New York Choral Society

What New York Choral Society does

The New York Choral Society (NYCHORAL) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts organization founded in 1959 by Martin D. Josman with twelve singers and now comprising more than 150 volunteer singing members ranging in age from 19 to 91, drawn from all five boroughs of New York City. The organization produces large-scale choral concerts and seasonal programming — currently Season 26-27 themed 'Sacred Resistance' — at premier NYC venues including Alice Tully Hall, David Geffen Hall, Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center, St. Ann & The Holy Trinity Church, and The Metropolitan Club. Programming blends classical masterworks with contemporary commissions, including works by Reena Esmail, Jennifer Higdon, Adolphus Hailstork, and Gregory Spears, the latter whose alternate completion of Mozart's Requiem will be performed at Alice Tully Hall in May 2026. The organization also operates an Alumni Association with 300+ registered members, an annual spring gala, a Holiday Benefit Cabaret, and a merchandise storefront.

NYCHORAL operates with a lean core staff of six (Music Director David Hayes, Executive Director Ellen PutneyMoore, Associate Conductor Harrison Hollingsworth, Director of Production Rachel Liss, Accompanist Amir Farid, and Operations Manager Ashley Salisbury) supplemented by a Board of Trustees chaired by Gary Pai, with members drawn from senior financial and legal leadership across New York Life, Glenwood Management, WW International, and other institutions. The organization has no proprietary technology platform — operations rely on standard web infrastructure, third-party ticketing (Lincoln Center, Eventbrite, Better World), a Chorus Connection-hosted chorus member app, and DonorPerfect for online giving.

Revenue is derived from a diversified mix: ticket sales for individual concerts, a structured individual giving program (Prelude Circle $250 through Visionary Circle $20,000+), corporate sponsorships, planned giving through the Legacy Society, government arts grants from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs and the NYS Council on the Arts, and merchandise sales. Strategic partnerships with Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Brooklyn Chamber Orchestra, and Mannes School of Music support collaborative programming and institutional visibility. NYCHORAL does not publicly disclose financial figures.

Name

New York Choral Society

Legal name

The New York Choral Society

Website

https://nychoral.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

New York Choral Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1959 that produces large-scale choral concerts and seasonal programming at premier NYC venues, serving audiences across the five boroughs through a 150+ voice volunteer chorus and a diversified donor, ticketing, and government-grant revenue model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts / Choral Music

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Choral performances
• Choral music concerts
• Performing arts nonprofit
• Live concert productions
• Classical choral ensemble

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from concert performance tickets sold to the general public through various channels including Lincoln Center and Eventbrite.
2. Individual Giving: Tax-deductible donations from individuals at various giving levels including Visionary Circle ($20,000+), Chairman's Circle ($10,000+), President's Circle ($5,000+), Patron's Circle ($2,500+), Benefactor's Circle ($1,500+), Sustainer's Circle ($1,000+), Supporter's Circle ($500+), and Prelude Circle ($250+). Monthly giving program available.
3. Planned Giving / Legacy Society: Bequests and planned gifts from donors who have included NYCHORAL in their estate plans, ensuring long-term financial sustainability.
4. Corporate Giving: Corporate sponsorships and gifts from businesses interested in supporting performances and events. Companies of all sizes invited to invest in the arts.
5. Merchandise Sales: Sale of NYCHORAL merchandise through an online storefront.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The New York Choral Society is a nonprofit choral organization that produces and presents large-scale choral concerts performed by a 150+-voice volunteer chorus at premier New York City venues, including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and St. Ann & The Holy Trinity Church. Offerings are organized into curated seasonal subscription programs (e.g., Season 25-26 'Disrupting the Canon', Season 26-27 'Sacred Resistance') that blend classical and contemporary works, plus ancillary fundraising events such as an annual spring gala and holiday benefit cabaret.

Product overview

The New York Choral Society is a nonprofit choral organization (501c3) that functions as a unified performance-based entity rather than a technology platform. Its core offering consists of large-scale choral concerts featuring 150+ voices, organized into seasonal programs (Season 25-26: Disrupting the Canon, Season 26-27: Sacred Resistance) that include theatrical productions like King David, reimagined classical works like Mozart's Requiem with Gregory Spears' completion, holiday concerts with the Brooklyn Chamber Orchestra, and annual gala events. The organization also offers ancillary programs including chorus membership, an Alumni Association with 300+ members, and volunteer opportunities in fundraising and administration. No technology products, APIs, or software-as-a-service offerings are documented.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Choral Performances and Concerts Large-scale choral concerts featuring 150+ voices performing classical and contemporary works at premier New York City venues; intended for general audiences, choral music enthusiasts, and classical music lovers.
• Season Subscriptions Annual curated concert seasons presented as subscription packages (e.g., Season 25-26 'Disrupting the Canon' and Season 26-27 'Sacred Resistance') featuring themed performances including theatrical productions, holiday concerts, and classical works.
• Annual Spring Gala (Interlude: A Gala Celebration of the Arts) Annual fundraising gala featuring performances, awards, dinner, silent auction, and live auction, held at The Metropolitan Club; intended for donors, sponsors, and community supporters.
• Holiday Benefit Cabaret Intimate cabaret-style fundraiser showcasing singer talents beyond the chorus, featuring holiday songs, Broadway standards, and jazz standards at The Green Room 42.

Named customers4 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

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Brooklyn Chamber OrchestracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYCHORAL collaborates with the Brooklyn Chamber Orchestra for annual holiday concerts in Brooklyn Heights at St. Ann & The Holy Trinity. This partnership delivers collaborative performances that have become beloved community traditions.
• Mannes School of MusiccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA presentation partnership for the 2026-2027 season opener 'A Child of Our Time' at David Geffen Hall. This collaboration brings together NYCHORAL with Mannes School of Music students and faculty.
• Jazz at Lincoln CenterflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYCHORAL partners with Jazz at Lincoln Center for Duke Ellington's Sacred Concerts at the Rose Theater. This partnership celebrates America's 250th anniversary with jazz, gospel, blues, and tap dance programming.
• Gregory SpearscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcclaimed American composer whose alternate completion of Mozart's Requiem ('A New Sanctus, Benedictus, and Agnus Dei for the Mozart Requiem') NYCHORAL performed at Alice Tully Hall in May 2026. Spears will be honored at the 2026 Gala.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Crossing: Philadelphia-based professional chamber choir known for commissioning new works and recording extensively — a strong operational and artistic match to NYCHORAL's contemporary commissioning strategy.
• National Chorale: NYC-based professional choral organization presenting symphonic choral works at major venues including David Geffen Hall — a direct peer in repertoire, venue, and nonprofit operating model.
• MasterVoices: NYC-based symphonic choral organization (formerly New York Concert Singers) that produces large-scale choral-orchestral performances with professional singers and notable conductors — a direct operating model match to NYCHORAL's ensemble-and-venue business.
• New York Philharmonic Chorus: The official chorus of the New York Philharmonic, performing large-scale choral-orchestral works at David Geffen Hall — directly comparable in repertoire scope and NYC venue footprint.

Peers

• Los Angeles Master Chorale:

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xfacebook.com/nychoral
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/NYCHORAL
• Facebookfacebook.com/nychoral
• Instagraminstagram.com/newyorkchoralsociety
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/new-york-choral-society

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 New York Choral Society