Chorus members singing

Mission

The Cecilia Chorus of New York cultivates a rich and diverse community of musicians, composers, and concert-goers to create distinctive choral experiences and performances that inform, challenge, and uplift the human spirit.

Who We Are

The Cecilia Chorus of New York is a widely recognized, diverse, multigenerational, mixed 150-member chorus that has been enriching New York's musical life since 1906. Each season we perform two major concerts at Carnegie Hall and a third concert at another venue. Spanning five centuries, our imaginatively curated repertoire includes standard works, neglected gems, and exciting commissions. Membership by audition is open to all.

Chorus History


2023First-ever Carnegie Hall performance of Dixit Dominus (1774) by Marianna von Martines
2021First-ever Carnegie Hall performance of The Ballad of the Brown King (1954) by Margaret Bonds
2020Pandemic. Digital series You Heard Them First and Staycations
2019 Author, neuroscientist, and Ted Talk phenomenon Jill Bolte Taylor celebrates her 60th birthday with us in Carnegie Hall at the world premiere of 50 Trillion Molecular Geniuses by The Brothers Balliett
2018 New York premiere in Carnegie Hall of The Prison (1930) by Dame Ethel Smyth
2015 Chorus America/ASCAP Alice Parker Award
2013 New York premiere in Carnegie Hall of Mass in D (1891) by Dame Ethel Smyth
2012 World premiere of the chorus's first-ever commissioned work for a Carnegie Hall performance, Divis Cetera by Raphael Fusco
2012 New name: The Cecilia Chorus of New York
2006 St. Cecilia Collection of Recorded Concerts established in NY Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center
1996 Appeared in The Preacher’s Wife (starring Whitney Houston and Denzel Washington, nominated for an Academy Award for Best Music)
1993 Benefit recording with Liza Minnelli for AIDS research; appeared with her at the United Nations
1991 NYC mayor David Dinkins proclaims St. Cecilia Chorus Day (May 10): "In recognition of the great performances it has given in our city for 85 years.”
1988-2001 South Street Seaport Singing Christmas Tree
1986 US premiere of Oratorium nach Bildern dem Bibeln by Fanny Hensl
1969 First performance at Carnegie Hall
1964 Became a mixed chorus
1945 New name: The St. Cecilia Club, Inc. Victor Harris, Founder
1939 Concert celebrating the World's Fair
1922 The estate of John H. Flagler makes a substantial bequest in memory of his wife, Alice Mandelick Flagler, a founding member of the Chorus.
1922 New York premiere of Symphony No. 3 by Gustav Mahler
1908 World premiere of The Chambered Nautilus by Amy Beach
1906 New name: The St. Cecilia Chorus, Inc., our official founding
1900 The Tuesday Morning Singing Club

Premieres


2024 Power in the Blood by Cyrus Chestnut
world premiere*
2023 Everyone, Everywhere by Daron Hagen
world premiere*
2023 Neither Separated, Nor Undone by Derrick Skye
world premiere*
2022 With Streaks of Light by Caroline Mallonee
world premiere*
2021 The Ballad of the Brown King: A Christmas Cantata by Margaret Bonds
Carnegie Hall premiere
2019 Fifty Trillion Molecular Geniuses by The Brothers Balliett
world premiere*
2018 One Hour to Madness and Joy by Jorge Martin
world premiere, revised version
2018 Messe Romane (2014) by Thierry Escaich
US premiere
2017 A Garden Among the Flames by Zaid Jabri
world premiere*
2017 Oedipus the King by The Brothers Balliett
world premiere*
2016
 Der Zippelfagottist by Jonathan Breit
world premiere*
2016
 Messiahs: False and True by Rex Isenberg
world premiere, revised version
2014 Credo for a Secular City by Tom Cipullo
world premiere*
2013 Mass in D (1891) by Dame Ethel Smyth
New York premiere
2012 Divis Cetera by Raphael Fusco
world premiere*
1986 Oratorium nach Bildern der Bibel by Fanny Hensl
US premiere
1981 Great Mass No. 1 in D by Antonio Salieri
US premiere
1931 The Highwayman by Deems Taylor
world premiere
1922 Symphony No. 3 by Gustav Mahler
New York premiere
1908 The Chambered Nautilus by Amy Beach
world premiere*
*commissioned by The Cecilia Chorus of New York

Music Directors


2011Mark Shapiro
1965David Randolph
195?David L. Buttolph
1942Hugh Ross
1937Willard Sektberg
1936Leon Barzin
1906Victor Harris