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| Philadelphia Singers | |
|---|---|
| Name | Philadelphia Singers |
| Origin | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Founding | 1972 |
| Disbanded | 2015 |
| Genres | Choral music, Classical music |
| Members | Professional choir (varied) |
| Headquarters | Philadelphia |
| Key people | Michael Korn, Elaine K. Brown, Joseph Flummerfelt |
| Notable works | Recordings of Virgil Thomson, Gian Carlo Menotti, Samuel Barber |
Philadelphia Singers The Philadelphia Singers were a professional chorus based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, established in 1972 and disbanded in 2015. The ensemble presented a wide-ranging choral music repertoire, collaborated with regional and national institutions, and participated in premieres associated with figures from American classical music and international contemporary composition. The group engaged with institutions such as the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Academy of Vocal Arts, Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia Orchestra, and touring organizations, contributing to the cultural fabric of Greater Philadelphia.
The choir was founded in 1972 amid a vibrant Philadelphia arts ecosystem that included entities like the Philadelphia Orchestra, Curtis Institute of Music, Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia, Academy of Music, and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Early seasons featured works by composers linked to the city such as Samuel Barber, Virgil Thomson, and René Clausen, and the ensemble attracted singers drawn from conservatories like Juilliard School, Eastman School of Music, and New England Conservatory of Music. Over decades the group navigated partnerships with organizations including the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, Opera Company of Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Singers (note: name not linked), and venues such as Merriam Theater, Verizon Hall, and the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. The choir presented American premieres and world premieres associated with composers such as Gian Carlo Menotti, Leonard Bernstein, and Krzysztof Penderecki.
Artistic leadership over the years included directors and conductors drawn from the professional choral field, collaborating with music administrators affiliated with institutions like the Kimmel Center, Marlboro Music Festival, and university departments at University of Pennsylvania and Temple University. Music directors worked with guest conductors connected to ensembles such as the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the London Symphony Orchestra. Administrative oversight mirrored structures used by organizations like Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the National Endowment for the Arts, and fundraising strategies often involved foundations such as the Annenberg Foundation, William Penn Foundation, and partnerships with corporate sponsors.
The group's repertoire spanned early music by figures associated with the Oxford Camerata and Windsor Choirs, choral masterworks by Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frideric Handel, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Giuseppe Verdi, Johannes Brahms, and Antonín Dvořák, as well as 20th-century and contemporary works by Igor Stravinsky, Olivier Messiaen, Benjamin Britten, Aaron Copland, Samuel Barber, John Adams, and Esa-Pekka Salonen. The ensemble performed in festivals and series including the Spoleto Festival USA, Bard Music Festival, NextWave Festival, and local events like Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts and collaborations with University of the Arts ensembles. Touring appearances placed the choir in venues associated with the National Cathedral, Kennedy Center, and on broadcasts with networks such as National Public Radio.
The Philadelphia Singers participated in commercial and archival recordings, contributing to projects alongside orchestras and soloists connected to labels and institutions like Deutsche Grammophon, Sony Classical, American Public Media, and university press outlets. Repertoire recorded included choral cycles by Samuel Barber, liturgical repertoire tied to traditions reflected in the archives of The Catholic University of America and Princeton University, and contemporary commissions later issued on compact disc and digital platforms. Media exposure included broadcasts on WHYY-TV, WRTI, and appearances in regional arts coverage in the Philadelphia Inquirer and on public radio programs produced by American Public Media and National Public Radio.
Collaborative projects paired the choir with orchestras and opera companies such as the Philadelphia Orchestra, Opera Philadelphia, Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, and guest soloists trained at institutions including the Curtis Institute of Music, Julliard School (alternate spelling avoided), and Mannes School of Music. Commissions and premieres involved composers and arrangers affiliated with Eastman School of Music, Yale School of Music, Juilliard School, and contemporary practitioners like John Corigliano, David Del Tredici, Tanya Leon, and Morten Lauridsen. The ensemble’s commissioning activity advanced works that entered repertoires of choral organizations such as the Minnesota Chorale and the Los Angeles Master Chorale.
Over its lifespan the chorus received honors and recognition from entities like the National Endowment for the Arts, the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, and municipal commendations from the City of Philadelphia. The group’s recordings and performances garnered critical attention in publications such as the New York Times, Gramophone, BBC Music Magazine, and regional coverage by the Philadelphia Inquirer, and its collaborations were highlighted in arts grant announcements from foundations such as the Graham Foundation and the Kresge Foundation.
The ensemble contributed to Philadelphia’s cultural institutions including the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Academy of Music, and educational programs at Temple University and Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Alumni and guest artists from the choir advanced to roles with ensembles like the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and university faculties at Curtis Institute of Music and Peabody Conservatory. The organization’s programming, commissions, and partnerships helped sustain choral activity in the region alongside longstanding groups such as the Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia, influencing the repertoire choices of civic and collegiate choirs throughout Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic.
Category:Musical groups from Philadelphia Category:American choirs