Mendelssohn Glee Club of New York

08/26/2026

08/25/2026

🎶 Sing with NYC’s Oldest Male Chorus! | Holiday 2026 Season
The Mendelssohn Glee Club of New York City is officially kicking off rehearsals for our Holiday 2026 Concert on Monday, September 14!

After celebrating a critically acclaimed season with over two-thirds of our pre-pandemic numbers back on stage, our musical standards are higher and more vibrant than ever. Now, we are looking to the future and extending a warm invitation to area vocalists to join our ranks—with an urgent call for tenors to balance our ensemble.

Why Join Us?
A Storied Legacy: Help preserve a rich cultural tradition as part of the nation's oldest continuously active male chorus, founded right here in NYC 160 years ago.

Exceptional Music-Making: Experience the powerful, resonant blend of multi-part male harmony under the direction of our wonderful conductor, Gene Wisoff.

Community & Fellowship: Connect with fellow singers who share a lifelong passion for great choral literature.

Ready to Sing?
Rehearsals begin September 14! Auditions are friendly, welcoming, and designed to find the right fit for your voice.

👉 Get all the details and schedule your audition here: https://www.mgcnyc.org/ready-to-sing-audition

📞 Or reach out directly to our conductor, Gene Wisoff, at 917-916-1959.

Come lend your voice to our next chapter!

07/18/2026

🎵 LOVE TO SING? JOIN THE HISTORIC MENDELSSOHN GLEE CLUB! 🎵

Since 1866, the Mendelssohn Glee Club has been a cornerstone of New York City’s musical heritage. As one of the oldest continuous musical organizations in the United States, we are dedicated to the grand tradition of male choral singing—and we want you to carry our legacy forward!

We are officially welcoming new Tenors, Baritones, and Basses to apply for the upcoming season.

✨ Why sing with us?

Musical Excellence: Perform a diverse repertoire ranging from traditional glee club arrangements to choral works from all musical periods.

True Fellowship: Connect with a welcoming community of men who share a deep passion for great music.

Rediscover Your Voice: Miss the thrill of singing in your high school or college glee club or choir? This is your chance to take the stage again.

📍 Our Schedule:

We rehearse weekly on Monday nights at a convenient, accessible location on Manhattan's Upper West Side.

We perform two major concerts a year (December & May), alongside dynamic group events and social gatherings.

👥 Who should apply?
If you have experience in choirs or choruses, you’ll find a perfect home here. While prior experience is highly valued and the ability to read music is a major plus, all interested singers are welcome. We hold a brief, low-stress audition to determine your vocal range and quality.

👉 Ready to lift your voice?
Click the link below to apply online, or call us directly at 1-917-916-1959.

https://www.mgcnyc.org/ready-to-sing-audition

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07/02/2026

07/02/2026

Listen to Highlights from Mendelssohn Glee Club’s Last Concert!
https://www.mgcnyc.org/2026

Hope you are having a wonderful start to your summer! As we head into the Independence Day weekend, we want to wish you all a safe and happy July 4th as our nation celebrates this incredible milestone—our 250th anniversary.

To help kick off the holiday celebrations, we are thrilled to share that the official recording of our last concert is now live! It is the perfect soundtrack for your holiday weekend, whether you're relaxing at home or heading out to celebrate

Here are a few of the extraordinary highlights you can hear:

Lift your spirits with the full Club performing Randall Thompson's Testament of Freedom, a monumental piece honoring our nation's history for this 250th anniversary year.

Metropolitan Opera Artist Brandie Sutton graces our stage with stunning performances of Ach, ich fühl's from Mozart's The Magic Flute and Caro nome from Verdi's Rigoletto.

Dan Singer joins Brandie Sutton for a deeply moving, beautiful rendition of Gershwin's Bess, You Is My Woman Now from Porgy and Bess.

Special performances of works by historic Mendelssohn Glee Club conductors and arrangers who were members of the club, including Edward MacDowell’s Bonnie Ann and Harry T. Burleigh’s profound arrangement of Deep River.

You can stream all of these performances by clicking the link below::

https://www.mgcnyc.org/2026

Wishing you a fantastic summer and a wonderful 4th of July!

Warmly,
The Mendelssohn Glee Club

05/08/2026

Celebrating a remarkable musical legacy: Gene Wisoff has led the Mendelssohn Glee Club for three decades—shaping voices, memories, and NYC’s choral heartbeat. Read about his journey, the men who sing alongside him, and what it takes to sustain musical excellence in a changing city. Read more: https://wix.to/LeBmePG

In the bustling, ever-changing landscape of New York City’s choral scene, there is a constant that has hummed beneath the surface for over thirty years. If you walk into a rehearsal room on the Upper West Side on a Monday night, you’ll find a group of men—tenors, baritones, and basses—gather...

05/04/2026

We are thrilled to share a blog shining a spotlight on Jon Pohlmann, a long-standing member of our ensemble and a composer whose reach extends from the traditional TTBB choral world to the cutting edge of contemporary dance and off-Broadway theater.

👉 Read the Full Blog Post Here https://www.mgcnyc.org/post/from-the-glee-club-to-the-harkness-center-the-artistry-of-jon-pohlmann

From Lincoln Center to the MGC Ranks
Jon’s musical journey is as diverse as the city itself. His extensive credits include:

-Composing a tribute theme for Ella Fitzgerald performed at Lincoln Center.
- Writing scores for off-Off Broadway productions and award-winning teleplays.
- Creating "bell-like chimings" for contemporary dance at the Harkness Center, earning praise from The New York Times.

What makes Jon’s music so special for us? He is a vital, "boots-on-the-ground" presence within the ensemble. By standing in the ranks, Jon gains a firsthand perspective on vocal blend and phrasing. His pieces often feel like a custom-tailored suit—designed specifically to fit the unique "sonic thumbprint" of the Mendelssohn Glee Club.

We are proud to celebrate Jon’s contributions by featuring two of his significant works in our upcoming 160th Anniversary Concert on May 12th:

- Psalm 130: A profound setting demonstrating his ability to handle sacred texts with contemporary sensitivity.
- Men of the Maritime: A powerful piece that captures the strength and tradition of the male choral legacy.

RSVP for May 12th https://www.mgcnyc.org/events/mendelssohn-glee-club-spring-concert/formaZZ

Read the blog: https://www.mgcnyc.org/post/from-the-glee-club-to-the-harkness-center-the-artistry-of-jon-pohlmann

04/27/2026

Discover the man behind the melodies: The Mendelssohn Glee Club member Oley Speaks and his place in the Golden Age of American choral music. Read our new blog post and join us in celebrating his legacy at the Spring Concert on May 12. Read more: https://wix.to/SGcFLfa

When we think of the "Golden Age" of American song, we often picture the glitz of Broadway or the rise of jazz. However, much of the era’s soul lived in the booming, disciplined harmonies of men’s choral music. At the center of this world was Oley Speaks, a man whose melodies became the soundtra...

04/20/2026

A legacy of vocal brilliance returns — join us as soprano Brandie Inez Sutton makes her triumphant return to the Mendelssohn Glee Club on May 12. Discover the Club’s rich history and this exciting reunion in our latest blog post. Read more: https://wix.to/2WLW9NO

Since its founding in 1866, the Mendelssohn Glee Club has served as a sanctuary for vocal excellence and a platform for some of the world’s most significant artists. The Club has a storied history of presenting legendary soloists—from the trailblazing Marian Anderson to Metropolitan Opera icons ...

04/16/2026

Join us in celebrating Cesare Sodero — a quietly influential figure in New York City’s musical history. Read about his legacy and how his arrangement of “Great is Jehovah, the Lord (Die Allmacht)” will be featured at our Spring Concert with soloist Brandie Sutton. Discover the story behind the music and why Sodero still matters today. https://wix.to/Q3k9huL

The celebration of our long history at our Spring Concert on May 12th would not be complete without singing a piece arranged or written by Cesare Sodero. In this concert, our wonderful soloist Brandie Sutton. will join the choir in performing Sodero's arrangement of Great is Jehovah, the Lord, (Die....