Member Dues To Increase for the 2018–2019 Season

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This summer, the St. George's Choral Society Board met and had a very productive meeting, covering everything from member engagement to fundraising to operations. St. George's Choral Society has made every effort to keep member costs low. In surveying other choirs throughout the greater New York Metropolitan area, it became evident that we were below market with membership dues and ticket prices—two key components in meeting our annual budget. 

The board decided to raise member dues to market value. Beginning this season, dues will be $225 per year plus the cost of mandatory score purchase, $70 for this season. The board decided not to raise the member ticket costs; they will remain at $25 each, with the requirement of four tickets per concert. This will enable the choir to better meet its goals for this and upcoming years. As always, members are not turned away during times of financial hardship. Please speak to Matthew Lewis directly about this.

Every Night I Walk Home Singing

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Rehearsals for our Fall 2016 concert began this past Wednesday, September 7. Our new and returning members arrived excited to learn the repertoire for our November 20 concert: Berger’s Brazilian Psalm (to be sung by auditioned chamber singers); Ginastera’s Psalm 150; Kodály’s Missa Brevis; and “When We Were,” a commissioned work by Pauline Kim Harris for choir, organ, cello, and soprano.

Artistic Director Matthew Lewis and the choir at the first rehearsal of the 2016–2017 season.

I asked several members what they enjoy about singing with St. George’s Choral Society. Here are their replies:

“What I like the most about singing with St. George's Choral Society: [Artistic Director] Matthew [Lewis] and my fellow soprano ones! He never gives up on us and is always challenging us to be better, and they understand that the struggle is real but the result is sweeter.” – Blessing Agunwamba, Soprano

“I've been in St. George's Choral Society since 2008, and I treasure my time singing with the group. Taking my mind off of work and singing beautiful music every week with wonderful people is really a pleasure. I look forward to every rehearsal!” – Zac Rider, Bass

“I am so happy to be back after a taking a break last season! Singing with St. George’s Choral Society is a pure joy. The music is beautiful and well chosen and it's exciting to work with professionals, like Matthew and our ringers. But the best parts are that our choir has its own eccentric character, our director has a hilarious sense of humor, and we have fun learning complex pieces and lifting our voices together. Choir practice has a way of putting every thing else in perspective. Every night I walk home singing.” – Cara Hoffman, Soprano

It isn’t too late to join these members and sing with the choir. Contact info@stgeorgeschoralsociety.org to schedule an audition.

If you can’t sing with us this fall, we hope to see you at our first concert of the season on November 20 at 3 pm at the Church of the Incarnation, 209 Madison Avenue at 35th Street.