Artistic Innovation Through Integration

Advances contemporary choral artistry by commissioning new works from living composers and integrating them into its performance repertoire as part of its core artistic programming.

Operates an open audition process requiring unedited, live solo recordings from applicants to ensure vocal quality while building a professional ensemble that includes voices historically excluded due to systemic racism.

Connects diverse audiences with choral music through outreach initiatives designed to make performances more accessible and representative of underrepresented communities.

Presents four candlelight Christmas concerts annually, a long-standing holiday tradition in New York, featuring choral music in a candlelit setting to engage audiences during the holiday season.

Hosts an annual gala event featuring a musical program and dinner to celebrate the organization’s artistic achievements and support its future initiatives.

Researches, programs, and performs works by composers from historically marginalized communities in classical music, contributing to a more inclusive choral repertoire.

Organizes and presents a concert season between October and April each year, featuring performances by the Voices of Ascension Chorus and Orchestra that span early Western polyphony to contemporary compositions, including rare and theatrically staged works. The season includes immersive programming that bridges historical and modern choral artistry.

Runs the "Voices of Promise" emerging artist program, which offers young artists within the ensemble opportunities for solo performances and professional growth.

Produces and distributes commercial and live recordings of choral performances through partnerships with labels such as Delos International, resulting in best-selling and Grammy-nominated albums including "Beyond Chant," "Duruflé Album," and Berlioz "Te Deum."

Initiates and participates in international festivals such as the Music of Extended Duration at Prague Castle, the Ostrava Days Festival, and NODO (New Opera Days Ostrava), often involving large-scale, site-specific, or multi-orchestra performances.

Organizes annual Emerging Composers Workshops and reading sessions that provide early-career composers with mentorship, rehearsal time, and public performances of their new works, held at venues like Willow Place Auditorium.

Specializes in performing compositions by avant-garde composers including Petr Kotik, John Cage, Julius Eastman, Morton Feldman, and Christian Wolff, with frequent performances of Kotik’s large-scale works such as "Many Many Women" and Cage’s experimental scores.

Produces and performs contemporary and experimental music through an ongoing concert series in New York City venues such as Willow Place Auditorium, Paula Cooper Gallery, Carnegie Hall, and Lincoln Center, and tours annually in Europe with additional performances in South America and Japan.

Records and releases performances of contemporary compositions, including works by Morton Feldman, Petr Kotik, Marcel Duchamp, and John Cage, through labels such as Asphodel Ltd., Wergo, and Dog w/a Bone.

Provides need-based financial aid to both new and returning participants to help cover tuition costs, supported by donations and grants that cover about 25% of operating expenses. Also manages designated funds that support named faculty chairs (in oboe, piano, cello), lectures, special events, and new music commissions.

Formed a working group composed of participants, faculty, staff, and Board members to examine diversity, equity, and inclusion within the organization, gathered community input, and is developing governance recommendations based on hundreds of suggestions.

Commissions new chamber music compositions annually from established and emerging composers, including a Composer-in-Residence and Composition Fellow each week. These works are studied by participants during coaching sessions and premiered at participant musicales or public concerts; the organization has commissioned at least nine major works since 2004, including four for its 75th anniversary in 2022.

Assigns a buddy to each first-time participant to provide pre-arrival guidance, assist with orientation, and arrange informal playing sessions. Hosts a newcomers’ meeting and Sunday evening playing event to welcome and integrate new attendees into the community.