MasterVoices (Formerly The Collegiate Chorale)

What MasterVoices (Formerly The Collegiate Chorale) does

MasterVoices, founded in 1941 in New York City as The Collegiate Chorale and rebranded in 2015, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts organization that presents choral works and musical storytelling using a symphonic choir and soloists. Its core product is a seasonal lineup of live choral concerts, staged works, and commissions, performed at venues including Carnegie Hall, Rose Theater, New York City Center, and (for the 2025/2026 season) Radio City Music Hall, with a library of 352+ performances including U.S. and world premieres.

The organization runs complementary programs that broaden its reach: the Side-by-Side initiative with the Young People's Chorus of New York City, school partnerships with the Harmony Program, Third Street Music School Settlement, and NYC public schools, and VOX: American Voices Opera Lab, a new chamber opera initiative led by Edana Fleming. It also maintains a 50%+ artists of color commitment across seasons since 2018.

Revenue is generated through a diversified nonprofit mix: ticket sales (priority seating from $30+), membership and patron programs (MVPs from $50 with tiers up to $7,350 for international trips), individual and institutional giving, and educational programming. Ted Sperling has served as Artistic Director since 2013, and the organization is supported by a board of directors chaired by David W. Schaefer and a notable advisory group.

Name

MasterVoices (Formerly The Collegiate Chorale)

Legal name

MasterVoices Inc.

Website

https://mastervoices.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1941

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

MasterVoices is a New York City-based nonprofit choral organization (founded 1941) that presents symphonic choir concerts, commissions, and educational programs, serving live audiences, choristers, students, and patron/donor supporters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Choral Performing Arts

NAICS

Other Performing Arts Companies (711190), Musical Groups and Artists (711130)

akta.pro primary industry

Rehearsal & Pre-Production Studios (Rehearsal Rooms, Backline) (MPAIAHAK)

Keywords

• Choral performance arts
• Symphonic choir concerts
• Opera in concert
• Musical theater productions
• Music education outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from concert tickets sold to the public for performances at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and other venues. Ticket prices vary by concert.
2. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible charitable contributions from individuals supporting artistic programming. Includes MVP membership ($50), general donations, and The Roger Rees Fund and Lois Conway Fund for Artistic Excellence.
3. Education Programs: Support for Side-by-Side education program providing musical training to high school students. Donations specifically earmarked for education and outreach programs.
4. Planned Giving: Legacy gifts through wills and estate planning to secure the organization's future.
5. Patron Trips: Special travel experiences for supporters, such as the Edinburgh Patrons Trip at $7,350 per person including a $2,000 tax-deductible donation component.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

MasterVoices is a New York-based performing arts organization that produces and presents choral works and musical storytelling through a volunteer symphonic choir of 80+ singers accompanied by professional soloists and orchestras. Its programming spans opera-in-concert, musical theater, choral classics, newly commissioned works, and education/outreach initiatives, performed at major NYC venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and Radio City Music Hall.

Product overview

MasterVoices (formerly The Collegiate Chorale) is a performing arts organization offering a unified portfolio of live performance and education programs. The core offering is the MasterVoices Chorus, a volunteer ensemble performing diverse repertoire including opera-in-concert, musical theatre, and choral classics at major NYC venues. The organization complements its performances with education programs (Side-by-Side, Complimentary Ticket Program, Faith Geier Artist Initiative, Bridges community outreach) and member benefits (MVP membership, Ted's Talks, Patrons Trips). These programs work together to fulfill the mission of sparking human connections through musical storytelling while engaging audiences and supporting emerging artists.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MasterVoices Chorus Performances

Quantifiable outcome

• 45% audience increase in 2019
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 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

Integration3 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• American Composers OrchestracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on VOX: American Voices Opera Lab - a one-night showcase of excerpts from new grand operas by American composers. MasterVoices is one of the driving forces behind this project.
• Beth Morrison ProjectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead collaborator with Beth Morrison as director/creative producer on VOX: American Voices Opera Lab and previous collaborations including Iron & Coal chamber opera.
• The Metropolitan OperaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on VOX: American Voices Opera Lab bringing established singers and emerging talent together with Met involvement.
• Manhattan School of MusicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner in VOX: American Voices Opera Lab collaboration.
• Mannes School of MusicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner in VOX: American Voices Opera Lab collaboration.
• PAC NYC (Perelman Performing Arts Center)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for VOX: American Voices Opera Lab performances at PAC NYC.
• Orchestra of St. Luke'scoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing orchestral collaborator appearing in numerous MasterVoices productions including Joe Hisaishi concerts, Sweet Smell of Success, and many others.
• New York Baroque IncorporatedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPeriod-instrument ensemble performing with MasterVoices for Baroque repertoire including Celebrating Handel and Bach's St. John Passion.
• The Bowery PresentscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPresented Joe Hisaishi Film Music Concert at Radio City Music Hall - handles all ticketing and production.
• Little IslandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresented Ivesiade curated event featuring MasterVoices Chorus and other performers. Little Island handles all ticketing.
• River To River FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresented Naamah's Ark in collaboration with Lower Manhattan Cultural Council and Battery Park City Authority.
• Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presenter of River To River Festival featuring Naamah's Ark production.
• Battery Park City AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in presenting Naamah's Ark free concert at Rockefeller Park.
• NYC Public High Schools (6 partners)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSix NYC high schools participate in the Side-by-Side education program, providing students opportunity to rehearse and perform with MasterVoices.
• NY All-City High School ChoruscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing Side-by-Side students opportunity to perform alongside MasterVoices in concerts.
• Verbier Festival (Switzerland)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational performance opportunity where MasterVoices made debut in 2005 under James Levine, leading to ongoing relationship.
• Israel Philharmonic OrchestraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational tours performed with Israel Philharmonic under Zubin Mehta, including performances at Carnegie Hall, Israel, and Salzburg Festival.
• Kevork MouradminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-disciplinary collaborator for visual art integration in performances such as Israel in Egypt.
• Sammi CannoldminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirector collaborator for productions including Carmen and other innovative staged presentations.
• Lear deBessonetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-disciplinary collaborator with MasterVoices.
• Anthony Roth CostanzominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured soloist and collaborator in Orphic Moments production.
• Concord TheatricalsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLicensing partner for Sweet Smell of Success musical presentation.
• Los Angeles Master ChoraleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner presenting regional premiere of SEVEN: A Cycle of Sins after MasterVoices world premiere.
• VocalEssenceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner presenting regional premiere of SEVEN: A Cycle of Sins after MasterVoices world premiere.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• VocalEssence: A Minneapolis-based choral organization with a similar mission of choral performance, education, and community engagement. Has co-presented MasterVoices regional premieres (SEVEN: A Cycle of Sins), making it a structural peer with parallel programs.
• The Choir of Trinity Church Wall Street: A NYC-based professional choir known for performing and commissioning new works. Comparable as a similarly-sized NYC choral ensemble with a strong contemporary commissioning program and a comparable geographic audience base.
• Los Angeles Master Chorale: A professional choral ensemble in Los Angeles that has co-presented MasterVoices commissions (SEVEN: A Cycle of Sins). Comparable as a similarly-sized presenting choral organization commissioning new American works and engaging soloists, though based on the West Coast.
• The Crossing (Philadelphia): A Grammy-winning professional chamber choir based in Philadelphia focused on new American choral music. Highly comparable as a similarly-sized choral ensemble specializing in contemporary commissions and recordings, though more professionally structured than MasterVoices' volunteer model.
• National Chorale (NYC): A New York-based professional choral organization performing symphonic choral works. Closely comparable as a same-geography, same-category choral ensemble competing for NYC audiences, soloists, and donors.
• Musica Sacra (NYC): A New York-based professional chorus specializing in sacred and classical choral repertoire. Comparable as a similarly-sized NYC professional chorus competing for the same concert-going audience and choral music patrons.
• Brooklyn Youth Chorus: NYC-based choral education and performance organization serving young singers. Comparable as a Brooklyn/NYC peer with both performance and youth education components, competing for similar audiences and donors in the same geography.

Broad incumbents

• Carnegie Hall: A premier NYC concert presenter that rents its hall to MasterVoices and competes for the same high-end concert audience. Comparable as the dominant incumbent in the NYC classical concert space where MasterVoices operates.
• The Metropolitan Opera (Education/Lincoln Center): The largest NYC opera institution and a MasterVoices partner on VOX: American Voices Opera Lab. Comparable as a broader NYC opera presenter that competes for opera audiences and donor dollars while also serving as a collaboration partner.

Emerging players

• Beth Morrison Projects: A NYC-based producer specializing in contemporary opera, and MasterVoices' lead collaborator on VOX: American Voices Opera Lab. Comparable as a partner in new American opera production with overlapping artistic mission and shared soloists.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/mastervoicesny
• Facebookfacebook.com/MasterVoicesNYC
• Instagraminstagram.com/mastervoicesny
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mastervoices

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 MasterVoices (Formerly The Collegiate Chorale)