NEW HAVEN CHORALE INC

The New Haven Chorale is an auditioned, professionally conducted, diverse community of nearly 100 vocal musicians united by their passion for choral music and their commitment to personal musical growth

Since 1950 the Chorale has brought glorious choral music to the So CtT region, pursuing professional musical standards with a joy unique to volunteer singers. The Chorale sprang from the ground breaking work of Robert Shaw who conducted the Chorale 5 times. The Chorale has come a long way since then.

Chorale members' tradition of generous and enduring participation, many for more than two decades, has forged rare institutional artistic memory and teamwork. Over the years our Chorale members have donated over 3 million hours of their time , demonstrated superb musicianship, mentored young singers, supported young composers, provided services to benefit other non-profits, brought joy to children and veterans in hospitals and performances to seniors unable to leave their residences.

The Chorale has struggled not merely to survive a changed economic environment but to flourish in spite of it, reinventing itself to continue serving the community to which is intensely devoted amidst fierce local competition.

Despite the challenges of a year when we have had to cancel all inperson rehearsal and live performances, the Chorale has enjoyed a renaissance through the visionary leadership of it Music Director, D.t Edward Bolkovac and an energetic board. Collaborations have born fruit, membership has grown, musicianship has improved, outreach has blossomed, and new music has begun to ring. While many organizations are trimming their sails, the Chorale is spreading its wings to grow the choral arts in its community.

The effects of the COVID pandemic and its impact on families, friends, and choral groups were significant. Because of this the Chorale moved into the virtual choral world of online gatherings, rehearsals and classes, maintaining a vital sense of community, and producing virtual choir performances. This was a huge challenge and steep learning curve, but not without its hidden blessings! While we acknowledge with love and empathy the difficulties and losses that so many have endured, the New Haven Chorale believes we still need to move forward with energy and a positive attitude. After all, what is an artistic community if not a place to use our art to comfort and console, as well as energize and inspire each other and the wider community?

Since then, the New Haven Chorale has produced many virtual choir projects that have already been released online.

Devotion to artistic excellence unifies the Chorale's diverse members and energizes their efforts in a wide range of shoral projects, seizing each opportunity to lift people's spirits and elevate the public's estimation of choral music and choral musicians.

Your support during our 24-25 75th Anniversary Season has enabled the Chorale to have a very exciting, challenging and rewarding year .

We are collaborating pro bono for the second time this year with the NHSO. The Beethoven 9th concert in September was spectacular and the concert coming up in on February 9 featuring Nathaniel Dett's "Ordering of Moses" is going to be thrilling.

We also did a third pro bono event for HeArts for Justice with an African American ensemble of young singers in August in Hamden and have been mentoring the young women who have appeared in two of our concerts.

Our free Halloween concert for inner city children was delightful and of course, the sold out Concert in December was uplifting, welcoming in the holiday season

Your generosity also supports our Student Singer program.Please visit our website to see a short article and interview with Albert Lee who is a professor at Yale. As a young student, unable to sight read music, we welcomed him into the Chorale as a student singer and mentored him until he left the area. This is indicative of what we try to do with our mentoring programs.

We have a concert coming up in June on the 8th at Woolsey Hall. 130 singers, 4 conductors, full orchestra and a program of all featuring all-American composers. We hope you will join us for this magnificent concert