Founded in 1993, the Empire City Men’s Chorus celebrates its 17th season of performances in New York City. ECMC was initially formed by members of the gay community who were interested in creating a male chorus featuring an eclectic multilingual repertoire of predominately classical music. For the past 17 years, the ECMC has consistently presented concerts which boast a wide variety of well-known composers and newly commissioned works with a classical sensibility.
Since its inception, the Empire City Men’s Chorus (previously known as Gay Gotham Chorus) has been led by three talented musical directors. From 1993 until 1999, Donald Messer served as musical director and conductor of the group. After a national search in 1999, the chorus engaged the services of Jonathan Babcock as musical director. In 2008 Mr. Babcock left the New York area to join the faculty of Texas State University, San Marcos.
During the summer of 2008, the ECMC Board conducted another national search and discovered the musical talents of Mr. Christopher Clowdus who conducted his first ECMC concert on December 6th, 2008. The 2008 fall holiday concert, Estrella Brillante, highlighted the music and rhythms of Latino, Ladino & Spanish traditions, including a tribute to Norman Dello Joio and featured guest artists The Alturas Duo.
Over a relatively short period of time, the ECMC has established an impressive musical history, having performed in some of New York’s most historic spaces. The ECMC has performed in Manhattan at Merkin Hall, Carnegie Hall (several times, with Mid-America Productions), Symphony Space, Greenwich House Music School, Saint Bartholomew’s Church, and its home at the Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew. We’ve also performed at the LGBT Community Services Center, “on the road” at Brooklyn College, at Vassar College and at churches in Brooklyn and Connecticut. Our guest performers have included opera stars Stephanie Blythe and Margaret Lattimore, Tony-award winner Victoria Clark, and Tony Award and Drama Desk nominee Barbara Walsh.
The ECMC’s world premieres have included:
Past performances have also included a staged production of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, co-produced with the Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music, as well as a concert of British music featuring a performance of Vaughan Williams Five Mystical Songs with special guests the Avalon String Quartet and bass-baritone Jason Grant.
Highlights of recent seasons include a gala 10th Anniversary concert featuring world premieres of works by 2004 Pulitzer Prize winner Paul Moravec and Adam Silverman, and a jointly produced concert with The Astoria Symphony which included performances of the Brahms Alto Rhapsody, and the performance of Arnold Schönberg’s A Survivor in Warsaw.
The ECMC produces two major concerts per season. The group has received grants from the New York State Counsel of the Arts and the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council and is a member of Chorus America. Our members meet seasonally on a weekly basis and frequently post upcoming auditions on our web site. We are a diverse group and open to anyone whose musical talents and spirit embellish the current strengths of our chorus members. Please contact us for more information.