…superbly disciplined and highly responsive…
- The Baltimore Sun, June 29, 2009
…stunning in their impact…
- The New York Observer, July 8, 2009

Welcome to The Dessoff Choirs’ 2009-2010 season, celebrating 85 years of passionate music-making in New York City. Fresh off two thrilling collaborations with the New York Philharmonic this past June, our 85th year marks a few significant milestones. In August, Dessoff welcomed Jessica Silver, a seasoned arts management professional, as our first Executive Director. This fall we look forward to the release of our second CD, Glories on Glories, a live recording of American song ranging from Billings to Ives. And in spring, we are sad to note, James Bagwell will be leaving his post as Music Director to follow in the footsteps of his mentor Robert Shaw as he assumes leadership of Collegiate Chorale. Save the date for our spring benefit – February 9, 2010 – when we will pay tribute to James’s tenure as music director.

Our 85th season kicks off in dramatic fashion, as we present Ernest Bloch’s stirring Sacred Service on November 12th in the ideal setting of Congregation Rodeph Sholom. One week later, on November 19th and 20th, The Dessoff Chamber Choir backs Ray Davies and his band in a reprise of classic Kinks hits at The Town Hall. On March 6th, we return to Merkin Concert Hall to premiere exciting new works by Kyle Gann and Harold Farberman, along with Lukas Foss’s tender Psalms. March 28th, we make a Lincoln Center’s Great Performers series appearance with the Budapest Festival Orchestra under the direction of Iván Fischer in Beethoven’s inimitable Symphony No. 9. And the season draws to a close on May 8th, with a fascinating look at Bach’s compositional roots. We hope you’ll join us for what promises to be a dynamic year!

Highlights from last season include acclaimed, sold-out performances of Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem and Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 at Avery Fisher Hall with the New York Philharmonic in Lorin Maazel’s last appearances as music director. Mahler’s Symphony No. 8, the capstone of the Philharmonic’s live recording of the Complete Mahler Symphonies, features The Dessoff Symphonic Choir and is now available for download on iTunes. Other recent highlights include a performance of Mahler’s Symhony No. 3 at Carnegie Hall benefiting victims of pediatric AIDS, an exploration of the musical legacy of Biblical hero David, and the rich American program recorded in March and captured on our soon-to-be released CD.

For more information on individual concerts, and to purchase tickets, click