The Cecilia Chorus of New York

06/12/2026

What does it mean to sing alongside the next generation of opera's brightest voices?

Ask any Cecilia Chorus member who shared the Carnegie Hall stage with soprano Song Hee Lee.

This month, Musical America named Song Hee their New Artist of the Month — spotlighting the Seoul-born Juilliard artist who just won the Met Opera Laffont Competition and is preparing to tour with Joyce DiDonato and Il Pomo d'Oro.

She called performing at Carnegie Hall "a beautiful privilege."
She was talking about us.

The Cecilia Chorus of New York has been bringing together extraordinary professional soloists and passionate amateur singers at Carnegie Hall for over 120 years. No audition. No prior experience required. Just a love of great choral music and the commitment to show up.

If you've ever wondered what it feels like to make music at the highest level — this is how you find out.

Singer auditions for the 2026–27 season are open.
Learn more at ceciliachorusny.org.

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Musical America is the web's leading business source for the performing arts. Find the latest industry news, careers and contacts at MusicalAmerica.com!

04/28/2026

Closing out our ‘25-‘26 season with food, drinks, and camaraderie at . Congratulations to all members for the hard work and beautiful concert. We look forward to making music again in the fall! 🎶

04/25/2026

"A sound and vision that I can't let go."
That's what one audience member said after our concert last Friday at Carnegie Hall, and we couldn't agree more.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for an extraordinary evening of music featuring Robert & Victoria Sirota's "A Call for the Battle to Cease" alongside works that spoke directly to this moment in our world. The audience response was overwhelming and we're grateful to every person who was in the hall that night.

Your presence, your energy, and your standing ovation meant the world to our singers and musicians.
If you were there, we hope you carry the music with you. If you weren't, we'd love to see you next time.
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🎶 NEXT CONCERT: HANDEL'S JUDAS MACCABEUS
📍 Carnegie Hall, New York City
📅 Friday, December 4, 2026 at 8 PM
Join us for one of Handel's most thrilling oratorios, a story of courage, resilience, and triumph brought to life by The Cecilia Chorus, professional orchestra, and world-class soloists on the Carnegie Hall stage.
🎟️ Tickets, Info and Updates: https://www.ceciliachorusny.org/

04/17/2026

"If I was visiting New York City and I looked at the listings and saw this concert was happening, I would want to go to this concert." That's pianist Simone Dinnerstein telling YOU to get tickets for TONIGHT!

Here's what you'll experience: ✨ Huge Chorus (180+ singers) ✨ Piano (Simone!) ✨ Something Old (Haydn) ✨ Something New (A Call for the Battle to Cease World Premiere) ✨ Carnegie Hall
"What a night out. So I just think it's a really exciting evening. And you should go."

Don't argue with Simone. Get your tickets. 😊
TONIGHT! 📅 April 17, 2026 | 7:30 PM 🎟️ https://bit.ly/4cg20Qr

04/15/2026

🎸🏛️ This Friday. Carnegie Hall. A world premiere.
Guitarist and composer David Leisner describes what makes Mark Buller's Mass in Exile so special...movements that open with solo guitar evoking the intimacy of Gregorian chant, before expanding into full chorus, strings, and baritone.
"It takes you away from everything...and yet takes you into everything at the same time."
Classical guitarists rarely get to play Carnegie Hall. Don't miss this one.

🎟️ Tickets: https://www.carnegiehall.org/Calendar/2026/04/17/The-Cecilia-Chorus-of-New-York-with-Orchestra-0800PM

More info: https://www.ceciliachorusny.org/buller-sirota-and-haydn

This Friday, April 17 | Carnegie Hall
Cecilia Chorus of New York | 120th Anniversary Season

04/13/2026

"What is the chorus about as an organization? The past, the present, and the future. All three."

This isn't just Cecilia Chorus performing. It's three generations uniting in song:

🎵 Cecilia Chorus (celebrating 120 years) 🎵 All-City High School Chorus (today's young artists) 🎵 Every Voice Children's Chorus (tomorrow's musicians) 🎵 Teachers College Singers (future educators)
Past. Present. Future. All singing together at Carnegie Hall.
That's what this music is about.

🎹 BULLER, SIROTA AND HAYDN: A Concert for Peace
📍 Carnegie Hall | Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage
📅 Friday, April 17, 2026 | 8 PM

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THE PROGRAM

🌟 A Call for the Battle to Cease — WORLD PREMIERE
Robert Sirota | Text by Victoria Sirota
Featuring Simone Dinnerstein, piano ("Spellbinding" — The Washington Post)
Modeled on Beethoven's Choral Fantasy, this powerful new work channels
humanity's timeless yearning for peace.

🌟 Mass in Exile — NEW YORK PREMIERE
Mark Buller | Libretto by Leah Lax
For chorus with strings, guitar, and baritone — contemporary texts
recast in the form of the traditional mass.

🌟 Mass in Time of War (excerpts) — Franz Joseph Haydn

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FEATURING

Simone Dinnerstein, piano
David Leisner, guitar
Karen Vuong, soprano
Marcella Astore, mezzo-soprano
Henry Drangel, tenor
Shavon Lloyd, baritone

With Every Voice Children's Choir (Nicole Becker, Director)
All-City Chorus (Kristy Jung, Director)
Singers' Workshop at Teachers College, Columbia University
(Jeanne Goffi-Fynn, Director)

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"When you go live to a concert like this — with so many people
on stage singing such vibrant music — there's just nothing like it."
— David Leisner

🎟️ Tickets: https://www.carnegiehall.org/Calendar/2026/04/17/The-Cecilia-Chorus-of-New-York-with-Orchestra-0800PM

More info: https://www.ceciliachorusny.org/buller-sirota-and-haydn

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The Cecilia Chorus of New York is celebrating its 120th Anniversary Season.
Subscribe for upcoming concerts, behind-the-scenes content, and more.
👏 Contribute: https://www.ceciliachorusny.org/donate

04/01/2026

What would you do with one night in New York City? 🎶

Pianist Simone Dinnerstein and guitarist David Leisner say there's one concert you absolutely cannot miss, and we think they're right.
BULLER, SIROTA AND HAYDN | The Cecilia Chorus with Orchestra
Carnegie Hall · Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage
Friday, April 17 · 8 PM
✨ A Call for the Battle to Cease — WORLD PREMIERE featuring Simone Dinnerstein
✨ Mass in Exile — NEW YORK PREMIERE with David Leisner, guitar
✨ Mass in Time of War — Haydn
"It takes you away from everything — and yet it takes you into everything at the same time."
A chorus. Soloists. Children's choirs. A concert hall that makes everything sound like glory. This is a night you'll carry with you.

🎟️ https://www.carnegiehall.org/Calendar/2025/12/06/The-Cecilia-Chorus-of-New-York-with-Orchestra-0800PM .

Tickets also at CarnegieHall.org.
Support the campaign: ceciliachorusny.org/donate

03/11/2026

"I've never played with such a huge chorus. There's something amazing about singers... getting all that sound like hitting you."

Pianist Simone Dinnerstein has performed around the world.
But this? This is new.

On Friday April 17, she'll perform Robert Sirota's "A Call for the Battle to Cease" with: 🎵 Cecilia Chorus (180 singers) 🎵 All-City High School Chorus 🎵 Every Voice Children's Chorus 🎵 Full Orchestra

At Carnegie Hall. World Premiere. A Call for the Battle to Cease.

See why Simone is so excited about this project and why YOU should be there!

🎟️ Tickets: https://bit.ly/4cg20Qr

Watch the full length Mini-Doc of the whole story! https://youtu.be/JL1z-mlGLPM

Support the campaign: ceciliachorusny.org/donate

Share this with someone who loves great stories, great music, or both!

03/08/2026

Exciting news: we’re honored to announce that we’ve received a grant from New York City Department of Cultural Affairs' FY2026 Cultural Development Fund (CDF)!! Art and culture are the heart and soul of New York, and we’re proud to be among the nearly 1,200 groups receiving city support this year thanks to the partnership between the NYC Mayor’s Office and the City Council.

This investment in our work will help us bring accessible, affordable cultural programs to our community. Our CDF grant will support our 2026 Programming!