The Cecilia Chorus of New York

The Cecilia Chorus of New York, formerly known as the St. Cecilia Chorus, is an avocational chorus and nonprofit organization based in New York City in the United States. The chorus performs twice annually at Carnegie Hall with a professional orchestra and soloists, and they also perform at other New York–area venues.[1][2]

History

Early Years

The St. Cecilia Chorus was founded in 1906 as a women's chorus by Metropolitan Opera coach Victor Harris.[3] Since then, the Chorus has evolved into one of the finest non-professional performing arts organizations in New York City, and has left its mark on American musical history.

In 1922, while still a women's group, the Chorus gained significant recognition when it appeared with The Philharmonic Society of New York under Willem Mengelberg in the first New York performance of Mahler's Symphony No. 3. Since then, the Chorus has given world and U.S. premieres of more than sixty works, by composers including Mrs. H.H.A. Beach, Deems Taylor, and Virgil Thompson.[3]

David Randolph

1959 saw a momentous event when David Randolph substituted for then-Director David Buttolph at one October rehearsal. In 1965, when Mr. Buttolph resigned, the Chorus recalled how much they had enjoyed making music with Mr. Randolph, and invited him to become their conductor. He remained conductor until his death in 2010.[3]

Under David Randolph's direction, the Chorus grew in size and ability, and in 1969 the Chorus performed its first concert in Carnegie Hall. In addition to its now traditional twice-yearly Carnegie Hall concerts, some of which have been broadcast live on WNYC Radio, David Randolph led the Chorus to appear in other reputable venues, including Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall. During this time the Chorus also performed with such other noted conductors as Lukas Foss, John Alldis, John Nelson, Romano Gandolfi (La Scala), Peter Tiboris, and Eve Queler (Opera Orchestra of New York).[3]

In April 1981, prompted by the popularity of the Broadway play Amadeus, The St. Cecilia Chorus performed a program in Carnegie Hall which featured the U.S. premiere of Antonio Salieri's Mass No. 1 juxtaposed with Mozart's Great Mass in C minor. The program was broadcast on WNYC, and Amadeus author Peter Shaffer was in attendance and made a short speech from the stage of Carnegie Hall.[3]

In December 1986, also in Carnegie Hall, the Chorus presented the North American premiere of a significant work by a talented but neglected female composer: Oratorium nach Bildern der Bibel by Fanny Mendelssohn, Felix Mendelssohn's sister.[3]

During his 37 years with The Masterwork Chorus, Mr. Randolph developed a specialty as a conductor of Handel's Messiah, and his much-acclaimed interpretation of that beloved masterpiece became a seasonal tradition in New York City. In 1995, Mr. Randolph directed The St. Cecilia Chorus in Messiah for its very first time, much to the joy of the chorus members and audience. Its two 1995 Messiah performances at Carnegie Hall were a notable success, and by popular demand the work was brought back for two successive performances on December 20, 1997, and for performances in 2005, 2008, and 2011.[4]

In 1993, members of the Chorus made a recording with Liza Minnelli for the benefit of AIDS research. In 1996, a small group of Chorus members appeared as Christmas carolers in The Preacher's Wife, a major motion picture starring Whitney Houston and Denzel Washington.[3]

Mark Shapiro

In July 2011, following the death of David Randolph the prior year, Mark Shapiro was appointed as the Music Director of the Chorus. In 2012 the Chorus changed its name to The Cecilia Chorus of New York.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "The Cecilia Chorus of New York – About the Chorus". Retrieved 23 Nov 2012.
  2. ↑ "The Cecilia Chorus of New York – Our Mission". Retrieved 23 Nov 2012.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 "The Cecilia Chorus of New York – History". Retrieved 23 Nov 2012.
  4. ↑ "The Cecilia Chorus of New York – Repertoire". Retrieved 24 Nov 2012.

External links