National Chorale

What National Chorale does

National Chorale is a New York City-based nonprofit professional choral organization founded in 1967 by Martin Josman. It presents an annual choral-orchestral concert season at Lincoln Center's David Geffen Hall and operates vocal music education programs in New York City public schools through a 16-year partnership with the Public School Arts Society (PPAS), reaching over 5,000 children annually. The chorale also commissions and premieres new works, including the world premiere of Anthony J. Patterson's Gloria in 2022.

The organization maintains a small core staff of approximately 6 employees and generates revenue through ticket sales, individual and corporate donations, foundation grants, and government funding from New York City agencies including the Department of Education and the Department of Cultural Affairs. Corporate benefactors include Skadden and Casio. Its flagship event is the Annual Handel Messiah Sing-In, a participatory community tradition dating to the organization's founding, with the 59th installment scheduled for December 2026.

Beyond its New York base, the chorale has expanded programming through the American Spiritual Ensemble, founded in 1995 by Music Director Everett McCorvey, which conducts international tours. A 2024 Board Chair transition from Judith Rinearson to Bill Baroni reflects continued governance stewardship of a 58-year-old performing arts nonprofit operating in a stable, traditional model.

Name

National Chorale

Legal name

National Chorale

Website

https://nationalchorale.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Founded 1967, National Chorale is a New York City nonprofit professional choral organization presenting annual choral-orchestral concerts at Lincoln Center's David Geffen Hall and delivering vocal music education to 5,000+ NYC public school children annually through a long-standing PPAS partnership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts — Choral Music

NAICS

Musical Groups and Artists (711130), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Theater, Musicals & Performing Arts (THAJAFAB), Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC)

Keywords

• Choral orchestral performances
• Choral music education
• Community sing-along events
• Professional choral company
• Performing arts nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from sales of tickets to the annual choral-orchestral season performances at David Geffen Hall and Carnegie Hall, including the flagship Handel Messiah Sing-In event. Ticket prices range from $20 to $125 for the Messiah Sing-In.
2. Donations and Contributions: The chorale receives charitable contributions from individuals, with suggested donation amounts ranging from $25 to $10,000 or more for general support, and $100 to $1,500 for specific program support. The organization is supported by major benefactors including corporations and foundations.
3. Education Program Services: Revenue supports vocal music education programs in NYC public schools, including Artist-in-Residence programs, school choral festivals, and partnerships with schools. Sponsors can fund specific school programs or Chorale Artist-in-Residence positions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The National Chorale is a professional choral company that produces annual choral-orchestral concert seasons at Lincoln Center's David Geffen Hall and Carnegie Hall, including the flagship Handel's Messiah Sing-In community event. It also delivers vocal music education programs — Artist-in-Residence placements, after-school choruses, and choral festivals — reaching over 5,000 NYC public school students annually through partnerships with the NYC Department of Education and individual schools.

Product overview

National Chorale is a performing arts organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs centered on professional choral performances and music education. The core offerings include the annual Handel’s Messiah Sing-In at Lincoln Center (the flagship community event), the Season Concert Series featuring choral-orchestral works at David Geffen Hall and Carnegie Hall, and the Vocal Music Education Programs including the PPAS Vocal Program partnership and annual Choral Festivals for thousands of NYC students. These programs work together to fulfill the organization’s mission of uniting communities through the power of choral music from concert halls to classrooms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Handel's Messiah Sing-In Annual community sing-along event at David Geffen Hall, Lincoln Center, where thousands of singers from across the city gather to perform Handel's Messiah together. Features multiple guest conductors, soloists, and a chamber orchestra under the direction of Artistic Director Everett McCorvey. Tickets priced $20-$125.
• Season Concert Series Annual choral-orchestral concert series at Lincoln Center's David Geffen Hall with additional concerts at Carnegie Hall, featuring major choral-orchestral works from the 16th century to contemporary American compositions. The flagship performance series of the National Chorale.
• Series of American Classics Continuing concert series featuring 20th and 21st century American music compositions, including world premieres and commissions of new American works.
• PPAS Vocal Program Professional Performing Arts School partnership providing comprehensive vocal music instruction to PPAS Vocal students. Students perform throughout NYC including David Geffen Hall, the United Nations, NYSE, and have appeared with UNICEF for the #Imagine project and #childrenfirst campaign.
• Vocal Music Education Programs Year-long Artist-in-Residence programs in schools, high school after-school choruses, and concert tours across all five NYC boroughs. Programs provide over 5,000 NYC children annually with vocal music activities.
• School Choral Festivals Annual High School, Middle School, and Elementary School Choral Festivals at Hunter College/CUNY with over 800 high school singers and at PPAS in Manhattan with over 1,000 young student singers participating.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5,000+ children participate annually in chorale education programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Professional Performing Arts School (PPAS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner16-year partnership providing comprehensive vocal music instruction to PPAS Vocal students. Students perform at major NYC venues including David Geffen Hall, the United Nations, and the New York Stock Exchange. The program prepares students for professional training at colleges and conservatories.
• NYC Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing vocal music education initiatives across NYC's five boroughs, including Artist-in-Residence programs, choral festivals, and free concert access for over 1,200 students annually.
• Lincoln Center / David Geffen HallcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResident performance venue since 1967. The chorale is the only professional company to establish and maintain an annual choral-orchestral concert series at Lincoln Center for over 58 years.
• Carnegie HallsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdditional major venue for performances including special concerts and collaborations.
• Hunter College/CUNYsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for National Chorale High School Choral Festivals featuring over 800 high school singers.
• United NationssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPPAS Choir performed at the UN in collaboration with UNICEF for the #Imagine project and #childrenfirst campaign.
• New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPPAS Choir performed at the NYSE in collaboration with UNICEF for the #Imagine project and #childrenfirst campaign.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• The Metropolitan Opera: Lincoln Center resident opera company with massive scale; shares the Lincoln Center venue ecosystem and portions of the NYC classical music donor/audience base, but operates as a much larger, broader performing arts institution.
• The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center: Lincoln Center-based resident performing arts organization with educational programming; shares the Lincoln Center residency model, NYC classical music audience, and education program structure.
• New York Philharmonic: Resident Lincoln Center orchestra with a much larger budget and broader portfolio; overlapping venue (David Geffen Hall), choral collaboration opportunities, and donor base, but operates at significantly greater scale.

Direct peers

• Voices of Ascension: NYC choral ensemble known for chorus-and-orchestra performances in Manhattan venues, comparable scale and mission to National Chorale with similar choral-orchestral programming.
• New York Choral Society: Long-standing NYC-based choral society performing large-scale choral-orchestral works including annual Messiah performances. Competes for the same choral music audience and donor base in the NYC metro area.
• American Composers Orchestra: NYC-based nonprofit orchestra with similar mission to commission and perform American works; comparable programming focus on contemporary American choral-orchestral repertoire and similar scale of operation.
• Brooklyn Youth Chorus: NYC-based choral organization with strong education/youth development mission comparable to National Chorale's PPAS partnership; similar model combining performance and music education programming.
• The New York Pops: NYC-based pops orchestra with choral collaborations that performs at Carnegie Hall; comparable nonprofit performing arts model, mixed choral/orchestral programming, and similar donor-driven funding structure.
• Musica Sacra: NYC's renowned professional chorus specializing in sacred choral masterworks; similar nonprofit model, professional choral-orchestral repertoire, and NYC-based operations.
• MasterVoices: NYC-based choral organization (formerly Collegiate Chorale) that performs choral-orchestral works at major NYC venues including Lincoln Center. Direct competitor for choral performance programming, donor base, and audience in the same NYC market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@nationalchorale
• Facebookfacebook.com/nationalchorale
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-choral-council-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Chorale