about gvcs
The Greenwich Village Chamber Singers is presently in its 48th season of performing secular and choral music from all periods. Based in Greenwich Village, GVCS is a mixed chamber chorus of approximately 40 voices that has been a recognized creative force in New York City’s music community for more than four decades, with members hailing from all over the greater New York City metropolis.
The Greenwich Village Chamber Singers was founded in 1976 and engaged its first permanent music director, Mark Mangini, in 1980. Over the 41 years of Mr. Mangini’s leadership, GVCS evolved into an auditioned chorus that strives to be one of the most highly regarded amateur choruses in New York City. Following the untimely passing of Mr. Mangini in September 2021 and a season of leadership by interim Music Director Alec Galambos, the chorus welcomed its new permanent Music Director, Dr. Michael Sheetz, in July 2022. Dr. Sheetz has led the chorus into an exciting new era, and GVCS looks forward to a bright future under his baton.
The Greenwich Village Chamber Singers performs musical repertoire in many different languages and musical styles that speak to the varied experiences, history, and diversity of our community. Over its history of nearly half a century, the chorus has performed more than 150 concerts throughout the New York City metropolis, with repertoire drawing from a wide range of composers, including the Handel oratorios Israel in Egypt, Judas Maccabaeus, Messiah, and Solomon. Baroque and pre-baroque composers also include Bach, Schütz, Monteverdi, Charpentier, and Vivaldi; other performances have encompassed settings of the Mass by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Bruckner, Dvořák, Kodály, Stravinsky, and Rossini. The group’s repertoire also includes a cappella works by Victoria, Palestrina, Byrd, Poulenc, Duruflé, Monteverdi, and Bruckner; contemporary works by Respighi, Barber, Britten, Honegger, Copland, Ives, Rutter, Bernstein, Hoiby, Rorem, Earnest, Busto, Spratlan, and Avshalomov; and the best of musical theater from Sondheim to Rodgers and Hammerstein.
The Greenwich Village Chamber Singers is committed to the presentation of new works by contemporary composers. This has included a co-commissioned world premiere of David Avshalomov’s 3 Water Songs in 2023, as well as 2 world premieres of works by emerging, NYC-based female composers in 2024: Lay That On Your Heart from Shahar Regev and Sotto Cieli Morbidi from Kenedea Lee. The latter two commissions were made possible in large part due to our first ever grant award from NYSCA, which we received in 2023.
The chorus has produced four live concert CDs, In Dulci Jubilo, Natale in Venezia, Dido & Aeneas, Christmas in England and America, and a studio recording of a cappella works entitled My Spirit Sang All Day. In April 2021, the chorus performed its first streamed concert, Madrigals and Part Songs, which can be viewed at event.musae.me/join/madrigals.
membership
The Greenwich Village Chamber Singers (GVCS) welcomes singers who want to become part of its tradition of making high-quality choral music in Greenwich Village. In a smaller choral ensemble, every voice makes a difference. GVCS is known for its beautiful timbre, high standards of musicianship, and innovative programming.
Auditions
We are currently auditioning experienced singers in all voice parts with good sight-reading skills. Please feel free to contact us if you are not sure of your level. Auditions are brief and relatively informal and include testing of sight-reading, pitch, and rhythm.
You can also find information about our audition process on the Vocal Area Network website (www.VAN.org).
To arrange an audition send an email to info@gvsingers.org or call 646.543.9605
Rehearsals
Our season typically runs from early September through late May. Our rehearsals are on Wednesday evenings at St. John’s Church in the Village, 218 West 11th Street (one block west of 7th Avenue) in Manhattan, with the addition of one Saturday daytime rehearsal per concert, to be announced. Regular rehearsals run from 7:30 pm until 9:45 pm. We ask for a commitment from our singers to regular attendance at rehearsals.
Performances
We perform three concerts each season, and most often on Friday evenings. We generally have two dress rehearsals per concert, usually on Wednesday and Thursday evening of concert week. Most concerts are performed only once, although on occasion, we expand some of our concerts to two performances. Concerts are held at various Manhattan venues, including Church of Our Lady of Pompeii, Church of St. Luke in the Fields (both in Greenwich Village), and Saint Peter’s Church at the Citicorp Center. Members are strongly encouraged to sell tickets to our concerts but are not required to sell any specific number of tickets.
Concert Dress
Concert dress for all members is solid black pants or ankle-length skirt, long-sleeved solid black shirt or blouse, and black shoes.
Music
We order all music in bulk and make copies of scores available to our members at cost. Members are expected to buy the music for each concert from the chorus.
Dues
Membership dues are $250 per year, though financial assistance is available to members in need.
