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VAN FEATURES

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NEWS
VAN welcomes news of interest to the vocal ensemble community. Send stories to the editor.
  • The New Haven Chorale is proud to announce the appointment of Reagan G. Paras as its next Artistic Director. For more details, visit newhavenchorale.org/blog/. (2026-5-31)
  • West Side Rag has a story about the upcoming concert by Otaku Choir NYC on May 19 at Rutgers Presbyterian Church. (2026-5-12)
  • Monmouth Civic Chorus is pleased to announce the appointment of Kevin Vondrak as its new Artistic Director. Vondrak will begin his tenure with the ensemble for the 2026-27 season, stepping into the position held by Dr. Ryan Brandau for 14 years. (2026-4-27)
  • Read The Growing Chorus of Resistance, and the Women Holding the Baton by Candice Helfand-Rogers in The Story Exchange. (2026-3-9)
  • On March 13 and 14, Cantori New York celebrates the 85th birthday of noted African-American composer Adolphus Hailstork, who has served on Cantori’s Advisory Board for 25 years. This all-Hailstork tribute concert will feature two world premieres: a new chamber orchestration of his signature oratorio Crispus Attucks, the brand new Four Psalms and a revisit of Friends Eternal, which Cantori New York premiered a year ago. (2026-1-27)

Archive of old "News" items

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NEW ON VAN
The latest additions to the site's content and features.
  • May 15, 2026: You can now access the VAN Style Guide from the home page. Look under the Communicate links in the menu at the top.
  • May 4, 2026: New link for American Music Abroad Ensemble Tours, designers of customized European performance tour tailored to your ensemble.
  • January 19, 2026: New link for Harmony Travel, offering combined performing and travel opportunities.
  • December 15, 2025: New link for COROS.PT, listing choirs in Portugal.
  • November 3, 2025: New link for Broadway Goes A Cappella, where the magic of Broadway meets the art of a cappella.
  • October 29, 2025: New link for Best Broadway Musicals.
  • October 7, 2025: New Choir Directory listing and Choir Auditions ad for Young@Heart New York City, a group for folks 75 and older.
  • October 5, 2025: New Choir Directory listing and Choir Auditions ad for Khôra Consort, a new chorus and instrumental ensemble.
  • October 3, 2025: Ah, choirs come and choirs go. We've done a culling of the listings in the Choir Directory with the goal of removing those groups that are no longer operating, insofar as we can determine. If your group was removed in error, please let us know and we'll happily whip up a brand new listing. And if you come across listings for groups that are no longer around, let us know and we'll do some further cleanup.
  • September 29, 2025: New Choir Directory listing and Choir Auditions ad for the New York City Otaku Choir, a new community ensemble dedicated to celebrating music from anime, video games and Asian pop and folk traditions—alongside contemporary choral repertoire.

Archive of old "New on VAN" items

SERVICES
See also the Info Exchange.
  • Need some exquisite beaded jewelry to complement your concert attire or enhance your look on your next Zoom call? Or perhaps a distinctive gift for that special singer in your life? Or maybe you'd like to host a jewelry show to benefit your favorite non-profit organization? Try Carnelian Knoll, where you'll find necklaces, bracelets and earrings of vintage beads and silver handcrafted by Julie Siegmund.
  • Looking for an outstanding vocal ensemble coach? Mark Johnson, possessor of an amazing ear and terrific interpretive insights in a variety of styles, is available to coach your group. Contact Mark via e-mail.
  • Learn ear training, theory and ensemble skills at the Lucy Moses School’s acclaimed Sight-Singing program. Taught by Liz Fleisher, hailed as “one of New York’s great teachers” (New York Magazine) and “a teacher who gets results” (New York Times), classes for all skill levels help singers learn to read music for the first time or refine their skills. These classes are for soloists, choral singers and everyone who loves to sing. Learn more and register online at  www.kaufmanmusiccenter.org/lms/program/sight-singing/. Or contact us at 212-501-3360 or lucymosesschool@kaufmanmusiccenter.org.

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Sheet Music Plus

For our book and CD recommendations, visit the VAN Store.

Vocal Area Network gratefully acknowledges the support of the following Sustaining Members
who have contributed during the past twelve months:

Cantori New York (Gold)
Dalton Chorale (Silver)
Laura Daly
Harold Rosenbaum (Silver)
Ms. Marie Caruso
Ms. Mary Homan
Renaissance Street Singers
Ms. Robin Lynne Frye
Western Wind Vocal Ensemble

Vocal Area Network gratefully acknowledges the past support of the following Sustaining Members:

Miriam Alimonos; Mark & Cindy Allen; Americas Vocal Ensemble; AmorArtis; Amuse; The Babylon Chorale; Meredith Elaine Baker; Mr. Jeffrey Becker; Big Apple Chorus; The Brooklyn Community Chorus; Brooklyn Contempoary Chorus; Brooklyn Philharmonia Chorus; Mr. Bruce Bush; C4: The World's First Choral Composer/Conductor Collective; Mary Ellen Callahan; The Canby Singers; Cantabile Chamber Chorale; Cantori New York; Ms. Marie Caruso; Cerddorion; Chelsea Song; Choral Chameleon; Chorus 802; Christ Church Choir; Ms. Phyllis Clark; Ms. Jean Cooper; Dalton Chorale; Laura Daly; Mark Davies; The Dessoff Choirs; Douglas Frank Chorale; Down Town Glee Club; Jack Eppler; Anonymous; Martha Fleischman; Florilegium Chamber Choir; Mr. Albert L. Friedman; Ms. Robin Lynne Frye; Ms. Susan Gardiner; Mr. Gary Giardina; Glen Ridge Choral Society; Mr. John Daly Goodwin; Grace Church Choral Society; Greater Nassau Chorus; Greenwich Village Chamber Singers; Mr. John Hetland; Karen Hoepfinger; Ms. Christine Hoffman; Holy Apostles Community Chorus; Ms. Mary Homan; Jennifer Howald; Christine Howlett; Hudson Valley Singers; Mr. Steve Lanser; Ms. Grace Lee, New York Choral Society; Mr. Robert Mobsby; John Morariu; Ms. Barbara E. Morgan; Mr. Robert Murtha; Anonymous; New Amsterdam Singers; The New Choral Society; New York Choral Society; New York City Community Chorus at Holy Apostles; Mr. Roger Nierenberg; Nikolai Kachanov Singers; North River Sing; Mr. Gerald Osterberg; Mr. Robert Pace; Ms. Nancianne Parrella; The Peace of Heart Choir; Renaissance Street Singers; Renaissance Vocal Ensemble; Mr. Stephen Ringlee; Riverdale Choral Society; Riverside Choral Society; Mr. Jacques Rizzo; Russian Chamber Chorus of New York; Ms. Sharon Lee Ryder; The Sacred Music Chorale of Richmond Hill, NY; Sacrum Convivium; The St. Cecilia Chorus; St. George's Choral Society; St. James' Compostela Choir; St. Paul's Church; Schola Cantorum on Hudson; Mr. Neal Siegal; Mr. Frederick Siegmund; Sing We Enchanted; Judith Stabile; The Stonewall Chorale; Teaneck Community Chorus; Nancy Tooney; Anonymous; Uncommon Chord; Mr. Dayle Vander Sande, The Aria Chorus; Ms. Judith Vincent; Voices of New York; Mr. Laurence Weller; The West Village Chorale; Women Singing; Matthew Workman; Ms. Wendy Zuckerman, in memory of Nancy Poor

For more about how you or your ensemble can help defray the costs of providing VAN's services,
visit the Sustaining Membership page.