration, because peer-driven support enhances comfort and retention more effectively than formal instruction alone.