New Haven Chorale

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Our Story

The New Haven Chorale nurtures over 100 singers of varying ages and backgrounds, providing them with the opportunities to present extraordinary music in performance, mentor and educate young musicians, and use the power of music to change lives. 


At this time, our members are hard at work preparing for our May 7th concert, “Music of Remembrance and Resilience,” at Woolsey Hall in New Haven, featuring the Duruflé "Requiem, Op.9" with full orchestra and other beautiful pieces of choral music by Nadia Boulanger, Sarah Quartel, and Jake Runestad. In addition to these magnificent choral works, the program will include a tribute to Winfred Rembert, an African-American artist who resided in the New Haven community. Rembert’s memoir about his personal struggles growing up in the segregated South won a Pulitzer Prize. The Chorale is especially excited about this performance which will take place in front of a full live audience and mark the completion of a normal concert season after two long years without live performances. 

 

It would be almost impossible to overstate the monumental impact of the pandemic on the Chorale. Our 70th Anniversary concert, scheduled for May 2020, had to be canceled. Prior to a return to face-to-face rehearsals in the fall of 2021, we met online for over 18 months and recorded our music virtually. Reinventing ourselves at that most difficult time, the Chorale refocused its energies on producing music videos, which it subsequently released on social media. This meant that members had to learn to rehearse virtually and record choral pieces independently. We are proud of the success of our choral videos which were streamed on YouTube to extremely positive responses. We also continued commissioning new works by young composers, in addition to offering online music education classes open to everyone. Thankfully, we were able to return to in-person rehearsals this year supported by live-streaming. These changes required a huge amount of extra work for our staff, but the Chorale was committed to producing quality programs and to keeping its singing membership engaged with the music, each other, and the community it serves.


The New Haven Chorale was founded not only to give local singers the opportunity to channel their talent and time in order to perform, but also to serve as an important educational and artistic resource, one that openly affirms the inspirational power of choral singing. 


Accordingly, we have a rich history of community involvement. Our programs feature a high-quality repertoire of music and often present works which, due to their complexity and demands for resources, are less-frequently performed. Our holiday concerts, in particular, have become a beloved seasonal event. Each Christmas morning, members of the Chorale bring joy to young patients and their families at YNHH’s Children’s Hospital. Ensemble groups make appearances at senior living facilities, the Veterans Hospital, and other community events to give joy to many who are unable to attend concerts. Collaborations with colleges, other choruses, and musicians create opportunities to share learning experiences and expand horizons. Last, our Student Singer Program allows area youths to participate in the above programs at a formative time in their lives, an initiative we are currently seeking to expand by adding additional university and high school students.


The Chorale is truly delighted to fully continue its 73-year legacy of serving the Greater New Haven community as an artistic and cultural resource.



Contact

New Haven Chorale

PO Box 1897
New Haven, Connecticut 06508

Alice Hummel
alysh26@comcast.net
Phone: 2037767664
http://www.newhavenchorale.org