named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
An Evening for La Fenice
Benefit concert in support of La Fenice, featuring Verdi arias and ensembles
Concert of American Music
Performance series highlighting American composers and spirituals, including commissioned works like "The Hiding Tree"
MTV Music Video Awards Performance
Joint performance of "Carmina Burana" with Kid Rock at the MTV Music Video Awards
Richard Tucker Gala
Annual or periodic gala concert honoring Richard Tucker, featuring major opera stars and benefit performances
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Professional Opera and Operetta Production 3 activities
- Present New York and world premiere performances of operas and musicalsPresents New York premieres of major works such as David Lang’s battle hymns, Ricky Ian Gordon’s The Grapes of Wrath and 27, and other significant productions at venues including Carnegie Hall, City Center, and the Intrepid Museum.
- Produce concert performances of rare and neglected musical worksStages acclaimed concert performances of rare, neglected, or historically significant musical works, including Kurt Weill’s The Firebrand of Florence, Knickerbocker Holiday, Lady in the Dark, and Let ‘Em Eat Cake, as well as Luigi Dallapiccola’s Il Prigioniero and Richard Strauss’s Friedenstag, primarily at major venues such as Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, and New York City Center.
- Produce thematic concert seriesProduces recurring concert series including the “American Masters” series exploring musical theater works and their origins, and themed concerts such as a celebration of Oscar Hammerstein II’s career featuring songs from his collaborations with major composers.
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Classical and Chamber Music Performances 2 activities
- Engage in international and high-profile performancesPerforms at international festivals such as the Verbier Festival in Switzerland and at high-profile events including the opening of the United Nations, expanding the ensemble’s reach beyond New York City.
- Perform classical and sacred choral repertoirePerforms major classical and sacred choral works including Verdi Requiem, Bach St. Matthew Passion, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Handel’s Israel in Egypt, Mozart’s Requiem, and Handel’s Messiah, often with major orchestras and at prominent venues such as Carnegie Hall and Riverside Church.
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Original Music-Theater and Opera Production 1 activity
- Co-present new opera development showcaseCo-presents VOX: American Voices Opera Lab, a one-night showcase featuring excerpts from new grand operas by American composers, supporting the development and performance of new opera works with the MasterVoices Chorus.
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Music Education and Training Programs 1 activity
- Deliver education programs for high school studentsRuns the “Side-by-Side” Education program, which enables high school students to rehearse and perform alongside professional ensemble members in New York and internationally.
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Digital Music and Performance Archiving 1 activity
- Distribute digital concert productionsDistributed the digital concert production MYTHS AND HYMNS, which received over 60,000 individual views and received a Drama League Nomination for Best Digital Concert Production.
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Oral History Collection and Preservation 1 activity
- Highlight chorus member storiesConducts quarterly spotlight interviews featuring four chorus members to share their personal stories and experiences, fostering community engagement and visibility.
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Community Choral Rehearsals & Performances 1 activity
- Operate an inclusive, interracial chorusFunctions as one of the nation’s first interracial choruses, known as “the melting pot that sings,” and conducts low-barrier auditions using submitted audio or video recordings to maintain accessibility.
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Commissioning New Musical Works 1 activity
- Premiere and commission new musical worksCommissions and presents world premiere performances of new operatic and musical works by contemporary composers including Ricky Ian Gordon, Marisa Michelson, Tariq Al-Sabir, and Randall Eng, and premiered works by Philip Glass and Paul McCartney.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.62M
Contributions & grants$1.35M84%
Program service revenue$363K22%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$-99K
expenses
Total expenses$1.70M
Program expenses75%
Admin / overhead16%
Fundraising9%
Salaries & benefits$705K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$461K
Cash$147K
Investments$0
Liabilities$58K
Net assets$403K
Liquid reserves1.0 mo
4 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -11.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| THEODORE E SPERLING | ARTISTIC DIRECTOR | 30 | $219K |
| JENNIFER COLLINS | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $135K |
board members · 22
- ADELE K TALTY — DIRECTOR
- ALEXANDRA FRUGONE — DIRECTOR (THROUGH 11/2024)
- ALIX ZACHARIAS — DIRECTOR (AS OF 10/2024)
- ANDRE BISHOP — DIRECTOR
- BRUCE PATRICK — TREASURER
- CAROLINE CONWAY — DIRECTOR (AS OF 6/2025)
- DAVID CHAN — DIRECTOR
- DEBORAH F STILES — DIRECTOR
- DEBORAH INNES — DIRECTOR
- DINA VOZNIAK — DIRECTOR
- ELIZABETH TUNICK — SECRETARY
- ELLEN MARCUS — VICE-CHAIR
- ELLEN NENNER — DIRECTOR
- JAN CONSTANTINE — CHAIR
- JULIANA CHEN — DIRECTOR
- KENNETH H HANNAN — DIRECTOR
- LAUREN TUCKER — DIRECTOR
- LISA RUBIN — DIRECTOR
- MARTINA ARROYO — DIRECTOR
- ROBERT JURGRAU — DIRECTOR
- SUSAN L BAKER — DIRECTOR
- SUSAN SHINE — VICE-CHAIR
relationships · 31
Who they work with
- Alice Tully Hall Partner — Performance venue for MasterVoices concerts.
- American Composers Orchestra Partner — Collaborates on the production and performance of VOX: American Voices Opera Lab.
- Beth Morrison Projects Partner — Collaborates on the production of VOX: American Voices Opera Lab.
- Carnegie Hall Partner — Presented performances including Let 'Em Eat Cake and The Grapes of Wrath.
- Carnegie Hall Partner — Regular performance venue for MasterVoices concerts.
- Innovation Africa Partner — Partners on international initiatives bringing sustainable technologies to African villages.
- Intrepid Museum Partner — Hosted the New York City premiere of David Lang's battle hymns.
- Israel Philharmonic Orchestra Partner — Conducted international tours together.
- Manhattan Girls Chorus Partner — Co-performed David Lang’s battle hymns at the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum.
- Manhattan School of Music Partner — Collaborates on the production of VOX: American Voices Opera Lab.
- Mannes School of Music Partner — Collaborates on the production of VOX: American Voices Opera Lab.
- NBC Symphony Orchestra Partner — Collaborated on performance of Verdi Requiem at Carnegie Hall.
- NYC Opera Orchestra Partner — Provided orchestral accompaniment for the "Pavarotti Plus" concert at Avery Fisher Hall.
- National Arts Club Partner — Collaborates with members serving on its Literary and Music Committees.
- National Dance Institute Partner — Shares leadership and administrative collaboration in arts education programming.
- New York Baroque Incorporated Partner — Period-instrument ensemble collaborating with MasterVoices in the "Celebrating Handel" concert.
- New York City Center Partner — Co-presented productions including Lady in the Dark and 27.
- New York Philharmonic Partner — Collaborated on live performances including Luigi Dallapiccola's "Il Prigionero" and works by Beethoven and Mahler.
- New York Philharmonic Partner — Collaborated on performance of Bach St. Matthew Passion at Carnegie Hall.
- PAC NYC Partner — Collaborates on the production of VOX: American Voices Opera Lab.
- Riverside Church Partner — Performance venue for MasterVoices concerts.
- Robert Shaw Partner — Founder of MasterVoices
- Ronny Viggiani Partner — Contact person for chorus membership and auditions
- Symphony Space Partner — Performance venue for MasterVoices concerts.
- Ted Sperling Partner — Conductor for the Hammerstein's Broadway concert
- Ted Sperling Partner — Tony Award-winning maestro and leader of MasterVoices since 2013
- The Metropolitan Opera Partner — Collaborates on the production of VOX: American Voices Opera Lab.
- Town Hall Partner — Performance venue for MasterVoices concerts.
- Understood.org/Poses Family Foundation Partner — Collaborates on initiatives supporting neurodivergent individuals and their allies.
- Verbier Festival Partner — Performed at the festival and maintains an ongoing musical relationship.
+ 1 more
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.
- Community-Driven Artistic Development and Governancemethodology: community-driven_artistic_developmentBy integrating chorus members and community diversity into artistic direction, leadership, and governance, we strengthen mission alignment and sustainability because shared ownership fosters deeper commitment and institutional resilience.
- Donor-Supported Programming for Artistic Innovationmethodology: donor-supported_programmingBy relying on supporter funding, we are able to sustain unique and experimental programming that might not be viable through earned revenue alone, because philanthropic investment enables artistic risk-taking and long-term project development.
- Mentorship Through Collaborative Performancemethodology: side-by-side_educationBy pairing high school singers with professional ensemble members in joint performances, we cultivate the next generation of choral artists because direct artistic mentorship increases engagement, skill development, and long-term participation.
- Reviving and Reimagining Repertoire to Expand Choral Relevancemethodology: repertoire_innovation_and_commissioningBy reviving neglected masterpieces, reinterpreting traditional choral works, and commissioning new pieces on contemporary themes, we sustain artistic vitality and audience engagement because it connects historical art forms to modern contexts and values.