named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Early Music Education and Outreach
Programs designed to educate audiences about Renaissance polyphony and early music performance practice through commentary and contextual presentation
Music Before 1800 Series
Annual concert series presenting historically informed performances of early music repertoire at venues including Corpus Christi Church and The Cloisters
Seasonal and Thematic Concert Programs
Curated performances centered on historical periods, composers, or religious themes such as Holy Week, Christmas, and the reign of Mary Tudor
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Classical and Chamber Music Performances 2 activities
- Performing a cappella Renaissance and medieval music in major cultural venuesRegularly performs a cappella Renaissance and medieval music at prominent institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Cloisters, Carnegie Hall, the Library of Congress, Dumbarton Oaks, and the Frick Collection, both in New York and nationally. Also presents concerts internationally, including past performances in Japan and at venues like the Royal Albert Hall and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
- Presenting lecture-recitals on historical musicCombines performance with education through lecture-recitals that feature discussion and live performance of medieval polyphonic music, integrating scholarly context with musical interpretation.
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Commissioning New Musical Works 1 activity
- Commissioning and premiering new musical compositions in early music styleComposes and commissions new works in the style of early music, such as an SSATBB setting of W.B. Yeats’s “The Second Coming,” which was commissioned and premiered by The X24 of York (UK).
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Opera and Vocal Arts Training Programs 1 activity
- Conducting educational workshops in Renaissance vocal performanceDirected a summer workshop in Renaissance a cappella performance for fourteen years, sponsored by the Syracuse Schola Cantorum, training singers in historical performance practices.
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Performing Arts Archival Preservation 1 activity
- Maintaining an archive of historical performance materialsMaintains a historical archive containing concert schedules, program notes, audio files, and other materials documenting decades of performance activity in early music.
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Nonprofit Music Recording and Distribution 1 activity
- Producing and releasing recordings of early musicProduces and releases recordings of Renaissance and medieval a cappella music on labels including Deutsche Grammophon/Archiv Produktion, Dorian, and its own "Old Hall" label. Notable releases include “A Voice in the Wilderness—Mannerist Motets of the Renaissance” (2012–2013), “Musical Games of the Renaissance” (2019), “Music for the Tudor Queens” (2015), and “Orlande de Lassus—Motets & Magnificat,” with a catalog spanning multiple decades.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Providing artistic leadership for early music ensemblesProvides artistic direction for early music ensembles including Concordian Dawn, Ensemble for Medieval Music, and Schola Cantorum Pompeii in New York City, shaping programming and performance standards.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$25K
Contributions & grants$24K95%
Program service revenue$1K5%
Investment income——
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$40K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$8K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$-28K
4 years on record · 2020–2023 · YoY revenue -34.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
board members · 1
- JOEL PIDEL — DIRECTOR
relationships · 21
Who they work with
- Church of the Transfiguration Partner — Hosted Pomerium's lecture-recital on May 5, 2019.
- Cleveland Museum of Art Partner — Performed in connection with an exhibition at the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Co Broerse Partner — Photographer who documented Pomerium performances, contributing visual materials to the organization's public presence.
- Concordian Dawn Partner — Founded and led by Christopher Preston Thompson as Ensemble for Medieval Music.
- Deutsche Grammophon/Archiv Produktion Partner — Label with which Pomerium released four CDs, including “A Musical Book of Hours” and “Creator of the Stars: Christmas Music from Earlier Times”.
- Dumbarton Oaks Partner — Performed a concert at Dumbarton Oaks in Washington, DC.
- Facebook Partner — Hosts video content on their Facebook page for public viewing.
- GEMS Live! Gotham Early Music Scene Partner — Performance booking and presenting partner
- Glissando/Pure Classics Partner — Label that released Pomerium’s recordings “Musica Vaticana,” “Carolus Maximus,” and “Josquin Desprez: Missa Hercules dux Ferrarie, Motets & Chansons”.
- Library of Congress Partner — Performed a concert for visitors at the Library of Congress.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Primary public funder supporting concert activities.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Provided public funding to support a concert.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Public funder supporting the concert through state arts funds
- Qualiton Partner — Distributes Pomerium’s recordings in the USA.
- Schola Cantorum Pompeii Partner — Artistic direction by Patrick Fennig in New York City.
- Syracuse Schola Cantorum Partner — Sponsored a summer workshop in Renaissance a cappella performance directed by Alexander Blachly.
- The Broken Consort Partner — Co-led by Christopher Preston Thompson as Executive Director and core performing member.
- The Cloisters Partner — Presented a concert at The Cloisters.
- The X24 of York Partner — Commissioned and premiered Kristina Boerger’s SSATBB setting of William Butler Yeats’s “The Second Coming”.
- University of Notre Dame Partner — Hosted Pomerium's first concert of the 2012–2013 season.
- University of Notre Dame Partner — Presented a concert at the University of Notre Dame’s DeBartolo Center for the Performing Arts.
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.
- Artistic Control Through Independent Recordingsmethodology: artist-led_recording_productionBy producing recordings under their own label, the organization maintains artistic control over interpretation and vocal blending, because independent production removes commercial constraints and prioritizes expressive excellence and ensemble balance.
- Historically Informed Performancemethodology: historically_informed_performanceBy using historical performance practices and scholarly research, the organization produces more authentic and precise interpretations of early music, because fidelity to period techniques deepens musical clarity and audience understanding of Renaissance and medieval polyphony.
- Lecture-Recital Formatmethodology: lecture-recitalBy combining live performance with explanatory lectures, the organization increases public understanding of medieval music, because articulating structural and philosophical foundations alongside music makes complex forms more accessible and intellectually engaging.
- Multisensory Concert Presentationmethodology: multisensory_concert_presentationBy integrating projected artwork and commentary into live performances, the organization enhances audience engagement with early music, because visual and explanatory elements deepen contextual understanding and emotional connection to the repertoire.